Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase covid-19 vaccination rates in areas where those rates are consistently lower than average; what assessment he has made of the reasons for lower take-up rates of that vaccination in those areas; if he will make it his policy to tailor plans to tackle covid-19 vaccination take-up so that those plans accurately reflect the reasons for lower than average vaccination take-up in specific areas; and if he will make a statement.

Assessment of local vaccination rates is led by National Health Service teams. This data is shared daily with local authority Directors of Public Health to identify emerging trends and prevent any developing inequalities locally. Qualitative information about the reasons for vaccine refusal is also collected.

We are working across Government to consider how best to maximise vaccine uptake. A range of information and advice via TV, radio, and social media is targeted in areas with lower vaccination rates.

On 10 June 2021, NHS England and NHS Improvement announced £20 million for vaccination sites across the country to increase staffing, boost uptake and ensure equal access.