UK vaccine uptake is fantastic, isn't it?

[Frequentflier]

It seems that all the scaremongering has not affected the uptake in the UK, for which I am very grateful. This should probably be in the good news board, but I wanted others to read it. 88% uptake in the 55-59 age group amongst white people and 77% among S Asians.:) www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55274833

Would love any of you who are scientists to comment on this, as I am not.

I agree that it's good news overall, but disappointing to see significantly lower uptake amongst ethnic minorities, who have been disproportionately affected by covid as well. Uptake is somewhat lower in my area, presumably because of this issue.

We need to do more to ensure that people from all communities feel sufficient confidence in the jab.

@paralysedbyinertia How far to go though? There must come a point that if repeated offers are made and appropriate attempts to persuade etc are not having an impact then what can the Gov do?

Agree there needs to be more uptake amongst ethnic minorities, but I am hopeful that as more people have their second jab, confidence will increase.

@Rosehip10, yes, of course - at the end of the day, it's an individual choice. It's just frustrating that people are putting themselves at risk due to a lack of trust in the system. Understandable, but frustrating nevertheless.

My DH is from one of the communities that has a lower uptake of the jab, and he has had his jab, but he spends a lot of time trying to dispel some of the myths that are being shared on social media.

Ethnic communities such as my own are getting their misinformation from the usual sources (Facebook / YouTube / WhatsApp). Sad as they're at higher risk anyway...

But yes uptake is great - UK is showing one of the lowest rates of vaccine hesitancy in the world. Very much a 'roll up your sleeves and crack on with it' approach.

@Circumlocutious

Ethnic communities such as my own are getting their misinformation from the usual sources (Facebook / YouTube / WhatsApp). Sad as they're at higher risk anyway...

What kind of misinformation are they being told/believing? Are some religions/cultures In general against vaccination of all kinds or is it specifically the covid vaccine some are wary of?

It's great, yes. I think the threat of vaccine passports for domestic fun is a big motivator!

@Wellbythebloodyhell

There’s nothing religion based at all (Islam in this case). The scholarly consensus is that vaccines range from permissible to mandatory, depending on how you interpret the Islamic principle ‘do not harm yourself or others’ (when it comes to the pandemic).

The examples I know of are religiously conservative people who are literally spouting Bill Gates propaganda - nothing Islamic in the slightest.

The only thing that might force their hand is Saudi Arabia continuing with the stance that vaccination is a requirement for religious pilgrimage.

@Circumlocutious if its not a religious reason then what is it? What misinformation are people being told and believing? I'm fully supportive of people making their own minds up and have no opinion on those who do or don't take the vaccine just being nosey and interested in some of the reasons behind people's choices.

I’d love to see the uptake since 9th April.
It has been a very depressing read on here recently, but hoped that has not been born out in the real world.

It’s extraordinary isn’t it? The government have got everything wrong and yet mass vaccination has worked @Wellbythebloodyhell rather than being faith based I think hesitancy amongst some groups is more to do with feeling marginalised- general suspicion of the motives and also lack of awareness.