Adults living in the most deprived areas of England were more than three times as likely to report Covid vaccine hesitancy than adults living in the least deprived area, new data has revealed.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) data – published yesterday (10 June) shows that 10% of adults in deprived areas reported vaccine hesitancy, compared to just 3% in the least deprived area.
The data – from a sample of 15,173 adults and collected between 28 April and 23 May – also showed there were differences in the reasons for refusing a vaccine based on deprivation.
Over a quarter (27%) of those living in the least deprived areas said that coronavirus was not a personal risk, compared to 8% of those living in the most deprived areas.
The data is the latest in a series of ONS publications which show lower uptake or worse outcomes due to Covid among less-advantaged socio-economic groups.
Highest rates
Black or Black British adults had the highest rates (21%) of vaccine hesitancy compared with all ethnic groups in the UK, the ONS found.
This was down from 30% when compared to a previous survey (31 March to 25 April), but the Office said the decrease was ‘not statistically significant’.
Meanwhile, around one in 10 adults who identify as Muslim (11%) reported vaccine hesitancy: more than twice that of people who identify as Christian (5%) and five times higher than those who identify as Hindu (2%).
Overall, the data showed very positive sentiment toward the vaccines (94%) and comes as a report revealed last week that the UK was the ‘most trusting’ country in terms of receiving a Covid jab.
Another report published earlier this week showed that more than a third (37%) of unvaccinated people would feel ‘more inclined’ to get a Covid-19 jab if vaccine passports were introduced domestically.
