Report prepared 12 November 2021
Outbreak Management Advisory Committee
Covid-19 vaccination programme update
The Local Vaccination Sites continue to deliver covid vaccinations in line with NHS England and JVCI priority groups. At present these include:
- Booster vaccinations for priority groups, with a focus on care homes
- Immunosuppressed patients requiring a 3rd dose as part of their primary course
- Supporting the universal offer to 12-15 year olds
- Booster does for eligible groups which has recently changed to those who are 152 days post their 2nd dose
- We maintain an ever-green offer for patients coming forward for a first dose offer
Current providers are:
National Vaccination Centre run by Nimbuscare at Askham Bar, York
CCG-commissioned Local Vaccination Services:
Askham Bar LVS, York
Haxby Health Centre LVS
Tadcaster Health Centre LVS
Selby Leisure Center LVS
Pickering Medical Centre LVS
Galtres Centre LVS, Easingwold
There are also a number of smaller Community Pharmacy sites across York.
The above providers offer services from their main sites, plus a number of pop-up clinics (according to supply/demand) to provide more convenient and local access for hard to reach or vaccine hesitant groups across the area.
COVID vaccination programme numbers - summary
The Vale of York CCG have 327,258eligible individuals for covid vaccinations. This number changes frequently as individuals become eligible ie 12 – 15 year olds, and the recent reduction of when booster doses can be obtained. We have a total of 78% vaccinated with first and second doses, and 66.6% vaccinated plus their booster dose (this figure was 17% just 8 days ago).
Our timeline analysis shows a sharp increase in Booster vaccinations from September, plus a small increase in first doses (part vacc.) at start of November.
When we review only the York Wards as an analysis of City take up the covid vaccination rates are 75% coverage of first and second doses and 67.4% vaccinated plus their booster dose (the latter being under 15% just 8 days ago).
Care home vaccinations
The CCG is progressing well with care home vaccinations.
As at 12 November 2021 we have residents vaccinated in the following numbers:
98% first dose, 97% second dose and 81% booster.
Where it makes operational sense and is clinically appropriate, and consent is in place residents will also be co-administered their flu vaccination.
Staff covid vaccination rates are 99% first dose, 97% second dose and 32% booster
The programme is affected by any infection outbreaks at a home, and we have seen sites request vaccination sessions be postponed. Providers risk assess the decision to go into a home to vaccinate in these circumstances.
Vaccine supply
At present the vaccine available is predominately Pfizer which requires a 15 minute observation period. Where LVS sites have previously used Astra Zenica (AZ), throughput has been reduced to allow for social distancing in the observation area. We have moderna vaccine also and a very small supply of AZ reserved for patients with allergic reactions to Pfizer.
We anticipate unequal supply in the coming weeks and with the upswing in 12-15years at the vaccination sites in support of the schools programme and the booster programme being taken up in large numbers, booking is essential with very limited capacity to accommodate walk ins and planning is becoming fragile, from week to week.
We know that our Vale population has older residents, who became eligible earlier and take up was high overall. For both our Vale and City residents we see excellent take up rates until we start to see levels fall off in the under 50s.
We work with practices and the contract tracers at City of York Council periodically to review at an individual level who hasn't taken up the vaccination offer and adapt our approaches. We are currently working with our largest Practice to undertake this exercise again to review if any of our approaches have an impact.
Experience to date has provided evidence that only when external factors are engaged do we see an increase in uptake ie promotion of a 'covid passport' without which freedoms might be curtailed. We continue to change up our advertising and engage different methods, but the slowdown is embedded.
We are seeing some first dose take up, but it is small numbers.
We are successful when we have a specific cohort ie the Afghani Refugees or Asylum Seeker work for covid vaccinations and we have really good engagement with faith leaders.
Recent initiatives to take the vaccine to the recipient have been successful, including:
- Antenatal clinic
- Askham Bryan Colleague
- Freshers' week at the University
We continue to run a variety of advertising/awareness campaign across a number of platforms.
Influenza Vaccine Programme
The annual flu vaccination programme continues in both general practice and pharmacies. There remains supply issues, when all allocations are used and there is a delay in replenishments. General practices are reporting via their patient systems take up in order of 70% for over 65% - we have some reporting issues with NIMS drawing that data through, which is reporting a lower figure.
Stephanie Porter
Interim Director for Primary Care and Population Health