Chapter 4: Coming together to respond to the pandemic

The first Covid-19 vaccine was delivered in Gateshead on 8 December 2020, helping many residents to feel more positive about the future, By the end of 31 October 2021, 149,341 first doses and 136,692 second doses had been given. (Gov.uk (2021) Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the UK (opens new window))  

Covid-19 vaccination uptake at 31 October 2021 

As with other childhood and adult vaccination programmes, some people have delayed accepting or refused Covid-19 vaccines. However, research from other vaccine programmes suggests that the main reasons behind Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy can be summarised as 'the three Cs' 20:  

• Complacency - perceptions of the personal risk of contracting Covid-19; and perceptions of the severity of Covid-19.  
• Confidence - in the safety of the Covid-19 vaccine; and confidence in the effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccine.  
• Convenience - barriers and access to being vaccinated against Covid-19.  

National data from ONS 21 suggests that adults living in the 20% most deprived areas of England expressed greater vaccine hesitancy (8% hesitant), than those living in the 20% least deprived areas (2% hesitant).

The age groups who appeared to be most hesitant about receiving the vaccine were those aged 16 to 17 years (11% hesitant) followed by 22 to 25 year olds and 26 to 29 year olds (9% hesitant for both). Those aged 40 and over showed the lowest vaccine hesitancy at 4% or less.

The national data also suggests that vaccine hesitancy is highest in people with a Black or Black British background (21% hesitant) compared to people from a White background (4% hesitant). People from a Mixed Ethnic background (7% hesitant) and Asian or Asian British background (6% hesitant) also appeared to be slightly more hesitant than those from a White background, however overlapping confidence intervals suggests this difference may not be statistically significant.

Health professionals and volunteers have worked together to deliver the vaccination programme. 

The vaccination programme was really lovely although tough to organise. Everyone loved doing it and it was great to see all of our patients back in the practice again. We were doing appointments back-to-back and seeing hundreds of people a day. The community really rallied around again. We had retired GPs and volunteers coming in to help. One lady came in with her elderly mother for a vaccination. She was in tears because she was so relieved that things were getting back to normal again and had been so worried about her mother. People hadn't been out for months, they felt that the jab was giving them their freedom back.
Teresa Graham, Business Partner and Practice Manager, Second Street Surgery, Oxford Terrace and Rawling Road Medical Group and CBC Health GP Federation.

When the national vaccination programme started, members of the Jewish community, a Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic, were keen to receive their jabs.

Gateshead Public Health reached out to the Labriut Healthy Living Centre, the Jewish Community Council of Gateshead's flagship health and wellbeing project, for assistance in arranging and facilitating sessions for the Jewish community.

Working with local GP surgeries, immunisation sessions were arranged specifically for the Jewish community at a local vaccination centre, accounting for cultural considerations and enabling greater engagement in the programme. Sessions were arranged at very short notice, with Labriut staff working late hours to book appointments in time. Putting their knowledge of how the community 'ticks' to good use, Labriut used the services of a commercial community-wide texting service to advertise the sessions, and appointments were booked directly through Labriut. Using texts to inform the community of sessions geared specifically for the community had a huge impact in terms of raising awareness, and every successfully completed vaccination session further cemented the culture of immunising within the community.

People were allotted appointment times to suit their daily routine, and reminders texts were sent out, resulting in 100% attendance. A lovely community atmosphere was felt at the sessions and vaccine recipients shared their experience with others, encouraging more people to come to the next session. For those requiring support with travelling to the centre, Labriut arranged transportation.

The vaccination sessions were supported by personnel from Hatzola (Community Voluntary Ambulance and First Response) whose familiar and reassuring presence further enhanced the experience for people arriving to receive their vaccine. Once bespoke sessions were no longer available due to vaccine shortage, Labriut continued to support people by spreading the word and signposting people to walk-in clinics, the vaccine bus and the national booking system. 
Chavi Gluck, Project Co-ordinator, Labriut Healthy Living Centre - a project of the Jewish Community Council of Gateshead