Agenda item

Coronavirus and Vaccination Update

Minutes:

The Director of Public Health London Borough of Barnet, Dr Tamara Djuretic, provided an update on the coronavirus cases and vaccination uptake within Barnet. Dr Djuretic advised the committee that there had been a decrease in the number of infections since the 14th July. Although she was unable to provide specific reasons for the decrease in infections, some evidence suggested this was due to behavioural changes. The previous weeks had included the Euro football tournament, Wimbledon and the mixing of children in school which liking had increased the spread of infection.

 

Dr Djuretic updated the committee that there had been an increase in hospital admissions, however these numbers were lower than those from the first peak. There had been a slight increase in cases within care homes and the authority was working with the care sector closely to monitor this.

 

Dr Djuretic advised that the vaccination uptake within Barnet was going really well, with 85-87% of over 30’s having been vaccinated. The younger age group had a lower number of uptakes for the vaccination. The Local Authority was continuing to promote the vaccination via various communication methods to encourage as many people as possible to take the vaccine. The NHS had also situated a vaccine bus at Brent Cross shopping centre to make it easier for people to get vaccinated, with 250 people attending.

 

Phase 3 of the vaccine programme was due to commence on the 6th September, with a booster vaccination for all those over 80. The planning and preparation for the boosters was complex, as it was not yet known which vaccination would be used and therefore quantities could not yet be ordered, however as much planning as possible was taking place.

 

Members enquired as to whether any of the people who had been admitted to hospital with coronavirus had already received their vaccinations. Dr Djuretic advised that around two-thirds of those admitted had not been vaccinated and a third had been. The vaccination was not 100% effective against catching coronavirus, however the symptoms for those that had been vaccinated were usually much milder. Members also asked if the age profile of those being admitted had changed. Dr Djuretic said that the majority of patients were now under the age of 40 and unvaccinated, however the mortality rate for this age groups was still very small.

 

Members raised concerns around refugees being unable to receive the vaccine. Dr Djuretic said that dedicated vaccination sessions had been arranged at Brent Cross Holiday Inn for asylum seekers, as well as within some refugee centres. She also advised that everyone within the UK had a right to the vaccination, even if they were not registered with a GP. Members suggested this should be more widely promoted, as there were groups of people that often felt anxious about coming forward to authorities, which might prevent them from taking up the offer of a vaccine.

 

Dr Djuretic said that there was no evidence that coronavirus had disproportionately affected any ethnic minority groups in Barnet. However, the pandemic had highlighted disproportionality in general regarding the health of some minority groups and there would be more focus moving forward on tackling this.

 

RESOLVED that the committee noted the Coronavirus and vaccination update.