LGA: Councils key to success of vaccine uptake a year on from first vaccine dose

A year on from the first public dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in the UK, the Local Government Association is thanking councils for their role in supporting the roll-out of the vaccine.

The first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine was administered to 90-year old Margaret Keenan who received a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on December 8, 2020.

Since then, more than 118 million doses of the vaccine – including the new booster shot, have been administered in the UK, with the roll-out supported by local authorities who have and continue to play a fundamental role alongside the NHS in keeping residents informed and supporting them to attend appointments.

Councils have also worked to help transform many local venues into vaccination centres, from places of worship, sports venues and even a former nightclub. Recent efforts have seen more pop-up clinics at libraries, football stadiums, shopping centres and even mobile bus clinics, ensuring vaccinations are accessible to all members of the community.

Councils have also continued to draw on local community leaders and community groups to support uptake of the vaccine amongst asylum seekers, refugees and ethnic minority groups to dispel myths and offer clear information in a non-pressurised environment.

Cllr James Jamieson, LGA Chairman, said: 

“The vaccine roll-out programme has been a huge success so far and local authorities have been integral to the roll-out of the programme from the beginning, working closely with the NHS.

“Using their local knowledge, they have been able to offer more personalised support to encourage residents to get vaccinated. The success of the programme has enabled society to return to a level of normality which has had significant benefits for the health and wellbeing of all residents, while supporting the recovery of our economy.

“Vaccination is ultimately our route out of this pandemic and we encourage everyone to get their COVID-19 vaccine whether it be your first, second or booster dose. Although there is still work to be done to overcome issues such as vaccine hesitancy, communities can be assured that councils will continue working hard to ensure residents are supported to get the vaccine.