Read on Twitter
1/ 
The latest research from our team looks at how the national vaccine rollout is progressing, and provides practical recommendations for the next phase. https://twitter.com/Policy_Exchange/status/1354346275425153027
The latest research from our team looks at how the national vaccine rollout is progressing, and provides practical recommendations for the next phase. https://twitter.com/Policy_Exchange/status/1354346275425153027
2/ Firstly, much has been made of the headline vaccination figures. Whilst we need to be careful to avoid jingoism, the NHS and Gov deserves plenty of praise for administering a population level programme under this ambitious timetable.
3/ Our research finds key decisions have helped, incl:
- Appointing a Minister for Vaccine Deployment in @nadhimzahawi has created a clear political figurehead
- Hybrid model comprising mass centres, hospitals and excellent work of GPs (rather than asking any to go it alone)
- Appointing a Minister for Vaccine Deployment in @nadhimzahawi has created a clear political figurehead
- Hybrid model comprising mass centres, hospitals and excellent work of GPs (rather than asking any to go it alone)
4/ But we conclude that the biggest obstacle to assessing the progress of the rollout is the lack of available vaccination data.
This is a problem across all countries in the UK, and was flagged by @StatsRegulation in a letter on 20 January. https://osr.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/correspondence/ed-humpherson-to-producers-of-health-related-statistics-across-the-uk-number-of-covid-19-vaccinations-administered-in-the-uk/
This is a problem across all countries in the UK, and was flagged by @StatsRegulation in a letter on 20 January. https://osr.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/correspondence/ed-humpherson-to-producers-of-health-related-statistics-across-the-uk-number-of-covid-19-vaccinations-administered-in-the-uk/
5/ There has been lots of discussion about ethnicity data in recent days. And we are delighted to see Nadhim Zahawi confirm that data by ethnicity (and also occupation type) will be published in due course, as first reported by @Davewwest + @journo_kituno https://www.hsj.co.uk/primary-care/nhs-england-agrees-to-collect-ethnicity-data-seven-weeks-after-covid-vaccinations-began/7029378.article
6/ Without this data, we've had to rely on acedotal evidence from local directors of public health on the possible declines. There have been varying reports of rates from 5% to a whopping 50% of people refusing the offer of a vaccine. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/almost-half-of-people-in-high-ethnic-minority-areas-snub-coronavirus-jab-dgmx9mg9t
7/ This did appear to bear itself out in early uptake figures to 17th Jan, with London (35% BAME) featuring towards the bottom of the regional figures - although other factors have have contributed.
Latest data is published tomorrow so we wait with anticipation
Latest data is published tomorrow so we wait with anticipation
8/ A headline figure of 80% uptake of the vaccine will be lauded as a success. But if the 20% declining the offer of vaccination skews heavily towards certain communities then the inequalities in outcomes from COVID, as set out by recent @ONS research will be further reinforced.
9/ Our report sets out four recommendations:
Better and more granular data
Monthly evaluation of interventions to address vaccine hesitancy
A dedicated, national comms strategy to address hard to reach groups, complementing local efforts
Re-evaluate cohort priority
Better and more granular data Monthly evaluation of interventions to address vaccine hesitancy A dedicated, national comms strategy to address hard to reach groups, complementing local efforts Re-evaluate cohort priority
10/ There are some important caveats.
- Dedicated strategies (eg towards certain BAME groups) must be developed with care to avoid accusations of stigmatisation
- Re-assessing the JCVI priority post 15 Feb should be informed by latest data, including mortality of new variants
- Dedicated strategies (eg towards certain BAME groups) must be developed with care to avoid accusations of stigmatisation
- Re-assessing the JCVI priority post 15 Feb should be informed by latest data, including mortality of new variants
11/ The research (co-written with @SeanPhillips91) has been covered in today's Telegraph
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/nhs-publish-data-ethnicity-help-combat-vaccine-hesitancy/
And you can read the full report here:
https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/closing-the-covid-19-data-gap/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/nhs-publish-data-ethnicity-help-combat-vaccine-hesitancy/
And you can read the full report here:
https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/closing-the-covid-19-data-gap/
