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 improve the vaccine take up rate in areas where it is lower than the national average.

Assessment of local vaccination rates is led by National Health Service teams. Data on uptake is being monitored and shared daily with local authority Directors of Public Health to enable them to see emerging trends and react to any developing inequalities. NHS England and NHS Improvement have developed a Vaccine Equalities Tool to support delivery and deployment models at national and local level. At a local level qualitative information about the reasons for vaccine refusal is collected.

The Department, NHS England and NHS Improvement and Public Health England provide advice and information including a range of targeted activities and communications via TV, radio, and social media. We are also working closely with community and faith leaders to champion the vaccine, particularly in areas with lower uptake. On 25 January we released £23.75million funding to support our Community Champions Scheme. Funding has been allocated to 60 councils and voluntary groups across England to expand work to support those most at risk from COVID-19 and boost vaccine take up.

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