Report of the Director of Public Health, Consultant in Public Health Medicine and Medical Director, Manchester Health and Care Commissioning. 

The Board considered the report of the Director of Public Health and the Medical Director (MHCC) that presented the Vaccine Equity Plan. The Plan aims to improve vaccination coverage amongst people in Manchester, based on current data, in order to address inequalities. It focuses on narrowing the gap between population groups with lower vaccine coverage and the rest of the population. The plan complements the Vaccination Programme’s communications and engagement plan to increase coverage with the support of the COVID Health Equity Manchester programme (CHEM). The Plan also focuses on short to mid-term actions, which support the on-going invitations for vaccination through the JCVI Cohorts, whilst acknowledging that some of the issues underpinning low coverage are long-standing, not new to COVID-19 and require a long-term plan. This includes the proactive and targeted design of vaccination service offers and engagement approaches, informed by data and intelligence and supported by monitoring and evaluation.

The Board received a presentation from the Medical Director (MHCC) to provide an update on the delivery models used for the Plan. In addition, Dr Cordelle Ofori, provided an overview of the city-wide strategic approach being taken to provide the vaccine. The presentation addressed: targeting equalities, deprivation cohorts – non digital engagement methods, ward coverage – targeting low uptake, headline figures – effective notification of cohorts and the hard to contact, targeting sectors of the population to increase confidence in the vaccine, targeting coverage in gender and ethnicity to increase uptake, take up by people with a learning disability, targeting people with a serious mental illness, use of vaccination ‘pop-ups’, understanding the reasons for declines in take up of the vaccine, action to improve coverage. The Board was informed that the reasons for non-take up of the vaccine and vaccine hesitancy are numerous and work is ongoing to address this.

The Chair invited member of the Board to ask questions. 

Reference was made to the work being done to target the whole population which has required in many instances one to one engagement and the use of patient list through PCNs. The vaccination of cohorts 10-12 would use a national system approach and officers were asked if there is a plan to address the instances where the individual is still considering whether to take up the offer of a vaccine.

It was reported that the national booking system addressed the whole population however, PCNs can choose to continue to make offers for vaccination to the local population and it was important the patients understood that it was one offer being made. Arrangements will need to be in place to work with groups, such as the student population, in preparation for September and adapt plans accordingly.

A member referred to non-take up of the vaccine, for the reason that the place allocated was not in an area a person knows and they may decide to wait until an offer is made at a place closer to their home. Reference was also made to people who may have a learning disability but considered themselves as living a normal life and had received an offer of vaccination because they fall within a vulnerable category and may feel conflicted if they take up the offer. Officers were asked if the importance of taking up the vaccine is conveyed to those groups.

It was noted that patients some may have lost confidence in going to the local sites offered because did not want to go outside. The use of pop up sites in convenient places is useful as well as the use of GP surgeries and pharmacies. The advice for those with a learning disability is to take up the offer of the injection when it is offered to ensure the widest possible coverage of the population.

A member referred to the importance of recognising the location of where a vaccine is provided and how this mattered to sections of the population and the need to achieve a localised balance provision in the next phase of the roll out. The comment was also made on the work of inclusive health provision across the city to target groups that may not be registered with GPs and how the use of mobile vaccination stations could offer a vaccine to those people living outside of the national system.

It was reported that arrangements for the vaccination of people who are not registered and may be difficult to contact, will require good communications and messaging with a clear explanation on when and where a vaccination get be obtained.

Officers were asked what the level of take up of the vaccine is by health and care workers in view of the need to protect patients.

The Board was informed that the MFT has vaccinated 60,000 people (2400 of which are staff, 5090 of which are care staff). All health and care staff are encouraged to take up the offer of a vaccination.

Decision

The Board noted the report, presentation and the comments received.