The Board will receive a presentation from the Director of Public Health and the Medical Director at Manchester Health and Care Commissioning on the latest information relating to the impact of COVID-19 and the roll out of the Mass Vaccination Programme.

The Director of Public Health and Dr Manisha Kumar, Medical Director MHCC, co-presented the latest COVID-19 Update.

The Director of Public Health referred to points in the presentation covering updates, data and intelligence specific to Manchester which showed how the various rates in confirmed cases, over 60s cases and detection had reduced consistently in the mid-January period. The Director of Public Health referred to five new testing sites across the city and a forthcoming test site due to open in February at the Rates Hall in the Town Hall Extension.

Dr Manisha Kumar referred to points in the presentation covering the vaccination programme stating that the first vaccination centre was set up in Wythenshawe two weeks following the approval of the Pfizer vaccine. Dr Kumar explained that a further seven sites have since been established covering South, Central and North Manchester. Dr Kumar confirmed that the programme had met the target of administering vaccinations in all 56 elderly care homes across the city by 24 January 2021. Supported accommodation and care homes for younger persons were confirmed as being the next target for the vaccination programme. Information was displayed on the ten age group cohorts and amounts of doses for each (approximately 500,000 first doses doubling to 1 million with the supply of a second dose). Dr Kumar confirmed that cohort four was undergoing current operations. Information was provided on the amount of vaccinations required to prevent one death for each cohort which had fed into certain age groups being targeted in the first instance and the ongoing likelihood of a yearly vaccination programme similar to the flu jab. Vaccination Delivery Models were displayed and referred to with comment on covering delivery to the housebound, vulnerable and rough sleepers as well as the care sector, including staff. An update was displayed on vaccinations completed from the previous week and mention given to a good amount of vaccinations being delivered for the coming week. A graph was referred to which displayed areas of the city having greatly increased their rates of first doses to patients aged 80+. The next phase was referred to in terms of second doses to be administered and moving down the ten cohorts to cover other age groups. A current update was displayed and referred to, which confirmed that over 51,000 vaccinations had now been administered, showing high percentages for both 80+ and 75-79 cohorts and the uptake of delivery in the 70 to 74 cohort. To close the presentation the Director of Public Health gave praise to the work being done by staff across Manchester’s hospitals.

The Chair invited comments and questions.

Members of the Board also expressed their gratitude and shared praise of all staff involved in the ongoing care and roll out of the vaccination programme.

A question was raised concerning any declined vaccinations and the Chair invited Dr Kumar to comment.

Dr Kumar stated that there had been approximately 1000 people who had not opted in and that there was need establish reasons as to why people were declining the vaccine offer.

A Board member raised a question regarding the sharing of the information on the City Council website so that residents could take access local data.

The Chair stated that Health and Wellbeing Board meeting was helpful in this respect as the presentation was now in the public domain and could be accessed on the Council website.

Board members expressed concerns on contacting patients and those who are unregistered and further concerns on inequalities, in that the population being served across Manchester has a high ethnic mix and that this cohort isn’t being matched by the turn out attending for vaccinations. Further comment was made on the spreading of disinformation across social media platforms and other methods.

The Chair invited Dr Kumar to comment.

Dr Kumar stated that there was a drive to have trusted figures involved in communicating on the safety and efficacy of the vaccine to all Manchester residents and that health centres would have to use a clear booking system that was easy for all to understand.

The Chair responded regarding anti-vaccination movements and COVID19 deniers who are active in spreading their beliefs and expressed that GPs are seen to be highly trusted among the population, adding that their credibility should be harnessed in this regard.

The Chair then commented on the targeting of current cohorts stating that these were being targeted early as it was the best method of saving the most lives. The Chair stated that the number of people opting out of having the vaccine would increase as the younger cohorts were targeted and that there would be individuals with occupational risks to consider, more so within other, younger cohorts. The Chair also referred to figures in the North West showing some abuse of the system with individuals effectively pushing in to get their vaccines earlier than in the current vaccine protocol and stated that that, any time this happens, a person in a higher priority category is put at further risk. The Chair commented on the increased non-compliance to the test and trace system and isolating under lockdown, stating that the recent national death statistics should convey the importance of these practices in should be adhered to take pressure off the NHS and save lives.

The Director of Public Health informed the Board that there would soon strong data and communications available to convey how Manchester is progressing with the pandemic and added that work is ongoing with key faith leaders and health professionals across Greater Manchester to establish key messages for the public. There would also be a drive to commit to all faiths and ethnic backgrounds as the programme progressed through the other cohorts.

The Chair stated that he was keen to receive the vaccine as soon as it was available to him and welcomed the scale and pace of the operation.

Decision

The Board note the report.