Vaccinators could go door-to-door in Leicester, to persuade people to have a coronavirus vaccine. Covid cases are high in some parts of the city where vaccine uptake has been slow.
Health officials in the city told the BBC that they are looking at “innovative” ways to reach more people. Persuaders and vaccinators might be deployed to wards where vaccination rates are lowest.
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said while 430,000 vaccinations have been carried out, they are seriously concerned about low rates in some areas. According to The BBC:
The CCG said that while they would not be going door-to-door targeting whole streets, they would be visiting households where they know there has been vaccine hesitancy and where they could cover eligible patients belonging to different generations.
Other options include “pop-up clinics” outside factories and at shopping centres, opening later to allow those observing Ramadan to visit after fasting and women-only vaccination centres in mosques.
GP’s in Leicester have been phoning people who have declined the jab in order to persuade them to change their minds. Leicester has a large BAME population. This demographic is most likely to refuse a jab.
The next time you open the door, it might well be to a man or a woman who wants to vaccinate you there and then. Declining your vaccine is not an option. They will not take no for an answer. Welcome to the new normal.
