U.K. Vaccination Rates Struggle in Places Worst-Hit by Covid-19
Multi-racial districts that have suffered high death rates are now seeing lower vaccine acceptance.
The U.K.’s rapid Covid-19 vaccination program made the country a global pacesetter. But while more than 30 million British adults have had at least one dose, take-up is significantly lower in Black and Asian communities, raising the risk of ongoing illness and death in some of the country’s most ethnically diverse and underprivileged areas.
Official data released on Monday revealed that just 59% of Black African adults in England aged over 70 have received at least one shot, compared to about 91% of White people and a rate below 75% in England’s Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities. The figures back up analysis of health records by OpenSafely, a doctor-led data project, which shows that gaps in coverage have narrowed only slightly since January.