The ONS has released new figures yesterday showing that socio-demographic factors impact the likelihood of those aged 50 or over receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

Between 8 December 2020 and 12 April 2021, White British adults in England were more likely to be vaccinated than any other ethnic minority group. 93.7% of White Britons aged 50 and over have already received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, in stark contrast to those identified as Black Caribbean and Black African, with the lowest rates (66.8% and 71.2% respectively).

Differences between areas of deprivation were also observed, with 87.8% of people aged 50 and over from the most deprived areas reporting being vaccinated compared with 94.5% in the least deprived. Other factors contributing to a lower likelihood of being vaccinated include: having never worked or being in long-term unemployment; having fewer or no qualifications; and not owning a home.

Religious affiliation also impacted COVID-19 vaccine rates among older adults in the UK, with the lowest rates being among those identifying as Muslim, Buddhist or “Other religion” and those identifying as Christian having the highest vaccine rates. Interestingly, after adjusting for socio-demographic factors and underlying health conditions, those identifying as Sikh and Hindu had a higher probability of being vaccinated than those identifying as Christian.

Disabled individuals over the age of 50 who reported being “limited a lot” in their day-to-day activities were also less likely to be vaccinated, with 89.3% having received the vaccine compared with 92.3% who reported having no disability.

Proficiency in English also impacted vaccine rates: with those speaking English not at all or not well having the lowest rates (75.3% and 75.9% respectively) compared with those whose main language is English (92.7%). Vaccination rates were also lower for those born outside the UK (82.5%) compared with those born in the UK (93.3%).

Despite significant efforts to vaccinate our older population at an unprecedented rate, these figures broadly suggest that those hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic are also likely to be the least protected.

Vaccine hesitancy might account for some of these socio-demographic disparities. Figures on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy also released yesterday by the ONS find that almost one in three Black or Black British adults reported vaccine hesitancy between the period of 31 March 2021 to 25 April 2021.

Similarly, 12% of adults from the most deprived areas in England reported feeling hesitant compared with only 4% of adults in the least deprived areas. That said, 93% of adults report having a positive sentiment towards the vaccine, an increase from 91% reported earlier this year.

While it is important that we continue to address the main underlying causes of vaccine hesitancy, including concerns about the “long-term effects on health”, “side effects” and “how well the vaccine works”, this alone won’t solve these inequalities in uptake.

To improve vaccine uptake among our older adult population we must not forget that they too represent an increasingly diverse group. We need therefore to implement policy solutions that seek to democratise access and ensure no one is excluded from receiving the vaccine.

This includes implementing more tailored measures meeting the medical and non-medical needs of older people. Overcoming barriers such as geographic distance, language, mobility issues, lack of adequate transport, as well as indirect economic factors, such as inability to take time off work, also need addressing.

These figures are a sharp reminder that deep-running inequalities in access to life-saving preventative treatment are widespread. Action by government is urgently needed. This year, as part of our Delivering prevention in an ageing world programme, we will be publishing a detailed report and toolkit informed by expert health and policy stakeholders on how governments and healthcare systems can democratise access to preventative health services, including how to improve vaccine uptake rates for the underserved.

Notes

Read the full ONS report on COVID-19 vaccination rates in people aged 50 or over by socio-demographic characteristic here.

Read the full ONS report on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy here.

Find out more about ILC’s Delivering Prevention in an ageing world programme, which seeks to encourage governments across the world to invest in preventative health and tackle inequalities in access to health, here.

If you have solutions on how governments can improve access to preventative health services, you can also respond to our consultation on how to democratise access to preventative health here.