Agenda item

A verbal report will be given on the day as there will be up to date data.

Christina Gray,  Director for Communities and Public Health, gave a verbal report on this issue as follows:

•            The number of cases are starting to level out from the third wave which had been the most difficult period so far. The rate of reduction in rates has been slower than during the second wave.

•            The south west R Number is now moving below 1 but there is still a need to get this much lower.

•            Rates remain high and the pressure on hospitals remains challenging

•            13,000 tests were being carried out a week (15,000 had been carried out at peak)

•            The positivity rate is currently around 10%. In Summer 2020, it had been below 1%

•            The high rates in south Bristol reflect the fact that many people have come forward to take a test even though it may be challenging for people financially.  

•            Christina emphasised the importance of people to come forward for testing as this is how we can see where the virus is and take steps to stop it spreading.

•            The reduction in the infection rate indicates that the interventions of the lockdown are effective.

•            However, there is still a need to keep driving down background rates of infection as these are still incredibly high. For contact tracing to be effective rates need to be much lower.

•            The vaccine is being rolled out to cohorts 1 to 4. These first four groups account for the majority of severe illness and mortality

ACTION: that the priority list of the first four cohorts and analysis of clinical risk is circulated to HWBB Members

•            Cohort 1 – Care Homes and Staff. Almost all of these had now received the vaccine – 100% of residents and all staff would shortly receive it

•            Cohort 2 – Over 80’s. Well above 80% had now received this vaccine via local hospitals and the mass vaccination centre.  All Health and Social Care Staff would also receive it

•            The next to receive it would be based on age and the clinically extremely vulnerable

•            There was sufficient vaccine with a clear clinical plan to deliver it using the best health care system in the world. The local system was very good in delivering it

•            All people needing the vaccine would be invited to attend for an appointment based on a clinical analysis of who is at risk

•            A number of at risk groups, including people with learning difficulties and other extremely vulnerable groups, would be in the next cohort to be vaccinated. Equality and equity would be at the core of the process

It was also noted that GPs and Sirona were already delivering for over 80s patients who were housebound. The local system had already received a letter from Matt Hancock thanking them and congratulating them for having one of the highest vaccination rates in the country of over 80% of care homes.

The following comments were also made:

•            The recent Government announcement concerning provision of extra funding to help challenge anti-vaccine myths was important.

•            Work was also required in helping other groups obtain access to the vaccine, such as the homeless and those who misused drugs and alcohol. The homeless health service would be supporting work with this client group.

•            A spectrum of people with learning difficulties would be invited as part of the next cohorts

•            Alison Bolam advised that in her practice GPs were contacting  all over 80s to invite them for n vaccination. Sirona were also working to ensure all individuals within this group were vaccinated

•            Although previously only 57% of care workers had indicated they were prepared to receive the vaccines, these refusal levels had now much improved