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Dan Wellings, Senior Fellow at The King’s Fund, responded to polling commissioned by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) which shows that BAME groups are less likely to want the Covid-19 vaccine 

‘These findings add to the mounting evidence that hesitancy about the vaccine is disproportionately high in some of the communities that have already been hardest hit by the pandemic.

‘Work to understand what is driving vaccine hesitancy within these communities is best done locally. Lessons need to be learned from recent government programmes that have fallen flat because they were too centralised and failed to adequately involve those who know and work closely with their local communities. It will also be important to regularly publish data on vaccine take-up by area, so efforts can be targeted on groups where uptake is low.

‘Without concerted efforts to get the vaccine to the most hesitant population groups, there is a risk the vaccination programme will further entrench the inequalities that have been so brutally exposed by the pandemic.’

Notes to editors

For further information, or to request an interview, please contact the Press and Public Affairs team on 07584 146035 or mediaoffice@kingsfund.org.uk.

Dan Wellings explores fear and trust in the Covid-19 vaccine in his recent blog: Local listening: fears and concerns about Covid-19 vaccination.

The King's Fund is an independent charity working to improve health and care in England. We help to shape policy and practice through research and analysis; develop individuals, teams and organisations; promote understanding of the health and social care system; and bring people together to learn, share knowledge and debate. Our vision is that the best possible health and care is available to all.

New poll finds BAME groups less likely to want COVID vaccine