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Extra vaccine push for Sunderland neighbourhoods with lowest uptake; A new campaign will focus on getting more vaccines into arms in five under-performing wards of the city.

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Byline: By, Chris Binding, Local Democracy Reporter

Public health experts are planning a COVID-19 vaccine push to increase uptake of the jab in five wards on Wearside.

According to data revealed by NHS bosses this week, the city's vaccination programme has already administered around 300,000 doses to residents.

This includes more than half of the city's adult population receiving both doses.

Now, five areas of Sunderland with the lowest coverage rates in the vaccine programme are set to receive extra attention, with health bosses planning a campaign to increase uptake.

"We want the [vaccination] programme to be as fair as possible and we want nobody to be left behind," said Kath Bailey, a public health specialist at Sunderland City Council.

"So we have identified five wards across the city with slightly lower, albeit very good uptake rates for the vaccine programme, and we're going to target those initially when a vaccine campaign launches next week.

"We have additional resources going to those five areas with the lowest coverage rates."

The public health specialist was speaking at Wednesday's Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, which was held at Sunderland Civic Centre.

Wards with the lowest coverage rates include Hendon, Millfield, Washington North, Barnes and St Peter's.

During the meeting, councillor Martin Haswell questioned the reasons behind the low coverage figures in two particular wards.

He said: "Millfield and Hendon seem to be 10-15 per cent behind the next lowest which is quite a dramatic difference, whereas Barnes, Washington North and St Peter's seem to be 'in the pack' you might say.

"Is there a particular reason beyond just deprivation that's hitting those two wards"

Public health specialist, Kath Bailey, said that Millfield and Hendon had been "on the radar" for longer than the other wards.

Responding to Cllr Haswell, she said: "We have been trying to unpick that and understand more...

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