Skip to main content

Agenda item

Immunisation Programmes in Westminster

To receive an update on immunisation programmes in Westminster.

Minutes:

5.1      Catherine Heffernan (Principal Advisor for Commissioning Immunisations and Vaccination – NHS England) introduced the report, which provided an overview of adult, childhood and school age immunisation programmes in Westminster for 2018/19. Details were provided on vaccine coverage and uptake of the programmes along with an account of what NHS England and Improvement (NHSE&I) London Region were doing to improve uptake and coverage.The Committee also invited Russell Styles (Deputy Director of Public Health), Anna Cox (Public Health Business Partner), Kevin Driscoll (Central London CCG) and Louise Proctor (West London CCG) to join the discussion on this item.

 

5.2      The Committee discussed the importance of IT in monitoring immunisation levels and the role it could play in improving coverage. Information on the different IT systems used to extract immunisation data was provided and how three different providers provided the interface between general practices and the Child Health Information Service (CHIS). It was recognised that the system in London was very complicated and issues with the data had the potential to make it difficult to locate pockets of the community which had low levels of uptake. The Committee was advised that the processes were improving however, and it was expected that these benefits would shortly be recognised. A National Events Management System, which was a pilot programme, was currently being rolled out in North East London to deliver a more joined-up, user friendly IT package which it was hoped would resolve some of the data issues currently experienced. An expression of interest from the Committee in the possibility of Westminster becoming involved in this pilot was welcomed and could be explored.

 

5.3      An overview of various other initiatives being developed was provided which the Committee was interested to note. These included proposals by NHS England to introduce an e-consent service to tackle issues around school age vaccinations relating to refusals, lack of return of paper forms, self-consent and lack of school support. The initiative involved developing a communication strategy between providers and schools as well as developing an escalation process that could be followed. This would make it easier for residents to agree to immunisations, improve uptake in general practice populations and allow rates to be monitored. The Committee was informed that a plan focusing on improving the uptake of MMR rates for those children aged 2 and under was also being implemented. The importance of improving these rates was discussed and the Committee suggested that the possibility of setting up a pilot scheme to extend the school vaccination programme out to nurseries be explored.

 

5.4      The Committee was interested to learn that Westminster had a high number of private practices compared to other boroughs. This posed a challenge to recording levels of uptake as a child could register in the area and therefore show up on the CHIS system. However, they may never actually access their GP or alternatively have certain vaccinations and then receive others privately. As private practice data cannot be accessed, it was currently unknown what number this constituted. The Committee expressed concern with regards to this barrier to producing accurate information and requested that potential mechanisms requiring private practices to share immunisation rates be explored.

 

5.5      Detailed discussions were held on other barriers to immunisation and how uptake and coverage could be improved within Westminster. The issue around some of the MMR vaccines containing porcine gelatine was discussed and how this had resulted in low uptake across some communities. It was noted that suitable alternative vaccinations were available which did not contain porcine gelatine. The Committee highlighted the importance of ensuring residents were aware that suitable alternative vaccinations were available and it was suggested that if possible non-porcine vaccinations be provided throughout the borough as a default position.

 

           RESOLVED:

 

1)    That NHS England be requested to continue to explore methods of extending an e-consent service to tackle uptake issues around school age vaccinations;

 

2)    That vaccination providers be encouraged to make residents aware that suitable alternative non-porcine vaccinations were available and if possible provide non-porcine vaccinations throughout the borough as a default position;

 

3)    That all groups involved with immunisations in Westminster be encouraged to promote immunisation uptake across the city;

 

4)    That potential mechanisms requiring private GP practices to share immunisation rates be explored;

 

5)    That the possibility of Westminster participating in the National Events Management System pilot IT programme, currently being rolled in North East London, be explored; and

 

6)    That the possibility of setting up a pilot scheme to extend the school vaccination programme out to nurseries be explored.

Supporting documents: