Agenda item

An update will be provided at the meeting on the epidemiology of COVID 19 in Northumberland, developments with the Council’s COVID 19 Outbreak Prevention and Control Plan.  Presentation by Liz Morgan, Interim Executive Director for Public Health and Community Services.

Members received an update on the epidemiology of COVID 19 in Northumberland, developments with the Council’s COVID 19 Outbreak Prevention and Control Plan, and Vaccination Programme.  Presentations filed with the signed minutes. 

Liz Morgan, Interim Executive Director for Public Health and Community Services, gave a presentation to the Board and the key points included:-

·            Trends in the seven day rolling rate per 100,000 population for infection episodes across the LA7 was very similar to the national rate with cases at a similar level to the week before Christmas.

·            ONS survey rates for the week up to 5 February 2022 estimated that 1 in 19 showed evidence of infection.  ONS had also surveyed for levels of antibodies in the population and in the week up to 10 January 2022 it was estimated that 98% of the adult population would have tested positive for antibodies.  This level was much lower in 8 – 11 year olds at 63-72%.

·            In Northumberland rates were decreasing across all age bands, however, cases remained high at 2,000+ per week.  The highest rates were in primary school children.  The high level of cases in the Druridge Bay ward was due to an outbreak at HMP Northumberland.

·            Targeted community testing was still being supported but there had recently been many changes to the guidance.   There were plans, nationally, to rationalise PCR testing sites.  Hopefully, the situation would be clarified in the Spring Plan which was due to be announced on 21 February 2022.

·            Regarding contact tracing, there was uncertainty about the responsibility for Local Authorities and funding beyond March 2022.

·            Omicron was less severe but the unvaccinated were eight times more likely to be hospitalised.

·            The unvaccinated/boosted were 8x more likely to be hospitalised that the vaccinated.  There had been a number of large outbreaks but, fortunately, cases were mainly mild or asymptomatic.

·            The situation was very different to 2021 in that there was the extensive vaccination and booster programme, extensive test and trace programmes, treatments and bespoke communications locally and nationally. 

·            It was possible that the end of legislative restrictions would take effect earlier than the planned date of 24 March 2022.

·            Covid may be considered endemic when it became highly predictable or the level of harm was accepted due to the difficulty in eradicating it.  Future waves of infection were to be expected and these would be determined by

·            New variants

·            Changes in number and age distribution of susceptible individuals

·            Seasonality

·            Extent of social mixing.

·            The pattern in the UK was likely to be temporary until the global disease distribution settled.  Covid could not yet be considered to be endemic.

·            Current priorities across the LA7 in included

·            equitable deployment of covid and flu vaccinations

·            continued encouragement of good infection prevention and control measures, hygiene, ventilation etc.

·            Coordinated Test, Trace and Isolate programme and management of outbreaks

·            Involving local communities and protecting vulnerable individuals

·            Monitoring and surveillance

·            Working on health inequalities

·            A number of issues would have to be considered such as the future of test and trace, promotion of IPC measures that were of benefit, waste water testing, the need to stand up interventions again if needed and existing health inequalities along with those exacerbated by covid.

·            Next steps

·            Joint workshop to be held on 14 February 2022 to look at priorities, actions and timescales.

·            Develop a strategic framework for living safely with covid and to update the Local Outbreak Management Plan

·            Review priorities and identify how can work together at scale, building on what had been learned and existing work.

·            Agree a shared programme of work for LA7 to close the gap in health inequalities.

Rachel Mitcheson, Northumberland CCG, provided a presentation on the current vaccination programme and included the following:-

·            Northumberland was performing strongly with vaccine uptake for 1^st dose 90.3%, 2^nd dose 85.6% and booster/3^rd dose 71.1%.

·            Uptake for booster jabs was slower than for previous jabs, however, 86% of eligible patients had received the booster.  The under 50’s were slower to come forward.

·            Uptake for the booster programme had slowed over the New Year.  This was mainly due to the high numbers of infection and the 28 day post infection period during which people could not receive their booster.

·            Under 30s and pregnant women were being targeted to increase uptake in those cohorts.

·            4^th doses for the severely immunosuppressed were being rolled out and 16/17 and ‘at risk’ 12-15 year olds would be invited for second doses and boosters when appropriate.

·            ‘At risk’ 5-11 year olds were being invited for their first dose which was one third of a standard Pfizer dose.

·            An evergreen offer of vaccination remained open to all eligible individuals and could be accessed via PCNs, pharmacies or vaccination centres.

·            The Northumberland Vaccine Equity Board would continue to monitor vaccine uptake, areas of inequality and identify groups for targeted intervention.

·            It was anticipated that an annual Covid booster vaccination would be required by all over 50s and cohorts 1-9.  This was likely to be delivered in line with the seasonal flu vaccination campaign.  Opportunities for co-administration would be maximised where possible.

·            Invaluable lessons had been learned from the vaccine roll out and various scenarios were being planned for in response to high incidence and/or a new variant.  It was necessary to ensure that vaccination services could run alongside routine health and care services.

RESOLVED that the two presentations be received.