An NHS chief stressed in a meeting yesterday (Tuesday) that they abide by covid trapping rules, but have been given some ‘flexibility’ in classifying people as caregivers or when living in “multigenerational households”.
Geraint Davies, BLMK’s director of performance and governance, said yesterday that vaccinations could be given to people aged 32 and over. This age has since been lowered again.
He added: “We also have the freedom to work locally on so-called multigenerational households and registered and unregistered caregivers.
“We work very flexibly with our suppliers and make sure they have a conversation to see how they can fit into the criteria.”
Mr Davies added, however, that they “can’t do a Bolton” and kick everyone over 18, but they do work as part of the advice on who to kick.
The BLMK Clinical Commissioners meeting also learned that the vaccine approach is not only being used in Bedford, which has been hit hard by the Indian variant, but throughout the BLMK region.
“We will be adopting this throughout BLMK,” Davies said.
“We recognize that worrisome variations are increasing, but not only in Bedford.
“It’s possible that it goes everywhere and we have to be ahead of the curve, not behind the curve, and that’s what we’re trying to do with the immunization program.”
The meeting also learned that seven pharmacies in Bedford are expected to start vaccinating people from June 3, with more in the area to follow.
The Bedford Doctors on Call (Bedoc), which ended its injection service, is relaunching it and hopes to vaccinate 20,000 more people.
NHS chiefs have learned that the vaccination program is learning lessons from Luton and Bedford, where people were able to show up for vaccines without prior reservations.
“By taking the vaccine away and allowing people to access it, you increase the vaccination rate,” Davies said.
They have used mobile “vaccine buses” in Bedford and next week St. John Ambulance is ready to help.
“Bringing the vaccine out into the community meets the 3Cs of complacency, trust and convenience,” Davies said.
They have used mosques, churches and community venues to bring the injection service to areas with the lowest vaccination rates.
The meeting was informed that as of Monday, 532,514 first doses had been administered in the BLMK area, and 308,190 received their second injections.
Mr Davies revealed that the region “should offer” a minimum of 90 percent immunization for people in cohorts 1 to 9.
They have already reached this figure with “more than 90%” among those over 65.
But among people over 50 and over 64, that figure ranges between 83% and 89%, he said.
More about this article: Read More
Source: www.bedfordtoday.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-05-26 10:11:14
