On Tuesday, 26 January, 2021, the Bristol City Council Race Equality COVID-19 Steering Group held a webinar to give residents in the city an opportunity to find out more about how the COVID-19 vaccines work.

Healthcare professionals and experts came together to share information about COVID-19 vaccines, answer residents’ questions and dispel some common myths and misconceptions.

Key Speaker

Dr Rajeka Lazarus, Consultant in Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Principal Investigator for West of England COVID-19 Vaccine studies, Severn Pathology

About

Dr. Lazarus is the Principal Investigator for COVID-19 vaccine studies in the West of England Region. These include the Oxford vaccine study, Janssen vaccine study and a phase 1, first in human study. She has a long history of working with vaccinations, is the co-author of two e-learning courses on vaccines and organises an annual vaccine conference. Dr. Lazarus works with people who may have infectious diseases, advising on the diagnosis and management of all types of infection.

Panel members

Dr Neil Kerfoot, GP Partner, Kingswood Health Centre

About

Dr. Kerfoot has been a local GP for 24 years and is part of the team leading the vaccine roll out in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. His surgery is a vaccination centre for Kingswood, Hanham and Cadbury Heath areas.

Dr. Huzaifa Adamali BSC, MSC, MB, BCH, BAO, MD, FRCP, Consultant in Respiratory Medicine and Interstitial Lung Disease, Bristol Interstitial Lung Disease Service, North Bristol Trust

About

Dr. Adamali has been on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic delivering respiratory care at North Bristol Trust. He has actively recruited for the ‘Trial of Treatments for COVID-19 in Hospitalized Adults (DisCoVeRy) trial’, examined the outcome of hospitalisation of COVID-19 in patients with interstitial lung disease, and examined patient outcomes after hospitalisation with COVID-19. Dr. Adamali has worked with and facilitated Black, Asian and minority ethnic listening events during the pandemic. He is a member of the Bristol COVID-19 Local Engagement Board and Bristol Race Equality COVID-19 Steering Group. He has worked with grass-roots Black, Asian and minority communities during the pandemic, and advised on risk assessments and safety of Black, Asian and minority members. He has also worked in the development of pilot study free flu vaccination program for Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. He is supporting the COVID-19 vaccination delivery.

Julie Northcott, Consultant in Public Health – Health Protection, Bristol City Council

About

Julie leads the seven day Public Health duty desk team, which responds to outbreaks, incidents and queries. They provide advice and support to schools, universities, care homes, workplaces and to settings supporting our most vulnerable, to both prevent COVID-19 and contain when cases happen. The Bristol City Council Public Health Protection team works closely with the NHS and Department of Health and Social Care to support the mass vaccination programme and also increase access to testing.

Mohammed Elsharif, Community Development Manager, Bristol City Council

About

Mohammed leads the outbreak management work for the neighbourhood and community’s service for Bristol City Council. His role is to develop and oversee the outbreak management efforts in North Central Bristol and the setup of the Community Champions who work with Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

Dr. Charlie Kenward, Clinical Lead for Research and Improvement at Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire CCG, and General Practitioner at Southmead & Henbury Family Practice

About

Dr. Kenward is supporting the COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign. He is working to ensure everyone has access and opportunity to receive the vaccine, with a focus on groups we consider at risk of lower than average uptake. He has been a part of our local Health and Care System pandemic response from the beginning and is a GP in Southmead and Henbury.

Dr. Liz Murphy, Retired General Practitioner, Member of MedAct / Patients not Passport

About

Dr Murphy was an inner-city GP for 30 years. She also worked at The Haven, a Primary Care health service for Asylum Seekers and Refugees for 13 years. As part of Patients Not Passports / MedAct, Dr. Murphy is interested in how migrants who face barriers to GP registration will access the Covid-19 vaccine.