Agenda item

The Committee considered a joint report of the Integrated Care Board and the Director of Public Health, Communities, Law and Governance, Leicestershire County Council, which provided an overview of life course vaccination delivery across Leicestershire. A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 12’, is filed with these minutes.

The Committee welcomed to the meeting for this item Dr Naomi Caldwell, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Integrated Care Board.

Arising from discussions the following points were noted:

(i)           The NHS used a variety of communication methods to remind people to get vaccinated including texts, phone calls and messages through the NHS app.

(ii)         All partners including councillors had a role to play in encouraging people to get vaccinated.

(iii)        The table at paragraph 45 of the report showed that the percentage of children receiving a second dose of the MMR vaccine was lower than the percentage receiving the first dose and members questioned why parents did not ensure children received the second dose. In response it was explained that this could be due to a number of factors including the ability to access the vaccine and concerns about the safety of the vaccine.

(iv)       The table at paragraph 45 also showed that the Market Harborough and Bosworth Primary Care Network (PCN) had particularly low vaccination rates and members queried why this may be. The Cross Counties Primary Care Network had much better vaccination figures and Members suggested that analysis should take place of why one PCN was better than the other and what learning could be implemented in other PCNs.

(v)         It was suggested that there was a lack of awareness amongst the public of the severity of some diseases, and publicity campaigns needed to make the possible consequences of catching the disease very clear in order to encourage people to get vaccinated.

(vi)       There was a particularly low uptake of vaccines in some minority ethnic communities, for example Bangladeshi and Black African communities. In response to a query as to whether this was a cultural issue or a communication issue, it was acknowledged that the language barrier could create challenges but also explained that people from those cultures were more likely to live in areas of high deprivation. Vaccine rates were generally low in areas of high deprivation. There were also difficulties in collecting data regarding some ethnicities and cultures.

(vii)      Vaccines in some other countries were not as reliable and effective as those available in the UK. Therefore, people coming from those countries to the UK could have less confidence in vaccines. Work needed to take place to improve confidence in UK vaccines and knowledge about the UK health system generally amongst immigrants. In response to a question as to whether an individual could be required as part of the UK visa application process to provide evidence that they had received particular vaccines and immunisations, it was agreed that further information regarding this would be circulated after the meeting.

(viii)    Concerns were raised about vaccine hesitancy and negative information in the public domain about vaccines and specific individuals who were campaigning against their use. It was suggested that positive data about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines needed to be better publicised to assure the public.

(ix)       A member suggested that some diseases such as polio had been completely eradicated due to vaccines and therefore it should be possible to eradicate other diseases and infections regardless of the challenges which existed.

(x)         Consent was required before a vaccine could be administered and there were occasions where a parent had consented for their child to be vaccinated but on the day of vaccination the child made it clear that they did not want to be vaccinated and under these circumstances the vaccine could not be administered. These situations had to be managed carefully and sensitively so as not to deter individuals from ever having themselves or their children vaccinated. Educating people was more effective than draconian approaches.

RESOLVED:

That the update on vaccination delivery across Leicestershire be welcomed.