Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Covid-19 Vaccine: Take-up Rates in London

09 March 2021 · 10 other contributors · 13,290 words

Opened by Andrew Slaughter Lab Hammersmith and Chiswick

Responding minister: Nadhim Zahawi

NHS

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Andrew Slaughter raised concerns about covid-19 vaccine: take-up rates in london in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Mr Andrew Slaughter expressed concern over low vaccine take-up rates in London, noting less than 2% of the population had received a second dose.
  • Mr Slaughter highlighted supply shortages and operational challenges in primary care network centres, particularly in deprived areas.
  • Mr Slaughter urged the government to confirm an expected increase in vaccine supply and to support local initiatives addressing vaccine hesitancy.

Key requests to Government

Mr. Slaughter urged the Minister to confirm an expected substantial increase in vaccine supply from next week, opening up more vaccination centres and providing support for local initiatives addressing vaccine hesitancy. He also requested funding and resources to assist with contacting individuals who have declined or not been contacted regarding vaccinations.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Andrew Slaughter Lab Hammersmith and Chiswick

Mr. Andrew Slaughter expressed concern about the vaccine take-up rates in London, noting that about one third of the population has had a first dose, while less than 2% have received a second dose. He highlighted issues such as supply shortages, operational challenges for GP-run primary care network centres, and vaccine hesitancy in deprived areas like White City. The MP pointed out significant discrepancies between take-up rates in prosperous versus poorer areas, with some underprivileged regions lagging behind at less than 75%.

Other contributors (10)
  • Alex Norris Lab Co-op Nottingham North and Kimberley

    Congratulated the lead MP on securing the debate, highlighting the need for granular data to address inequalities in vaccine take-up. Emphasized the importance of local authorities in connecting with constituents and providing tailored solutions. Raised concerns about lower vaccination rates in poorer communities compared to wealthier areas within London, noting disparities between ethnic groups as well. Asked what assessment Ministers have made of the impacts of such decisions on healthcare capacity.

  • Bob Blackman Con Harrow East

    More than 70,000 people in Harrow have received their first vaccination out of an adult population of just under 200,000. However, there are supply problems with only 400 doses arriving when the capacity is roughly 860 doses a day, hindering faster vaccine rates. There is reluctance among certain communities to get vaccinated and difficulties in contacting younger people with underlying health conditions.

  • Feryal Clark Lab Enfield North

    Clark praised NHS workers for their efforts but highlighted concerns over vaccine distribution disparities. She pointed out that communities with high covid rates and poor healthcare provision had low vaccine uptake due to barriers such as the digital divide and lack of nearby centres.

  • Fleur Anderson Lab Putney

    She highlighted the lower vaccination rate in south-west London compared to other areas, citing Roehampton as an example with a built but unopened vaccination centre despite high deprivation and spikes of covid infection. She stressed the importance of local centres for vulnerable populations to combat vaccine hesitancy among young people and ethnic minorities.

  • Helen Hayes Lab Dulwich and West Norwood

    She highlighted the need for addressing vaccine hesitancy among minority ethnic communities due to historical reasons, lack of sick pay, and structural racism. She noted that over a quarter of over-80s in Lambeth and Southwark had not received their first jab, with African and Caribbean residents having significantly lower vaccination rates compared to white residents.

  • Karen Buck Lab Westminster North

    Karen Buck expressed gratitude for the NHS and public health staff but highlighted concerns about lower vaccination rates in London, particularly in Westminster North with only 69% coverage among those aged 65-plus. She noted that understanding local data is crucial due to complex population characteristics and raised issues regarding inconsistencies between different datasets. Concerns were also voiced over accurate recording of populations and the impact on hard-to-reach groups such as single individuals, people with mental health issues, and high private rental turnover rates.

  • Lyn Brown

    She pointed out that the vaccine roll-out has been less effective for younger and vulnerable populations in London due to high deprivation levels. She mentioned that uptake was only 37% among the most deprived group, compared to 60% among the affluent group.

  • Rupa Huq Lab Ealing Central and Acton

    She noted the uneven vaccine roll-out in London, highlighting that it took a week for vaccines to reach Ealing after they were available elsewhere. She expressed concern about vaccination hesitancy and supply issues, particularly in deprived areas of her constituency like Acton.

  • Rushanara Ali Lab Bethnal Green and Stepney

    The speed of the vaccine roll-out is a source of hope, but there are significant health inequalities in inner London due to factors such as overcrowded housing, intergenerational households, and deprivation. Local GP surgeries and pharmacies need more support to vaccinate those who have not yet taken up the offer. The unpredictability of supply hinders optimal outcomes.

  • Siobhain McDonagh Lab Mitcham and Morden

    She expressed concern about the low vaccination take-up rates in Mitcham and Morden compared to Wimbledon within the borough of Merton, highlighting significant inequalities. She criticised the decision to open new large-scale vaccination centres miles away from wards with the lowest take-up and lower car ownership.

Government Response

Nadhim Zahawi

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Christopher. I thank the hon. Member for Hammersmith for his collegiate way in highlighting concerns and raising the issue of covid vaccinations in London. At the turn of the year, we were seeing over 50,000 new cases daily and more than 1,000 deaths per day, including 1,100 weekly in London alone. The vaccine is working, with levels of antibodies highest among those aged over-80 and a single dose offering protection against severe infection for the over-70s at over 80%. Enthusiasm remains high at 94% willingness to be vaccinated. I am concerned about uptake in BAME communities, which is why I spend time talking to community leaders. On February 13th, we published our covid-19 vaccine uptake strategy to improve uptake across all communities. The plan takes a local community-led approach with support from the NHS and local authorities, including engagement at local level using trusted voices. We are committed to providing advice and information to address disinformation. The funding is targeted at areas with plans to reach vulnerable groups such as older people, disabled individuals, and those from ethnic minority backgrounds, allocating £23 million in 16 local areas. I reassure hon. Members that our supply and scheduled deliveries will support vaccination of priority groups by mid-April. Parts of the country have made significant progress, and we are putting more supply into areas where needed. London vaccine allocations are now managed at a regional level based on uptake data and delivery methods used. Pop-up sites and roving models are also employed to reach under-served communities. I confirm that Novotel will open next week as a vaccination centre with 200 sites across London now vaccinating, and charities like Age UK offer free travel for over-50s. ONS data may have double counting issues compared to NIMS data which is more accurate but we provide both datasets. NHS has made progress in vaccine supply including amendments allowing GPs to take on unregistered individuals, undocumented people can be vaccinated under new contracts. Strategy launched on 13 February focuses on health inequalities and uses mosques for vaccination during Ramadan based on religious guidance from Dr Habib Naqvi.

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