Vaccine uptake by ethnicity

Public Health Scotland (PHS) has today included data on vaccine uptake by ethnicity and by deprivation, in our Weekly COVID-19 Statistical report, for the first time.

The data shows that uptake remains high across the population, but in specific minority ethnic groups it is lower than for white population groups.

Dr Andrew Fraser, Senior Advisor at PHS, said:

“Doing all we can to protect the nation’s health remains our priority. Vaccination remains the most effective way to protect ourselves against serious illness and death from COVID-19. Understanding and responding to any inequity in uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine is a crucial part of this and why the data published today are so important. In addition, we know, from research published earlier in March, that the vaccine can also protect the people around us. 

“We will continue to work with NHS Boards to maximise uptake across all groups. Our work with the Expert Reference Group on COVID-19 and Ethnicity, and insights from elsewhere across the UK, will continue to draw on our shared analysis. We will work closely with colleagues across the NHS, both the Scottish and UK Governments and the JCVI to respond to the data on vaccine uptake and make recommendations on how to improve this where we see any emerging trends that uptake is slower or lower in any group.

“Above all, when people are invited for their vaccination, we should attend. Doing that not only means that we are protecting ourselves against COVID-19, but we are also helping to reduce transmission of the virus more generally and protecting other people around us”.

For the full analysis of COVID-19 Vaccine uptake by ethnicity and deprivation, please see our Weekly COVID-19 Statistical report.

View the "Effect of vaccination on transmission of COVID-19: an observational study in healthcare workers and their households" study (external website).