Recommendation 2

Comparatively low vaccination uptake persists in many vulnerable groups and, after the first booster campaign, has even dropped further for some. Overall uptake of COVID-vaccination has been high, reaching 90% of adults by the end of May 2022 (based on 2 doses). But some groups have seen much lower uptake. For example, by the same point, only 55% of young people aged 16 and 17 had received 2 doses, and only 38% of 12- to 15-year-olds. There has been particularly low uptake among pregnant women: as of February 2022, only 58% had received 2 doses. Some gaps widen when acceptance of booster doses is taken into account: for example, compared to people of White British origin, people of Black, Black British and Pakistani origins were less than half as likely to have had their boosters. Local and national bodies have taken a variety of approaches to encourage uptake, but it is not clear which of these has really been most effective, and for which groups. There are particular challenges when it comes to vaccinating people with learning disabilities, including identifying who is eligible, making communications accessible, and tackling needle phobia: these have not always been consistently or adequately addressed. Recommendation: Recognising that reasons for lower uptake will vary, NHS England and UKHSA should urgently evaluate which approaches are most effective for increasing uptake, communicate again with local areas about what works, and provide support to them to deploy the most effective approaches. This should include fresh approaches to tackling the persistent low uptake observed in some ethnic groups.