One in three Londoners unvaxxed?

[JanisMoplin]

I saw this stat whiz by on Twitter, but could not find a source. If true, can anyone tell me why? Is it because London has a larger proportion of the young and children? It is alarming.

@Oblomov21 Poverty has nothing to do with it, the vaccine is free. Ethnic minority groups, historically in terms of Covid, have been hesitant with regards to the vaccine because they don't trust the government. For various reasons.

Look at what happened with Windrush? So many Caribbean people were severely affected by this and still are. It takes a while to rebuild that trust. Eventually though they are coming around as far as I know. All my family are Caribbean and have all been jabbed, aside from myself, but that's another reason all together.

why the uptake is still so low?

Because unlike most other countries, we (UK) never moved on from the by now clearly unsuccessful please get a vaccine. Once that's no longer working, it's time to do the same as France, Italy, Spain, etc. Vaccine bookings shot up in France after vaccine passes (for shops, restaurants, cafes, etc) were mandated. Likewise Italy's employment vaccine mandates.

As for the GPs keeping old patients on their books. Well that clearly varies. I've personally been removed after leaving one London borough, and I know loads of people from all over London (some now living abroad) who've also been taken off. Many GPs proactively check their lists. Which is unsurprising given how overcrowded London is - with the consequent demand for GP registration.

Universe, poverty and deprivation has a lot to do with it. And I don't mean being able to afford the actual free vaccination. I didn't mean that kind of poverty. I mean the mayor of those deprived areas said that they needed a drive to increase uptake, and poverty was a large part of the problem. This isn't me saying this. There were loads of reports about those areas that hadn't had high uptake and the governor / Mayor / head of council all said it was a large part of the problem.

Quite often a firm "this is mandatory and that's it, no argument" is far more successful than a weak "pretty please" begging.

People actually tend to respect (and follow) the instructions more than the pleas.

Italy made vaccines mandatory for jobs. France, Spain, and many other countries haven't gone that far but they have mandated vaccine passes for shops, cafes, and restaurants.

It works. France went from being one of the most vaccine refusing countries in the world to high take up.

And now France, having put in place sensible mitigations, is quite understandably imposing travel restrictions from high risk red list countries like the UK.

And other nationalities distrust of government and distrust of vaccines, I also listed in my original post as a reason. I'm well aware it's a big reason. The French are also more distrustful.

@Oblomov21

Universe, poverty and deprivation has a lot to do with it. And I don't mean being able to afford the actual free vaccination. I didn't mean that kind of poverty. I mean the mayor of those deprived areas said that they needed a drive to increase uptake, and poverty was a large part of the problem. This isn't me saying this. There were loads of reports about those areas that hadn't had high uptake and the governor / Mayor / head of council all said it was a large part of the problem.

Yes. This is the consequences of the much resented 'investment' in London. Overcrowding, homelessness and poor housing conditions (btw, why have recent migrants been housed in the city with the most acute homeless crisis in the UK?).

Well past time to 'level' Londoners up.

Some of the football clubs did some great outreach work during the first vaccination rounds. Arsenal, for example, gave people a free tour of the stadium when they came for their first jab.

This meant that a lot of the very young local population got jabbed as a tour is £27 and beyond the reach of many locally. I think Tottenham may have done something similar.

@Tealightsandd just stop.

We had a really high level of uptake, particularly in the most at risk groups, without having to force people into it. Our hospitalisations have been on a downward trend for weeks and are much lower than this time last year. What are you hoping to achieve with forcing more people to have the vaccine when we know it’s primarily about reducing risk for the individual and the majority of unvaccinated people are in lower risk groups?

btw, why have recent migrants been housed in the city with the most acute homeless crisis in the UK?).

Joining the already huge housing lists and beds in sheds slum housing is hardly a...what was it the government promised? Oh that's it...A warm welcome. It's no good for the two thirds of England's homeless families (that's right, they're in London) nor for traumatised migrants. Nimby Shire Lib Dems need to work on their tolerance - and start to welcome in those who need safe resettlement.

London's overcrowding, poverty, and poor housing - it being the epicentre of the public health housing and homelessness emergency. And then being hit so hard by Covid plus the low vaccine uptake. It's all interlinked.

@Tealightsandd

Quite often a firm "this is mandatory and that's it, no argument" is far more successful than a weak "pretty please" begging.

People actually tend to respect (and follow) the instructions more than the pleas.

Italy made vaccines mandatory for jobs. France, Spain, and many other countries haven't gone that far but they have mandated vaccine passes for shops, cafes, and restaurants.

It works. France went from being one of the most vaccine refusing countries in the world to high take up.

And now France, having put in place sensible mitigations, is quite understandably imposing travel restrictions from high risk red list countries like the UK.

And despite their mandates and vaccine passports France have still seen a massive surge in cases and have had to impose even more restrictions. I’m not sure it’s much of a ‘success story’ that we should be aspiring to.

@bumbleymummy
You're missing out. Don't you want a vaccine sticker? They're rather nice. 💉

You're in luck. I do need to stop. For now. It's a busy day.

@Tealightsandd I only got removed from my previous GP's list (i was in the same borough but moved outside the catchment) when I applied to be tested whether I was a carrier for taysachs and they wrote to my GP with my new address. At the same time, my DH is still with his old GP in Golders Green despite having never lived in Golders Green and being outside the catchment. (he was added when he was born as that was his mum's first GP and she stayed with the GP despite moving out of the area).

And despite their mandates and vaccine passports France have still seen a massive surge in cases and have had to impose even more restrictions. I’m not sure it’s much of a ‘success story’ that we should be aspiring to

Oh but it is. Compared to the UK, most definitely.

Their 'surge' is a tiny blip in comparison. It's also coming from a lower rate - and, this is a biggie... They're taking swift proactive action.

Mitigation is the word.

Yes, we can't avoid or prevent all risks. But we can mitigate against and limit the damage (to lives, health, and economy).

@onlychildhamster
It must vary between the individual GPs.

One friend and her dh were removed despite not having moved. They just hadn't needed to see a doctor for several years.

I wonder whether it's a GP practice decision or CCG?

@Suranjeep

Probably “all them foreigners” as the Daily Mail would say.

Why not just say this is what you think rather than try to hide behind the Daily Mail?

There are lower vaccination rates in every major city in the country.

This largely reflects the younger demographic and the fact that younger people are less likely to be jabbed across all other identity indicators.

Provisional towns have older than average populations so tend to have higher vaccination rates.

It does mean the risk profile is somewhat different too.

But yeah, its not a good thing either way.

Older or younger than average isn't so helpful when it comes down to actual sheer numbers.

A village with a total population of 20 and 10 elderly has a higher percentage of elderly than a city of millions.

But, there are more elderly (and, separately younger vulnerable) in London than anywhere else in the country.

And simply looking at age alone. London has the lowest take up rate in the elderly.

And talking of risk profiles. London has two big ones (as well as the sheer numbers of elderly and vulnerable).

A high percentage of minority ethnic groups - some of whom we know are at increased risk from Covid.

There's also the socioeconomic risks. Including very high levels of deprivation and overcrowded housing (overcrowded housing being a key risk factor for transmission).

Btw. The highest level of pensioner poverty in the UK is in London.

^Oh but it is. Compared to the UK, most definitely.

Their 'surge' is a tiny blip in comparison.^

Incorrect. See attached.

Cases. And remember that France test considerably less than we do.

It’s actually quite scary . The london hospitals are going to be very stretched even if there are not many deaths there will surely be people admitted the way it’s spreading.

I actually know of someone in london ( not young) who was very vocal in her anti vaccine propaganda ( I just kept snoozing her ) who is ill with it now. I wonder if she is regretting her choices?

I live in Greater London and am probably counted as not having been boosted. Except I am! I had my booster over a month ago, it shows on the NHS app, yet I have had emails and texts telling me I am eligible and to book asap as my records show I have not had the booster. I have lived at this address for over 35 years and have been registered with the same gp practice all that time.
So, to be honest, whilst I suspect there are pockets of London where many are not vaccinated, I also suspect there are glitches in the system that makes it look as though some haven't been vaccinated when, in fact, they have!

@CUniverse

In one specific industry there are hundreds who have done this, you are naive to it.

This thing is, no one speaks about it unless they know you're 'in', as you can imagine. I even know a few who have bought not only for themselves, but for family members too.

Now with the need for a 3rd, some have already 'bought' their booster even. The way it is done is so clever, they can never be found out.

I would love to know how this is done (just out of curiosity)!