Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to tackle vaccine hesitancy amongst groups with lower than average vaccination rates in (a) Coventry North East constituency, (b) Coventry, (c) the West Midlands and (d) England.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Plan takes a local, community-led approach, with support provided from the Government, NHS England and NHS Improvement and local authorities to coordinate and enable action to increase vaccination rates.

In the Coventry North East constituency, National Health Service commissioners provided pop-up vaccination centres and walk-in clinics set up to remove potential barriers in accessibility, promoted through local community champions, the voluntary sector and faith groups to further drive uptake. In Coventry, health champions, virtual engagements such as live forums, influential black, Asian and minority ethnic community leaders and over 150 community and voluntary organisations have played a key role in building trust.

In the West Midlands, mobile vaccination units in low uptake areas and have held out of hours and specially adjusted clinics to increase accessibility. We have been increasing our engagement with local faith leaders and trusted voices from specific communities alongside third sector partners and community messengers to drive vaccine uptake.