Vaccines minister: Low jab rate in city is worrying

VACCINES Minister Maggie Throup says the low number of people receiving Covid vaccines in parts of Birmingham “is a concern”.

Ms Throup (pictured) says she does not blame people for wanting assurances vaccines are safe, but stresses that billions of vaccines had been administered worldwide.

Nationwide, nine out of ten people aged 12 and over have had at least one vaccine dose.

But in Birmingham, it is less than seven out of ten people.

A recent report by public health officials for Birmingham City Council highlights the scale of the problem still facing the city.

It states: “90.0% of England people aged 12 years and over have had their first vaccine dose, 82.4% their second dose, and 59.6% their booster dose. This compares to 67.1%, 59.6% and 36.9% in Birmingham.”

Speaking to the Post, Ms Throup said: “We want people to feel comfortable. And If people want to go along to a vaccine site and have a chat before they make that decision, there will always be people at that vaccine site who will have that chat.”

She added: “Across the country we are seeing variations, and it tends to be lower in cities.

“That’s why we are working with local community groups, providing funding so they can do more targeted messaging.

“For example in Birmingham there has been video messaging featuring celebrities such as the chef Asma Khan, and to have vaccine sites in places of worship such as mosques and temples.

“We are making sure we have that information in different languages as well, so people can really understand why it’s so important to come forward for a vaccination, to protect themselves and their loved ones.”

Meanwhile, new rules will ban NHS staff who have not been vaccinated from face-to-face contact with patients, effectively forcing hospitals and other health services to send some staff home. NHS figures published in November showed more than 15% of workers at University Hospitals Birmingham, have not been fully vaccinated.

Ms Throup said there had been an increase in uptake since November and the number of unvaccinated NHS staff was now very low.

But the Government will press ahead with plans to ban unvaccinated staff.

Birmingham wards with the lowest vaccination rate – Figures show the proportion of the population aged 16 or over that has been vaccinated twice

Newtown ........................................... 43.4% Holyhead ........................................... 45.3% Nechells ............................................. 47.4% Alum Rock ......................................... 47.6% Birchfield ............................................ 48.4% Bordesley & Highgate ................... 48.8% Soho & Jewellery Quarter ............ 49.0% Bordesley Green .............................. 49.5% Sparkbrook/Balsall Heath ............ 50.7% Handsworth ...................................... 50.7%