Contents
Introduction
Within the wider Devon system, cases of anti-vax disruption have been steadily on the increase. As a system, our vaccination centres, local vaccination offers through our Primary Care, Community Pharmacies and Outreach service also seen a rise in activity at a local level.
We have seen persistent anti-vax activity, increasing in aggression and intimidation and impacting on vaccine take-up and the safety of patients and staff. Schools have already been targeted by individuals wishing to disrupt the vaccination/immunisation process as the programme moved into an education and learning setting and we are also aware of increasing anti-vax activity towards our care home partners.
We again would like to ask any anti-vax disruptions that you experience (email, telephone, physical demonstration, face to face challenge) in your care setting outside are reported through a simple form, known as an ‘SBAR‘.
This is not a mandatory requirement, but completion of the SABR form will ensure that the issues that you have seen can be reported both nationally and locally and will supports our Devon-wide intelligence gathering and also ensures that we can work with Devon and Cornwall Constabulary to provide local support where needed.
We are also aware of the personal impact that these instances have on staff and offer a range of wellbeing services for those affected. We would expect a similar opportunity to be made available for staff in your employment setting. The expectation sadly, is that anti-vax disruption will continue and increase for the foreseeable future and for the duration of the vaccination delivery programme.
Your support in this process is very much appreciated.
Mark Elster
Programme Assurance Lead Devon Mass Vaccination Programme
NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group.
Themes from recent anti-vax activities
- Increased public demonstrations in the last week, attempts have been made to ‘close vaccination centres down by the issuing of ‘legal papers’
- Increased Anti-vax propaganda, posters and ‘stickering’.
- Mis-information in local media/social media.
- Email based ‘cease and desist’ correspondence.
- Public Demonstrations.
- Verbal Aggression.
Actions to be taken by local sites
| Anti-vax activity | Actions |
|---|---|
| Peaceful anti-vax demo taking place outside a clinic. Protesters are not interacting with staff or public attending the clinic in any way. |
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| Anti-vax demo taking place outside a clinic. Protesters are interacting with staff or public attending the clinic including distribution of materials, preventing accessor throwing items. |
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| Protestors are trying to ‘serve’ legal notices to staff. |
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| Emails or written materials are received by the site. |
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| Telephone calls received. |
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| Anti-vaccination posters/stickers |
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| Comments on social media posts |
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| Emails with long list of challenges to giving children the COVID-19 vaccine. Please note that these emails often come from someone claiming not to be ‘anti-vax’ or a ‘concerned parent’. |
|
Be S.A.F.E.R
How NHS staff can self-assess conflict situations at vaccination sites:
Step back to protect yourself. By stepping back you will be able to assess what is going on.
Assess the situation. Consider any potential dangers by assessing the Person (P), any dangerous Objects (O) and the Place (P) where the conflict is arising (POP).
Find help. The scale of help needed can depend on the situation. Tell your site manager or if required call emergency services.
Evaluate the options. You may need to completely move away from the situation and let someone with experience manage the situation.
Respond appropriately. Continue assessing the threat being posed and always ask yourself ‘do I feel safe?’