Agenda item

Clare Cook, Mohamed El-Sharif and Anne Morris presented this report and made the following points:

·       This was a collaborative system working together to support our most deprived communities

·       There was a huge amount of inequity concerning how people access services. The ethos is that we do not leave anyone behind and vaccinate anyone who requires it

·       With the use of levelling up funding, a social determinance approach was adopted using an asset based community development model

·       The support helped to continue with a sustainable model

·       Temple Street acts as a job centre, citizen service point and had also been used as a vaccinations centre

·       Interventions were used there for vaccinations and health care in general – the motto was “It’s amazing what you can do with a cup of tea”

·       A system of integration and leadership was important to help provide a space for some of the most marginal citizens. It was important to adapt to meet the needs and preferences of some of the groups that have engaged and build long-term trust with them

·       In some instances, adaptations were required to meet the needs and preferences of those groups which have engaged and to adapt the learning as required

·       The approach reached a large number of ethnic minority communities and homeless people

·       It was important to start to connect people into communities and ensure they were listened to and valued

·       Some of the first days were only delivered in 2023 and were for people who had never before received the vaccine. The flu vaccine was also co-administered using community pharmacy teams and had worked very well. This had been a wide-ranging approach and had involved lots of pieces of work which went well beyond vaccines

·       Whilst for some groups the experience had fallen short, it helped groups gain confidence that they had failed to achieve in the past. A wide range of reasons for seeking vaccination had been provided by those surveyed

·       A lot of homeless people went to emergency services and frequently the need was to ensure safety, access to food, the correct environment and also literacy

·       Whilst there had been instances of low uptake, this did not mean there was low interest since the first doses were not administered until June 2023. Some people needed time to decide whether or not to seek help

·       Short term funding only provided short term relief and therefore the work of local groups in their communities was important to invest in people who need support

·       A small campaign was currently being carried out with younger people and there would then be an autumn campaign for vaccines

·       The greater people worked together in these areas, the system was improved. This was a cost effective approach

Board members made the following comments:

·       It was important to signpost help to avoid having to repeat information

·       The success of the Community Vaccination Programme was welcomed

·       This had been very successful. There was a significant resource for vaccination. However, immunisations were generally low for all ages and across the wider vaccination programme

·       Whilst community champions were in place prior to COVID but these did not have the resources of clinical expertise that this team provided. This indicated how important it was to continue this approach

·       The provision of support from a locality partnership perspective was important

·       Pilot work was being carried out around MMR. The development of a strategy was clearer and collaborative working had really helped with this. It was possible to demonstrate closure of provision gap based on the information available

·       A social value assessment was important, in the same way as with climate change