News from Unmesh Desai: NHS Tower Hamlets CCG has one of lowest vaccination rates in London

NHS Tower Hamlets Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has one of the lowest vaccination rates for over 60s in London, according to the latest NHS data. Between 8th December 2020 and 7th March 2021, 66.3% of over 60s in the area had been given their first dose. Local London Assembly Member Unmesh Desai AM has praised the local efforts behind the vaccine rollout so far, but has warned that Tower Hamlets could be “left behind” if factors such as vaccine supply and hesitancy were not robustly addressed. He said that it “isn’t about a race against other parts of the capital or the country, but a race against the virus”.

Last week, the Minister for COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment, Nadhim Zahawi, predicted that there will be “bumper weeks” ahead for the vaccine rollout in London. Mr Desai is now urging the Government to look at the disparities in the uptake rates between London’s CCGs and focus upon proportionately directing any increase in the supply of doses to the areas that are lagging behind.



At the top of the vaccine uptake table in the capital, is Harrow, where 89.8% of over 60s have received their first dose. Eight other CCGs in the capital have uptake rates of above 80%.

But NHS data shows that ten of the worst performing Parliamentary constituencies in the country are all in London.

With vaccine hesitancy continuing to present significant obstacles in the rollout, Mr Desai is also calling for the NHS to provide more granular data showing uptake data by ethnicity on a CCG level. Currently, weekly NHS figures only provide this on the wider level of the five Sustainability Transformation Partnerships (STPs) in London.

He has highlighted that more localised data could be used to better inform the Government’s future allocation of funding to local authorities to tackle vaccine hesitancy in their communities through targeted and multi-lingual messaging.

Local London Assembly Member, Unmesh Desai AM, said:

“This is not about a race with other parts of the capital or the country, but a race against the virus. While the local efforts and dedication of NHS staff and volunteers to drive the vaccine rollout have been nothing short of impressive, more Government support is needed to fill the gaps between the levels of uptake amongst London boroughs.

“With lockdown starting to slowly ease, we need to act now to address the factors behind this, which could include issues to do with supply and vaccine hesitancy. Otherwise, our community could be left behind and more vulnerable to a future rise in infection rates.

“Any intervention made by the Government must be data-driven. This is why it is vital that Ministers take a detailed look at which areas of the capital, like ours, might need that extra boost in supply.

“In terms of vaccine hesitancy, we now know that continuing to say it is a problem within BAME communities as whole, is an inaccurate and potentially counterproductive generalisation.

“Having access to ethnicity uptake data on a more granular and localised level will help the Government and local authorities to better target resources towards alleviating the concerns that some members of their communities might have towards getting their first dose”.