Covid-19 Vaccination Programme recognised in Patient Safety Awards
22 June 2022
Our local Covid-19 Vaccination Programme is a finalist in the Improving Health Outcomes for Minority Ethnic Communities category of the 2022 Health Service Journal Patient Safety Awards. The Programme has been recognised for its insight-driven approach and for the way in which all organisations in our health system worked together to maximise Covid-19 vaccine uptake among Minority Ethnic communities.
Analysis of public health intelligence in December 2020 at the start of the Covid-19 vaccination programme showed that people from Minority Ethnic communities faced a triple threat of being:
- more likely to catch coronavirus,
- becoming more seriously ill from the virus, and
- being less likely to have the vaccine
The Vaccination Programme, and our healthcare partners, were led by and worked with communities as equal partners at a grassroots level across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG). The result has been transformative in building trust and beginning to overcome some of the deeply held, legitimate concerns held by Minority Ethnic communities about the Covid-19 vaccine.
Clare Armour, Programme Lead for the BNSSG Covid-19 Vaccination Programme, said:
“We are thrilled to have been shortlisted for this award. It recognises the incredible work of our local communities to support people affected by Covid-19 and to ensure they are protected by vaccination.
“Our partnership approach with communities, as well as the fantastic local authority teams, has made a real difference to people’s lives and we are extremely proud to have worked with them.”
A full list of the 2022 shortlist can be found on the HSJ website. The winners will be announced on 15 September 2022.