The Director of Public Health and Medical Director, Manchester Health and Care Commissioning, will circulate a presentation on the latest available data relating to Manchester COVID-19 rates and the Manchester Vaccination Programme. 

The Committee considered the joint presentation of the Director of Public Health and the Executive Clinical Director, Manchester Health and Care Commissioning, that had been circulated to all Members in advance of the meeting. The presentations provided an update on COVID-19 activity that included the latest available information on data and intelligence.

Key points and themes in the presentation included:

·         The latest headline figures for the 7 days ending 2 February 2022;

·         An update on the vaccination programme with particular reference to the vaccine coverage, vaccine equity, the 12–17 year old programme and the Overseas Pilot;

·         Information on the Communications and Engagement Plans; and

·         Pregnancy and COVID-19 and the related targeted engagement work.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

·         Welcoming the report and acknowledging the information that had been provided surrounding pregnancy following the discussion at the previous meeting;

·         What was the approach to ensuring those vulnerable residents who required a fourth vaccination were being contacted;

·         What advice was being given to enable care homes to safely manage any outbreaks of COVID-19;

·         Noting that the vaccination rates in Manchester were low compared to the national data;

·         The need to promote and emphasise the message of the wider social responsibility of receiving the vaccination;

·         The need to publicise people’s experience of suffering with COVID who had not taken up the offer of a vaccination;

·         Were Further Education settings included in the communications strategy, adding that work needed to be done to challenge the myths surrounding pregnancy and the vaccination amongst young people;

·         Thanking the officers within the Neighbourhood Teams for their continued good work and support they continued to provide to local communities; and

·         The need to use trusted voices on social media to disrupt myths surrounding COVID-19 and the vaccination.

The Director of Public Health advised that if an outbreak of COVID occurred in a care home setting each home would be supported to manage the outbreak appropriately, using all of the national guidance.

The Executive Clinical Director, Manchester Health and Care Commissioning acknowledged the comments raised regarding the promotion of the vaccination both in terms of social responsibility and using lived experiences as a lever to encourage people to come forward. She added that any promotional and educational campaign would require sensitivity when using an individual’s personal experience to articulate the impact of COVID-19 on both families and individuals.

The Executive Clinical Director further advised that there was an audit underway of GP records to identify those vulnerable patients who would be eligible for a fourth jab, adding that if Members had concerns about an individual, they should encourage them to contact their GP surgery. She further commented that this exercise also assisted with ensuring that all Learning Disabled citizens were supported to obtain their vaccination in an appropriate setting for them.

The Director of Public Health advised that following this exercise of auditing GP records a bench marking exercise could be undertaken to more accurately report on how Manchester compared to other comparative areas on the rates of vaccinations. The Executive Clinical Director added that the work being delivered as part of the Overseas Pilot would also contribute to the accurate recording of the levels of vaccinations within the city.

The Head of Strategic Communications stated that Colleges were included as part of the wider communications strategy, however he would enquire if the specific issue raised by a Member surrounding pregnancy was included. He commented that it was important that the person delivering the message was a trusted voice. He stated that the Council’s Communications Tool Kit was shared with trusted community groups and Sounding Boards.

The Head of Neighbourhoods stated that officers continued to engage with residents at local neighbourhood events, including specific COVID vaccination events to understand the reasons and barriers as to why they had not come forward sooner, and this learning and intelligence was collected and reflected upon.

Decision

To note the presentation and to pay tribute to all staff, including those across the Neighbourhood Teams and partners working to address COVID-19.