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Covid vaccine take-up lower among health workers, says Hancock

The health secretary said 80% of NHS staff received jabs, compared with 90% of those in top four age groups
Covid vaccine take-up has been notably lower among health and care staff than among age-based groups to have been offered the injection, Matt Hancock has said, increasing concerns that this could hamper progress in tackling the virus.
While take-up was more than 90% among the first four age groups to have been offered at least a first injection – which include all those aged 70 and above – for NHS staff it was about 80%, and for care staff “around two-thirds”, the health and social care secretary said.
He did not specify whether the figures were for England or UK-wide, but as health policy is devolved, it is likely they are for England.
In a round of interviews after the news that the target of offering at least a first vaccination to all those in the top group groups seen as most vulnerable by Monday had been met in England, Hancock also stressed the government’s concern that take-up among black, Asian and minority ethnic health and care staff was lower than average.
A preliminary study by researchers in Leicester, details of which emerged on Sunday, found significant disparities among health staff over vaccination rates.
While 65% of the workers in the study had received at least one shot, the breakdown was 71% for white staff, 59% for south Asian workers, and 37% of black staff.The top four priority groups for vaccines were: older care home residents and relevant care staff; people aged 80-plus and frontline health and care staff; those aged 75 and over; and those aged 70 and over and people who are clinically extremely vulnerable.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Hancock said that for those aged 70 and above, take-up was 90%, rising to as high as more than 97% among those aged 75-79, while in care homes it was more than 90%.
However, he added that for health and care staff it was “a little bit lower”, at about four-fifths for health workers and two-thirds for social care staff.
Asked about the Leicester study in a separate interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Hancock accepted that low vaccination rates among BAME health and care staff was a concern.
“I haven’t seen that data, but I do know that the take-up in the NHS is rising,” he said. “It’s around four-fifths overall, but I also know that take-up among black staff and staff from other ethnic minority groups is lower,” he said. “There’s a very important programme of work to increase that, not just among healthcare staff but across the board.”
Speaking to Today, Hancock confirmed that the UK government would look into the idea of vaccine passports – officially certified proof that someone has received their coronavirus vaccination – but only to assist international travel, not for domestic use.
“There are countries around the world who are proposing in the future, not now, that they will require proof of vaccinations,” he said. “If they do that, we obviously want to make sure that Brits can fulfil that. There is a live international debate at work about how you can have credible proof that somebody’s had a vaccine, and obviously it’s important that we are part of that, to make sure thats Brits can show, in order to travel, that they’ve had the jab.”
He added: “That is different from us saying, for instance, we’re going to lift lockdown rules differentially according to whether you’ve had the jab or not. We’re not planning to do that.”
source: Peter Walker
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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