Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the reasons for lower take-up of the covid-19 booster vaccination across all age groups compared to the take-up of the first two doses of that vaccine.

Assessment of uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines is a continuous part of the vaccine programme led by the National Health Service and with local partners. This is shared daily with local authority directors of public health to monitor emerging trends and act on any developing inequalities locally. Qualitative information and insight on the reasons for vaccine refusal is collected to inform local initiatives.

There are no current specific concerns about uptake of booster doses. Although the pace of the deployment of booster vaccines has been slower than the initial COVID-19 vaccination programme last winter, we have seen a significant increase in uptake in recent weeks. As of 24 November 2021, 16,383,575 million third primary doses and booster doses have been administered across the United Kingdom. Week-on-week uptake is trending positively, with 2.1 million doses delivered up to 14 November 2021.

The deployment began at scale to the most vulnerable from the week commencing 20 September 2021. On 15 November, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation published advice stating that all adults aged 40 to 49 years old should be offered a booster vaccination, six months after their second dose, irrespective of the vaccines they received for the first and second doses. The Government has accepted this advice.

A national ‘BOOST your immunity this winter’ communications campaign was launched in mid-October. This sets out the importance of those eligible receiving their COVID-19 booster and flu vaccinations this winter. There is regular coverage in the media, with calls to action to book a booster vaccine appointment. This is supported by leading voices including Ministers, scientists and clinicians, and community and faith leaders, alongside social media messaging. ​