To receive any updates from the relevant Portfolio Holders on key issues or actions that have been taken since the last meeting, as appropriate.
Minutes:
The Portfolio Holder for Tourism and Active Health and the Director for Public Health Dorset presented the item. The main points were as follows:
· Covid infection rates remained high in BCP but the curve had plateaued over the start of the Winter period.
· Current rates saw 592 cases per 100,000 of the BCP population in the week leading up to 21 November 2021. This compared to the South West rate of 523 per 100,000 and the English national rate of 428.5 per 100,000.
· Infection rates remained highest in the younger age groups. Primarily in school-aged children and the parental age group.
· Hospitalisation rates were rising but remained significantly lower than where they would be without vaccinations. There were currently 97 hospitalisations in BCP relating to Covid.
· Case rates in BCP were akin to that of the figures in July 2021.
· Demand for the booster programme was very high and the offer had recently been expanded to over 40s.
· 170,000 booster doses had been delivered across BCP, with around 25,000 taking place per week. This rate saw 45% of eligible population vaccinated.
· Walk-in clinic slots were being offered to meet the high demand.
· People could try booking their booster via the national booking service or by waiting to be called by the GP.
· Trusted Voices and Vaccine ambassadors were continuing to work with communities to deliver impartial information about the vaccination campaign in an attempt to increase the take up rate.
· Local Outbreak Management Plans were in place and the importance of testing, tracing and isolation were of the utmost importance.
· EpiCell were producing the near-term forecasts for hospital admission rates over the Winter period. 24 hours, 7 day a week consultant advice was also being made available during the Winter.
· The outbreaks within care homes were slowly increasing, with 36 open situations in BCP.
· The #LetsTalkWinter campaign had been created in order to promote wellness and protection against illness/Covid. The key aims included boosting immunity by way of vaccinations, hygiene such as frequent hand washing, obtaining prescriptions in good time, helping and supporting friends and relatives in the community.
· Supporting schools to stay open, providing targeted assisted lateral flow testing in public locations, extending the local contact tracing partnership until March 2022 and using the Trusted Voices approach and the Let’s Talk Winter campaign to improve communications were all highlighted as key issues and actions for the Winter period.
· The Committee were informed that there was now a ‘pharmacy collect scheme’ in place for people to pick up lateral flow test kits from their local pharmacy or chemist. The scheme required people to obtain a QR code from the national website before collecting a test kit, this was to allow information gathering on the number of kits being requested.
· Members were told that the Community Testing Program provides assisted testing to those groups that cannot access QR codes or online facilities. These testing zones are usually in high footfall areas within BCP Council and will be supporting the Winter Wonderland and Christmas shopping areas.
· On the issue of booster jabs, the Committee heard that the JCVI advise that the third dose (or booster jab) can be a different vaccine to your previous vaccines. In some instances this might offer additional protection as the vaccines are different and there is no need to worry if third dose is different.
· On the issue of the Omicron variant, the Director for Public Health Dorset informed the Committee that it was too early to know much and that data was currently being collected from the international community. There was no certainty yet to compare to the previously dominant Delta variant.
· Members heard that the previous thought that Covid would now be considered a seasonal virus had changed given the issues connected with ongoing transmission allowing the virus to mutate. New variants may pose a greater threat in the future and it’s not solely about the vaccination programme as we need to remember other public health measures that can be useful in preventing transmissions going forward.
· The Committee were reassured that the vital work within the community via the Community Action Network and the Together We Can campaign help people within society would continue.
· On the issue of vaccinators, members heard that the local system had a limited number of trained vaccinators which could pose a challenge given the rollout to all ages of the booster. Additional capacity would need to be created for this in the coming weeks.
RESOLVED that the Committee noted the update.
Voting: Unanimous.