Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to tailor their approach to BAME communities to aid uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Over £23 million has been allocated through the Community Champions scheme 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. The Department of Health and Social Care, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the National Health Service hold regular meetings with local authorities, faith leaders and black, Asian and minority ethnic organisations to provide advice and information about COVID-19 vaccines and how they will be made available.  A coalition of trusted voices to promote vaccine confidence in target audiences will be built and also provide us the opportunity to listen to concerns and adjust our approach. Local NHS staff and council officials have attended online question and answer sessions facilitated by local community leaders and community engagement workers have visited areas of low vaccine uptake to provide information in spoken and written community languages.