Birmingham’s chief medical officer has urged businesses in the region to help their employees get vaccinated against Covid-19.

Dr Justin Varney (pictured) joined a panel of speakers yesterday as part of the ‘Quarterly Business Report Q2: The Road to Recovery in Greater Birmingham’ on-line event, hosted by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC).

The event also featured Raj Kandola, head of policy at the GBCC, Sam Taylor creative director at Tinker Taylor and Jo Birch, director of innovation for event sponsors Birmingham City University. 

As the largest business sentiment report of its kind in the region, the QBR provides a snapshot of the performance of the Greater Birmingham business community.

Mr Kandola explained that this quarter shows a sure surge in business optimism as national restrictions ease, signified by an increase in domestic demand, a steady climb in international sales and an upturn in recruitment levels.

Dr Varney urged the business community to play their part in the Government’s vaccination drive.

He said that with cases rising in Birmingham to a rate of 28 per 100,000, the region’s newest concern is the spread of the Delta variant which was originally identified in India and Pakistan.

Due to the reduced severity of cases after either dose of the vaccine, Dr Varney strongly encouraged businesses to make vaccinations as accessible as possible to their staff in order to prevent rising workplace outbreaks.

He said: “The NHS are working incredibly hard and this is the largest non-war time effort ever. Over 3000 people in this city have died from Covid, which is now more than the Blitz.

“Employers need to give their staff time to get vaccinated, changing HR policy if needed. Particularly with large employers of 100 staff or more, there is always the potential to do a vaccine bus visit to work sites.

“Every adult should be testing twice a week with lateral flow, even if they’ve been vaccinated. This is because we need to be aware if the new variant can override the vaccine.

“Essentially vaccination rates need to be much higher, especially in younger groups as that’s where outbreaks are surging.”

Dr Varney noted that Birmingham’s surrounding areas of Sandwell and Solihull are also experiencing an increase in infection rates, caused by the number of people now travelling outside of their constituencies as businesses have re-opened.

“This is now translating into hospitalisation, moving into double figures and resulting in more people in intensive care beds. The trend it goes in will progress to deaths, and we are in the timeline I would expect for it to go that way.”

Dr Varney implored people to continue investing their money and enjoying their freedoms locally so that the region can reduce infection rates and sustain business optimism.

Walk-in (no appointment) Covid vaccinations are now available at Millennium Point and Aston Villa Football Club between 10am and 4pm, Wednesdays to Sundays for under 40s.

Edgbaston Cricket Ground is open on Sunday between the same hours for over 40s.

Holte Secondary School is also open for vaccines from 9:30am to 3:30pm for over 18s.

To find out other venues for walk-in vaccinations, including mobile vaccination units, go to:  www.birminghamandsolihullcovidvaccine.nhs.uk/walk-in