Winter saw several successful vaccination programmes in Dumfries and Galloway, with uptake of vaccines against COVID-19, flu, RSV and many others ahead of the Scottish average.
This was one of the key areas of work highlighted in a report by the Chair of the NHS Public Health Committee which was brought to NHS Dumfries and Galloway’s Board this week.
Welcoming what was set out in the report, Director of Public Health Valerie White said: “It is a great testament to the hard work of teams across the region that our vaccination programmes have been so successful again and I am grateful to our local population for coming forward to receive the vaccinations they are eligible for. Vaccination is quite simply one of the most effective actions people can take to protect themselves from illness – and it helps protect the people around them as well.”
The report highlighted strong local performance across several vaccination programmes – uptake for vaccinations against flu, RSV, COVID-19 and routine childhood vaccinations was once again higher than the Scottish average. And the report also highlighted the importance of encouraging as many health care staff as possible to take up the opportunity to get vaccinated.
“Helping our own staff stay healthy is our duty, and it’s also an important part of ensuring we can continue to deliver services,” added Valerie White. “Vaccination uptake among health care workers is a priority across Scotland and, like every other health board, we will be working hard on this.”
The committee also updated on work progressing with Community Planning Partners to help create environments that are supportive of having a healthy weight. Maintaining a healthy weight is a challenge felt across Scotland and locally, with current data for Dumfries and Galloway indicating that 72% of adults are overweight or obese, and 27% of P1 children are at risk of being overweight or obese.
Ms White noted: “Healthy weight is shaped by complex, interlinked factors: food environment, poverty, planning, culture, digital influence, activity levels and biological susceptibility. This means we need to shift our focus on changing our environments to support and enable people to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.”
A range of other reports presented in the Public Health Committee Chair’s briefing outlined NHS Dumfries and Galloways continued focus on improving population health.
For more information on screening programmes, vaccinations, or support services, people can visit the NHS Dumfries and Galloway website or obtain guidance and advice from the national website www.nhsinform.scot
The Physical Activity Strategy is online at dgdoingmore.co.uk