WE WOULD ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS TO FIND OUT ABOUT THEIR LOCAL PLAN AND HOW THEY MIGHT CONTRIBUTE TO EFFORTS TO ENSURE NO-ONE IS LEFT BEHIND IN THE ROLL-OUT OF THE VACCINE
registered with a GP as they did not have a fixed address, did not know how to do this, didn’t know about their rights to access services, or were hesitant in accessing statutory services.
One issue that cut across a large number of groups and demographics identified was a lack of access to transport. Many respondents mentioned that the people they worked with could not afford taxis, or that there was no clear public transport or route to get to mass vaccination centres.
Communication The research asked respondents about the public-facing communication regarding the vaccine. This included the TV campaign, as well as the range of information leaflets produced to support various groups.
Respondents felt that the communication was useful for those who could access it and had capacity to engage with it. It was noted that the different accessible formats and languages were helpful as well as pictorial leaflets and videos.
Conclusions From the onset of the research in February 2021, to the publication of the report in early April 2021, there has been a pronounced and very positive shift in approach on the part of those involved in the planning and delivery of the vaccine programme.
The Deep End group of GPs, for example, convened a round table to discuss vaccine deployment for hard-to-reach groups and subsequently put out a press statement about the importance of reaching these groups.
NHS Forth Valley has been collaborating with Scottish Ambulance Service, local authorities and the third sector to implement an assertive outreach vaccine programme for homeless groups, asylum seekers and refugees, and gypsy travellers. This collaboration meant that, in late March, NHS Forth Valley was able to take the vaccine to three supported accommodation sites and a gypsy traveller site. Over the course of three days, they vaccinated 105 individuals, facilitated four new GP registrations, issued
eleven take-home Naloxone kits, helped arrange urgent mental health support and signposted to services like addictions support, food banks and financial aid. Ninety-five per cent of the individuals vaccinated had never previously engaged with an immunisation programme.
Significantly, in mid-March and at the behest of Scottish Ministers, the Scottish Government set up the COVID-19 Vaccine Inclusive Programme Steering Group, which meets weekly and comprises key stakeholders from across the public and third sectors, including VHS.
Overall, this research has primarily established a strong case for the third sector being a key partner in the planning, intelligence gathering, communications, delivery and evaluation of this vaccine programme.
‘Our report,’ said Voluntary Health Scotland’s Chief Executive, Claire Stevens, ‘has been widely acknowledged for its timely call for an equalities approach to the roll-out of the vaccine. Public Health Scotland and the Deep End GPs’ group have applauded our work, and the research has contributed to the Scottish Government's establishment of a COVID-19 Inclusive Vaccine programme of work. The fourteen geographic health boards have now developed their own vaccine inclusive plans, and we would encourage community pharmacists to find out about their local plan and how they might contribute to efforts to ensure no-one is left behind in the roll-out of the vaccine, especially in those communities where health inequalities are most evident.’
WIDESPREAD MISINFORMATION RELATING TO THE VACCINE WERE A BARRIER, AS THESE ADDED TO THE FEAR OR MISTRUST OF THE VACCINE
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