How the NHS in Leeds is tackling Covid in Harehills - with the lowest uptake of vaccinations in the city

By Daniel Sheridan
Published 24th Jan 2022, 16:30 BST
Updated 24th Jan 2022, 19:10 BST
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The NHS in Leeds is proactively looking to tackle a growing issue in Harehills - where the vaccine uptake rate among eligible people is the lowest in Leeds.

In Harehills South, just 37.8 per cent of eligible people have had their first Covid vaccination, according to government figures.

This is in contrast to city-wide figures which show an uptake of 76.3 per cent for the first vaccine.

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Figures for Harehills South also show less than half of those eligible have taken the vaccination, with 47.4 per cent of people having their first dose up to January 17.

Salma Arif, Leeds City Council's Executive Member for Public Health and Active Lifestyles, is also a Gipton and Harehills ward councillor.Salma Arif, Leeds City Council's Executive Member for Public Health and Active Lifestyles, is also a Gipton and Harehills ward councillor.
Salma Arif, Leeds City Council's Executive Member for Public Health and Active Lifestyles, is also a Gipton and Harehills ward councillor.

In the over 60 population in Harehills, the most at risk from Covid, 71.5 per cent of people have had their first dose, 69.5 per cent their second and 71.3 per cent their booster.

However, younger generations are not taking the vaccine at a similar rate to those across the rest of the city.

The Yorkshire Evening Post has spoken to the NHS in Leeds, a local councillor and residents to try and discover what is being done to tackle the numbers in the area.

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Speaking to the YEP, a spokesperson for the NHS in Leeds said targeted communication has been adopted in the area to communicate the need for vaccination amongst residents.

In Harehills South (pictured) only 37.8 per cent of eligible people have had their first Covid vaccination. Photo: James HardistyIn Harehills South (pictured) only 37.8 per cent of eligible people have had their first Covid vaccination. Photo: James Hardisty
In Harehills South (pictured) only 37.8 per cent of eligible people have had their first Covid vaccination. Photo: James Hardisty

Bespoke, targeted social media and printed materials are being used to promote individual clinics as well as national vaccine messaging.

The Cabinet Office multilingual outreach team visited the area in December to answer questions and promote local clinics in Harehills.

The iVan toured the local area from December 18 to 23.

The van promotes Covid messaging and where residents can get a vaccine locally - with further iVan campaigns expected this month and in February.