Action Urged Over Low Vaccination Rates in Shepherd's Bush


Latest figures show only two thirds of elderly residents have had jab

Hammersmith MP Andy Slaughter receiving his vaccination
Hammersmith MP Andy Slaughter receiving his vaccination

The latest official figures show that only around two thirds of elderly people in the Shepherd’s Bush area have received at least one Covid-19 vaccination compared to an average for the whole of England of 90%

The rate in the White City area was below 60%

The eight boroughs in North West London were the only part of England that had vaccinated less than 80% of the 65+ age groups by the end of last month. More local data shows that the Shepherd’s Bush area has one of the lowest success rates and, according to local MP Andy Slaughter, when this is further adapted for deprivation and ethnicity, these can drop below 50%.

He says, “Supply and location of vaccine centres plays a part in this, but the reasons are more complex. Some people are put off by the spiteful and dangerous anti-vaxx rumours being spread on social media. Some are very difficult to reach. That may sound odd in one of the most densely populated parts of the world but for a high proportion of our neighbours English is not their first language, and many live separate lives with little contact with other people or public services.”

At the end of last month districts around the W12 postcode area had a take up rate for the first dose of between 60 and 72%. This is significantly below the national average with NHS England figures showing that 93.6% of over-65s across the country had received their first dose by 28 February.

Uptake figures are based on the latest population estimates by Public Health England's National Immunisation Management Service (NIMS).

Andy Slaughter received his vaccine recently and he said, “My own experience of getting jabbed – quick, safe and painless – mirrors that of almost everyone who has contacted me, and the programme is a huge tribute not only to every member of NHS and council staff and every volunteer but to the capacity of the NHS as an institution, even in its reduced state, to roll out a project on this scale.

“But we could be doing a lot better. I was shocked to find that not one of the five dispensing outlets in Hammersmith received any vaccine last week, and in the case of all but one precious little this year. We have been hitting our targets in terms of numbers, but we could have been doing so much better were the supplies there.”

The MP has raised the issue of why financial support has not been given to London boroughs with low take up rates including Hammersmith and Fulham in the Commons. He commented, “Plenty went to rural areas and towns where take up is already high (yes, I am aware this is turning into a pattern).”

For the purpose of gathering this data the Office of National Statistics divides the country up into Middle Super Output Areas (MSOAs). Source: ONS

Covid-19 Vaccinations to 28 February
Area 65-69 70-74 75-79 80+ Population over 65 Percentage vaccinated over-65
Shepherd's Bush North
(MSOA Hammersmith and Fulham 004)
183
143
80
141
811
67.4

Shepherd's Bush West
(MSOA Hammersmith and Fulham 005)

151
124
74
133
701
68.8

Askew
(MSOA Hammersmith and Fulham 006)

176
183
109
151
884
70.0
Old Oak & Wormwood
(MSOA Hammersmith and Fulham 001)
230
205
108
175
1052
68.3

Shepherd's Bush South
(MSOA Hammersmith and Fulham 007)

148
148
104
113
787
65.2

Brook Green
(MSOA Hammersmith and Fulham 010)

213
193
140
180
996
72.9

White City
(MSOA Hammersmith and Fulham 002)

161
116
82
101
761
60.4

Wormholt Road
(MSOA Hammersmith and Fulham 003)

156
178
99
165
820
72.9

Source: ONS


Map of the area designations around Shepherd's Bush

The first mass vaccination centre in the borough opens at the Novotel hotel in Hammersmith on Monday 15 March. Previously people had been directed to Wembley or Westminster.

The hotel, located between Hammersmith Road and Talgarth Road, is a short walk from Hammersmith tube and bus stations.

The new centre comes as the NHS is inviting local residents aged 50 and over and people with long term health conditions to receive their jabs.

The new vaccination centre at the Novotel London West is run by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, in partnership with Hammersmith & Fulham Council.

Novotel Hammersmith to host new vaccination centre
Novotel Hammersmith to host new vaccination centre

“I’m really glad we were able to support the NHS by negotiating the use of the Novotel as a new vaccination centre,” said H&F Leader, Cllr Stephen Cowan.

“Its central Hammersmith location is perfect and the extra capacity it offers means we’re able to get many more people vaccinated and to do so with greater speed.

“This is how we’re turning the tide on Covid-19. The vaccines are the safest way of making sure local people are protected from this dreadful illness and we can get our economy back up to strength and move our lives forward.”

In addition to the mass vaccination centre at the Novotel, local GPs are continuing to invite their patients to three other local vaccination sites within the borough.

Hammersmith & Fulham has seen Covid-19 infection rates tumble with cases per 100,000 falling to just 35 in the week to 6 March, below the average for London.

People aged 55 an over are now being invited to book an appointment to get a vaccine.

As well as those meeting the age requirement you are also invited to book an appointment for the vaccine if you are:

  • at high risk from coronavirus (clinically extremely vulnerable)
  • an eligible frontline health or social care worker
  • you have a condition that puts you at higher risk (clinically vulnerable)
  • you have a learning disability
  • a main carer for someone at high risk from coronavirus

You need to be registered with a GP in England to make a booking. GPs have been told to prepare to receive twice as many doses in March.

There have been reports of vaccine shortages locally last week but this Saturday (6 March) at the medical centre on Fisher’s Lane there were a significant number of jabs being given out with the queue being compromised of people mainly at the lower end of the eligible age requirement.

Over 2,000,000 people have now been vaccinated in London equivalent to 29% of the population.

The figures also show that one in four social care staff still haven't been vaccinated with the rate falling to just 58% in London.

In the week ending the 28 February an additional 2,249,002 people were reported to have received an NHS vaccination for COVID-19 in England. This took the total number of people vaccinated with at least one dose to17,179,491.

Of those vaccinated, 598,345 people have received a second dose, taking the total number of vaccinations given to 17,777,836.

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March 15, 2021