The Director of Public Health provided the
Commission with a verbal update. Key points to note were as
follows:
- There had been an increase in MMR 2
uptake meaning that Leicester City was now higher than many
comparator areas.
- There had been an increased uptake
for Flu and Covid vaccinations, detailed figures were not yet
available.
- The HPV school vaccination programme
had commenced in January; a new consent form appeared to have
increased uptake.
- Long-term organisational changes
within ICB and future structure of team responsible for
immunisation and screening not yet determined.
- The TB action plan had been
refreshed with a new plan and risk register.
- Regarding the Meningitis outbreak in
Kent the following was noted:
- It was an unusually large outbreak,
there were now 23 confirmed and probable cases. New cases were not
evident, and the outbreak seemed to be well contained. Suspected
cases in Leicester had not actually been Meningitis.
- The outbreak seemed to have centred
around a nightclub due to close contact as possibly sharing of
drinks and vapes.
- Around 10% of the population were
likely to carry the Meningococcal bacteria, but this was mostly
harmless and did not become invasive.
- This outbreak was Meningitis B, the
vaccination was currently only given to babies, offering good
protection for the first few years and then beginning to wane. For
the other strain (ACWY), vaccinations were offered to school
children aged 13 and 14.
- The UK Health Security Agency and
the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation will be
considering whether including the MenB vaccine in the school aged
schedule is now cost effective.
- Within Leicester, vaccine uptake was
being encouraged via promotional materials and campaigns were being
run directly with young people.
- Leicester vaccination rates for
Meningitis B were at around a 90% uptake for one-year-olds and 86%
for two-year-olds. The school age uptake for the ACWY vaccine was
just less than 50%. It was hoped that the new consent forms would
improve uptake.
- The UK Health Security campaigns
were being utilised and Community Wellbeing Champions and radio
publicity were raising awareness.
- The publicity information and
details on signs and symptoms could be circulated to
councillors.
In response to member and Young People’s
Council (YPC) member questions and discussions, the following was
noted:
- A team from the Leicestershire
Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) go into schools to carry out the
vaccinations.
- Early indications are that the new
process for vaccine consent had led to a 10% point increase across
school vaccinations.
- Meningitis vaccine supply was
sufficient.
- Teams in Public Health were working
closely with ICB colleagues and at LPT to continue to promote the
vaccine message. Messages had been sent to teachers via the
intranet.
- The UK Health Security Agency
carried out contact tracing for those in close contact with
Meningitis cases. GP Practices within Leicester would be able to
supply the necessary antibiotics should they be required.
- Meningitis symptoms could be
confused with many other illnesses, so the advice focussed on
understanding when to raise concerns and call 999. .
- Members recommended that the
Commission write to the Secretary of State for Health and Social
Care for more funding for the vaccination programme for the
city.
- The House of Lords were setting up a
committee to look at childhood vaccination rates; it was hoped that
they would come to Leicester to understand the unique challenges
for the city.
- Children from abroad coming to live
in Leicester would have access to a catch-up vaccination programme
through schools and GPs.
AGREED:
1)
That the report be noted.
2)
That comments made by members of this commission to be taken into
account.
3)
Slides on Meningitis signs and symptoms could be circulated to the
commission.
4)
The presentation which includes data on the rate of
Meningitis vaccine uptake for 14/15 year-olds would be supplied to
the commission.
5)
That the Commission write to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to
request increased funding to promote vaccine coverage in the
city.