Harrogate hospital staff shortages delay schools vaccine programme

The rollout of covid jabs to 12 to 15-year-old pupils in Harrogate schools has been delayed, amid fears they now won’t happen until February.

The government initially said all children in that age group would be offered jabs by half-term, which starts this weekend.

Harrogate’s Ashville College issued a statement today saying vaccinations were due to be supplied and administered by the Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust childhood immunisations team on school premises.

The independent day and boarding school added:

“Ashville College can confirm there is unfortunately a delay to the roll-out of the 12 to 15-year-old covid vaccinations.

“The college has notified parents of this and will re-organise vaccinations on-site as soon as supplies allow. In the meantime, we have advised parents of pupils aged 12 to 15 to arrange their own vaccination at a drop-in clinic via the NHS website page, ‘Book or manage your coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination’.”

The college, which was unable to give an estimated start date, blamed the situation on vaccine shortages.

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But a spokesperson for Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust said this was incorrect. They added:

“Whilst our covid vaccination programme for children aged between 12 and 15 is operating across North Yorkshire and areas in the North East, current staffing capacity has impacted on how soon we can visit some schools.

“We are continuing to develop our timetables and have given all schools a provisional date as to when we will be visiting and will notify them at least one week before our planned visit. Consent packs will be sent to families one week prior to the session. If the opportunity arises, we will look at bringing forward these dates so that we can undertake vaccinations sooner.

“We welcome the recent announcement that parents will now be able to check the NHS National Booking System to see if they can book a covid vaccination for their child at a convenient location, such as a vaccination centre.

“The booking service provides an additional choice alongside the school immunisation programme so that children can be vaccinated as quickly as possible.”

Two parents, who asked not to be named, have contacted the Stray Ferret today saying they have been told by their children’s schools that vaccines won’t be given now until February.

One parent said the Harrogate district’s vaccination programme was lagging five months behind other parts of the country.

“Why are we so far behind given that Harrogate is a hotspot for covid cases at the moment? How many young people will unnecessarily develop long covid as a result of these delays?

The district’s covid rate was 727 per 100,000 people yesterday — the highest in the county.

Parents to protest against covid jabs for children outside St Aidan’s

A group of parents of St Aidan’s Church of England High School pupils will form a ‘human chain’ outside the school tomorrow to protest against giving covid vaccines to children aged 12-15.

Children will be able to get their first shot of coronavirus vaccine from next week, the government has confirmed. It says this will reduce the chances of children getting covid and reduce the spread of the virus.

However, a group of Harrogate mums and dads angered by the move will hold a demonstration tomorrow. At least 10 parents are expected to take part in the protest on Oatlands Drive at 10.30am.

One of the parents, Laura Brett, told the Stray Ferret that giving vaccines to schoolchildren was “100% not worth the risk” and she hoped the protest would send a message to government.

She said:

“We need to do something. It’s like a bad dream. The narrative the government gives us doesn’t make sense.

“Vaccinating children on school grounds feels totally unethical. It’s a disgrace.”

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Another parent, Alexandra Campbell, told the Stray Ferret she was taking part in the protest because she doesn’t believe the vaccine will benefit children.

She added:

“The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation have not recommended it for children but the government are ignoring this and doing it anyway. No one knows the long-term effects so why on earth would anyone want to put this in children’s bodies.

“This should be about choice, not pressure, virtue signalling or guilt.”

The Stray Ferret contacted St Aidan’s but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

350 Harrogate hospital staff not fully vaccinated against covid

About 350 frontline staff at Harrogate hospital have not been fully vaccinated against covid, it has been revealed, as a consultation on whether to make the jabs mandatory gets underway.

That figure represents just under 10% of the 3,598 frontline staff at the hospital and was revealed by Dr Jacqueline Andrews, executive medical director at the Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust.

She said the trust was urging all remaining staff to get doubled jabbed and that managers were speaking with those workers about their concerns.

Dr Andrews said: 

“It is vitally important that we all continue to do everything we can to minimise the risk of covid-19 transmission in hospital and in the community.

“We have encouraged and supported all our staff to be fully vaccinated against covid to keep themselves, their families, fellow colleagues and patients safe and improve our organisational resilience over what is likely to be a challenging winter.”

Government plans are already in place to make it a legal requirement for all care home workers to be fully vaccinated, while implementing the same rules for frontline NHS staff is currently being considered in a consultation.

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Across North Yorkshire, around 430 care home workers are not fully vaccinated and health officials have insisted they are making progress on reducing this number.

The date from which it will become a legal requirement for all care home staff in England to be double jabbed, unless medically exempt, is November 11.

Concern over mandatory vaccines

The move has sparked concerns that making the jabs mandatory could lead to thousands of job losses, which would only worsen the current staffing shortages in both sectors.

And there are now new warnings that employers could face legal action if they sack staff because they have not been fully vaccinated.

Ben Kirkham, regional organiser for the GMB union, said mandatory vaccines could open the door to claims of unfair dismissal if employers sacked staff without offering them redeployment into roles where vaccines were not required.

He said: 

“GMB is opposed to a mandatory requirement for NHS staff – or any other employees – to be vaccinated.

“If the government takes this course and an employer thinks that this gives them the green light to dismiss our members then they need to think again.

“Dismissing any employee because they have not been vaccinated still gives rise to the potential for a claim for unfair dismissal. That employer would still be obliged to look for alternative work for the employee to undertake.

“At one stage we were clapping on a Thursday to show our thanks for the work the NHS and social care staff did during the pandemic, now the government hopes we will get behind insisting they be vaccinated so they can continue to be employed – that simply cannot be right.”

‘We must protect patients’

The consultation on mandatory vaccines for NHS staff is seeking views on the proposals and any impact on staffing and safety such as reducing staff sickness absence.

Staff, healthcare providers, patients and their families are all being urged to have their say, with a final decision expected this winter.

Launching the consultation last week, health secretary Sajid Javid said: 

“Many patients being treated in hospitals and other clinical settings are most at risk of suffering serious consequences of covid-19, and we must do what we can to protect them.

“We will consider the responses to the consultation carefully but, whatever happens, I urge the small minority of NHS staff who have not yet been jabbed to consider getting vaccinated – for their own health as well as those around them.”

Harrogate law firm leads legal challenge over child vaccines

A Harrogate law firm is to lead a legal challenge against the government’s decision to recommend covid vaccines for 12 to 15-year-olds.

Truth Legal has been instructed by Consent, a Gloucestershire-based healthcare charity, to challenge the government and stop children getting vaccinated without fully informed consent from their parents.

Professor Chris Witty, the government’s chief medical officer, today recommended administering a single vaccine for 12 to 15-year-olds after concluding it would have wider benefits for mental health and education.

Ministers will now decide on whether to accept the recommendation.

However, Consent is set to launch a legal challenge after raising concerns that experts still have mixed views over the decision.

Andrew Gray, founder and solicitor at Truth Legal, which is representing the charity, said: 

“We are representing Consent in their quest of investigating what protocol the government is intending to follow to guarantee the safety of our children and ensure that parental consent is a key element of consideration. 

“We have written to the Department of Health, Public Health England and NHS England to demand their policy on the vaccination of children. We still await their reply.”

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which advises the government on immunisation, previously recommended against vaccinating children because the “individual health benefits” were small.

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However, Professor Whitty said a single dose of a vaccine would “make a material difference”.

Oliver Müller, a trustee for Consent, said: 

“We are very concerned that children will be able to consent to a medical treatment, which even experts are divided over and which may not be in the child’s best interest.

“Even parents may not have enough information to make a fully informed and therefore legally valid consent decision. We are prepared to go to court and have retained leading counsel and solicitors at Truth Legal.”

Truth Legal, whose head office is on Victoria Avenue, also has offices in Leeds.

500 staff at North Yorkshire care homes could leave due to compulsory vaccinations

About 500 care workers in North Yorkshire could be forced out of their jobs when compulsory vaccines come into force in November.

Many care homes are already struggling to recruit staff and this is set to exacerbate the problem, with 5.5% of the workforce set to lose their jobs.

From November 11, it will become a legal requirement for all staff working in care homes to be fully vaccinated against covid – unless they are exempt – in order to protect elderly and vulnerable residents most at risk from the virus.

Health officials in North Yorkshire say they are supportive of this but are calling for the rules to be applied also to NHS staff to prevent a wave of care workers quitting their jobs to join the health sector.

Speaking at a meeting last week, Cllr Michael Harrison, executive member for adult services and health integration at North Yorkshire County Council, said: 

“If nothing changes, quite simply there will be around 500 people currently working in North Yorkshire’s care sector who will no longer be able to do so.

“It will be illegal to employ them and that would be a terrible shame.

“This is a consequence which needs to be avoided so we are lobbying government at the moment.

“That said, I am a full supporter of mandatory vaccinations and it does disappoint me that there are so many people working in the sector who are refusing to be vaccinated.”

There are currently 8,967 care staff working in North Yorkshire, both at the county council and at private companies.

Of those, a total of 494 have refused vaccines, representing 5.5% of the workforce.

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Health officials have insisted they are making progress on bringing these numbers down, but the looming November 11 deadline comes at a time when the sector is also facing surging demand and serious recruitment issues with around 1,000 jobs currently vacant.

Cllr Harrison said: 

“It is fair to say that the workforce in adult care has quite simply started to evaporate in recent weeks. Even this month we have seen a 70 per cent drop in applications for vacant positions.”

The staffing situation has also led to warnings from the Independent Care Group, which represents independent care homes, that an army of volunteers could be needed to avoid a “winter meltdown” in staff numbers.

Mike Padgham, chair of the non-profit organisation, which provides care services in North Yorkshire and York, said: 

“The staffing crisis is now so bad that providers are battling day-to-day to cover shifts both in homes and in looking after people in their own home.

“Many say it is the worst they have known in more than 30 years and so we need urgent action now before the added pressures of winter turn this into a total meltdown.”

Mr Padgham has also previously spoken of his “dismay” over compulsory vaccines, saying the government is creating another barrier to recruitment and “forcing people to do something against their will”.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid last month urged care workers to book their vaccine appointments as soon as possible with the “grace period” ending on 11 November.

How many, or how few, staff choose to do so could well determine how well care homes cope in the coming months.

North Yorkshire health officials urge 16 and 17-year-olds to get jab

Teenagers aged 16 and 17 in North Yorkshire are being urged to get vaccinated against covid “as soon as possible” ahead of the return to school and college next week.

Those who fall into this age group were first offered a vaccine dose last month, but unlike others no second jab is being scheduled.

The government set a target of offering everyone aged 16 and 17 their first dose or the chance to book one by August 23, and Louise Wallace, director of public health for North Yorkshire, said they should now take up the opportunity “as soon as possible”.

Speaking at a meeting of North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which is a collaboration of agencies fighting covid, today, she said: 

“The key message does remain the same for everyone across the county who is eligible for a vaccine to come forward. It is still the best form of protection.

“If you are 16 or 17 years of age, please come forward and get vaccinated as soon as possible – and ideally before you go back to school.”

Her plea coincides with NHS England beginning to draw up plans for a possible extension of the vaccination programme to all 12 to 15-year-olds.

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However, experts on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which advises the government, have yet to make a final decision on whether it should go ahead – and there are national reports that they may opt against it because of fears it could disrupt the programme of boosters for older people.

School bubble groups scrapped

School distancing rules, ‘bubble’ groups and staggered starts have now been scrapped, although ventilation measures and extra hygiene precautions will still be in place.

All secondary pupils are also being urged to get tested either at school or in the community before term starts. After that, pupils will be encouraged to carry on with the twice-weekly testing regime in order to keep cases under control.

Ms Wallace said it was “massively” important that pupils now made a return to school.

She added: 

“All schools and colleges are advised to keep continuing with regular hand washing, cleaning regimes and keeping spaces well ventilated.

“And of course, we will give support from a local public health perspective to any school or college if they see a spike in cases.”

Harrogate district pub pays staff to get double vaccinated

A Harrogate district pub is paying its staff to get double covid vaccinated in an effort to prevent further closure and keep its team healthy.

Graham Usher, co-owner of The Inn at South Stainley, has put a £100 incentive for staff to have their two covid jabs.

Those who get double vaccinated will receive the payment after their second vaccine.

Mr Usher, who employs 50 people across three sites, said the move to incentivise staff would help with both health and keeping the pub open.

He said:

“It’s cheaper for us to incentivise the team and keep the pub open.

“It’s a much better way to do this, rather than force everyone [to get the vaccine] it is up to them.”

Mr Usher added that the payment also incentivises younger staff to get the vaccinated.

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As of Monday, all 16 and 17 year olds will be offered a first dose of a covid vaccine.

Keeping the pub open

Mr Usher, who took over the pub with his co-owner Matt Rose in April, said The Inn had so far coped well with the so-called “pingdemic”.

He said one or two staff had been told to self-isolate, but the pub had largely managed.

Under new rules introduced on Monday, those who are fully vaccinated are not required to self-isolate when pinged by the NHS covid app.

Some hospitality businesses had to close under the old system after staff were forced to isolate.

Mr Usher added that he hoped that staff getting double jabbed would help prevent the pub from closing due to staff isolation.

Knaresborough vaccine site reassures patients after jabs cancelled

Knaresborough’s vaccine centre has reassured patients it is still offering covid jabs after a technical glitch sent messages cancelling appointments.

Jason Baskind, managing director of Homecare Pharmacy Services, said those who received texts cancelling jabs would still be vaccinated and there was no need to panic.

An NHS technical glitch caused some appointments to be cancelled yesterday. Mr Baskind said NHS England was investigating the issue and hoped to resolve it soon.

He added all appointments would be honoured.

The messages led some residents to question on social media whether the vaccine centre was closing. But Mr Baskind confirmed this wasn’t the case:

“We’re 100% not closing the vaccination centre, there is an issue with the booking system. There’s no need for fear, there are plenty of spaces still available.”

He urged anyone who had their appointment cancelled to email support@hcpharmacy.co.uk with their name, NHS number and date and time off the vaccine.

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Sixty four new positive covid cases in Harrogate district

There have been sixty four new covid cases in the Harrogate district in the past 24 hours.

It brings the total number of people who have tested positive for the virus to 11,377 since the pandemic began.

Data from Public Health England also showed that a total of 228,781 people in the district have had covid vaccines — 123,120 have received one dose, 105,661 have been double jabbed.

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The seven-day case rate per 100,000 population now stands at 246.8 (latest data July 31) in the Harrogate district.

This is below the North Yorkshire average of 251.9 and the England average which is 282.6.

 

Harrogate’s grab-a-jab centre eager for more people to come down

The one-day Harrogate grab-a-jab centre opened to a steady stream of local residents this morning but doctors say they have the capacity to do more.

Around 100 covid vaccines were delivered this morning at the centre but with a capacity to give 500 doctors have called on residents to come get the covid vaccine.

Based at the Wesley Centre, the appointment-free service will be available until 4pm today.

It is offering first and second doses of Pfizer. To be eligible for a second dose, it needs to have been at least eight weeks since your first jab.

It was a slow start this morning but picked up again round lunchtime. The volunteers told the Stray Ferret their main target is 18 to 30-year-olds who may have been putting it off.

Convenience seemed to be the main reason many chose to come to the Wesley Centre today. Talking to the Stray Ferret, a number of people said it was easier than waiting for somewhere further away.

Also, with the so-called ‘Freedom Day’ arriving on Monday others said they wanted to get it done before then.

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Dr Waheed was pregnant when her colleagues were first offered the jab so wanted to get her’s as soon as she could:

“It was convenience for me and they were really good in there, it was really easy. With kids I’m super busy and I didn’t want to have to drive miles away and this was just super convenient. Now I can just go home and knowing the first one is done.”

Sam Polinsey, 20, said he came to grab-a-jab today because it was so easy:

“I just want to be able to go out and do things again, I’m the last one in my friendship group. It was really quick and easy. gave them my date of birth and then got it done.”