Discussion with Kenny Gibson, NHS England.
Minutes:
The officer from NHS England reported that The World Health Organisation (WHO) had stated that all Western countries will be without vaccine preventable diseases by 2020. Immunisation was the best chance to prevent the spread of disease.
An important change had recently been made; Hepatitis B was now a vaccination available for all of London and it was a requirement to jab three or four times before a child is 12 months old.
Havering was the national leader on flu vaccinations. Children as young as four-years-old had self-administered flu vaccines nasally. This had been received well, and put Havering at the top of the league for pilot schemes within schools.
All children in SEN schools were to be given flu vaccines, as well as all teachers, members of staff and parents of these children. Havering was unique in the UK in this respect.
Teenagers had been given ‘dovetailed’ vaccinations, having multiple vaccinations at the same time (HPV, School leavers’ vaccine and MENC). These had been available in schools, pharmacies and other locations, as opposed to doctor’s surgeries, to prevent overloading with immunisation. Records were forwarded to doctors to ensure full health records were maintained.
It had been recommended that all health care providers should have all front line staff vaccinated.
67,000 people had attended community pharmacies for seasonal flu vaccination, and pertussis (maternal whooping cough vaccination). Pharmacies had been working in collaboration with the Council, and now provided ‘at cost’ injections for flu to health and social care professionals.
Suggestions for venues for vaccinations were welcomed, as restricted opening hours of doctors surgeries had been identified as not matching the busy schedules of families, perhaps including children’s centres.
Councillor Ford queried if schools were still providing vaccinations. It was advised schools had previously, but waste management issues made this problematic, though not impossible. The administering of HPV vaccines was currently being discussed and guidance on this was expected shortly from Public Health England. Around the borough, vaccination receivers were asked if the service was good. 65% said yes within GP surgeries. Within pharmacies, this figure was 92%.
It was not possible to say at this stage if there were any specific gaps of social groups or those with specific conditions or circumstances that had not received immunisation. Officers would check if a report detailing the social groups of those immunised could be produced. At this time social groups are not analysed.
There was also an issue of availability of immunisation with for example uptake of shingles vaccinations being poor, but GPs only being allocated 5 inoculations per week. The logistics needed to be changed in order to improve the rate of vaccination.
It was advised that all SEN children aged 2 – 4 years old presently received seasonal flu vaccinations, but it had been agreed to roll this out to every child from ages 2 – 19. There was a change in progress to make these self-administered vaccinations.
Social Workers and care workers were offered free flu vaccinations last year. It was confirmed that they, along with the remainder of the workforce in the Council will be also able to receive free vaccinations this year.