Clear communication vital to help vaccination programme continue at pace

 “While it is right to be cautious, the fact remains that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine still outweigh any potential risks for most people, and the likelihood of developing a blood clot after receiving a jab is very low. I had my own AstraZeneca jab this morning.

“However, it is important that the Government and medicines regulators continue to be fully transparent with the public to maintain confidence in the vaccination programme. Misinformation must be tackled head on, and good communication is vital, especially as recent ONS data shows vaccine hesitancy remains higher among younger adults, black people and those living in areas of high deprivation. This, coupled with growing concern over the Indian variant, means it is clear there is still a lot of work to be done to stay ahead of the virus.

“Vaccination is one of the best tools we have to help cut transmission of COVID-19. It is vital that the programme continues at pace. The latest ONS figures show that in 2020, our excess deaths were 14 per cent above the five-year average, with COVID-19 the main cause. Getting vaccinated should help ensure that we do not experience this tragic level of deaths from COVID-19 again.”