EXCLUSIVE: 'Get your jab,' says vaccine minister Zahawi

Over half south Asians still unprotected

The vaccine minister, Nadim Zahawi, is urging south Asians not to waste the chance of getting a Covid vaccination.

He also backed family doctors who are demanding patients continue to wear masks in surgeries, even though restrictions were lifted last week (19).

In an exclusive interview with Eastern Eye, the minister said he was concerned by the lack of vaccine take up, especially among 18- to 30-year-olds.

Analysis by this paper shows that more than 50 per cent of south Asians over-18 are not fully protected.

“I continue to be concerned, especially amongst the 18- to 30-year-olds, across the whole country, not just the south Asian community,” he said.

“We've got about 35 per cent of the age group still unprotected, so that's about three million people.

“If you're not vaccinated, if you do get COVID it could be mild, but if it's not, it's quite severe, and it could lead to hospitalisation.”

Lies and disinformation

Eastern Eye has reported how so called vaccine hesitancy is prevalent among south Asian communities.

Fake news, such as the vaccine harming pregnant women, is spread through WhatsApp and other social media messaging services.

“All this information about fertility is complete lies, this is disinformation,” Zahawi said.

“We also work with the social networks to take this stuff down where we can highlight it and flag it to them, and they do do that.

“We've got a unit across government of Cabinet Office that does that. It's really important that people get the information from reliable sources, from your local GP, from the NHS.”

The vaccine is safe for pregnant women. (Photo by RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP via Getty Images)

The minister also made clear that he was working across political lines to make sure the public was being protected.

He stressed that the government was doing everything possible to engage with south Asian communities.

“I'm trying to work across my whole team, and I see it as one team, whether it's the metro mayors, in Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham and Andy Street, and all the other great mayors around the country.

“[In] local government, Newham Council last weekend had 23 pop ups in mosques and temples and primary care networks.

“You literally you would trip over a site walking anywhere in Newham, and that access to the vaccine is making a huge difference.”

Members of the public receive the AstraZeneca jab at East London Mosque. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Threats

But Eastern Eye was told how one south Asian GP was threatened by a patient that they would complain to the General Medical Council (GMC) if the doctor forced them to wear a mask during a consultation.

The minister was clear that doctors had nothing to fear.

“Continue to use your personal responsibility, corporate responsibility for corporates, you know, whether it's supermarkets, or Transport for London or other transport systems,” he said.

“It's right because the guidance is very clear that in indoor crowded places, you're expected to wear a mask.

“You are encouraged to wear masks and supported to wear a mask. So, I think they're doing the right thing by asking their patients to do this.

“Let's just remember, this is probably one of the most infectious respiratory diseases that is aerosol transmitted, through your nose and mouth, that humankind has ever had to experience had to try and deal with.”

Ineffective immunisation

Family doctors have told Eastern Eye about their concerns of the vaccination becoming ineffective.

“I’ve had both my vaccines by January, and now we don’t have Covid red centres,” they said.

These are sites which assess patients with suspected coronavirus symptoms.

“I’m expected to see Covid patients at my GP practice, my worry is that the immunity will wear off, and I’ll catch the severe form of the virus, especially because we don’t have the proper personal protective equipment.”

The minister confirmed that the government planned to roll out booster jabs in early September.

Doctors told Eastern Eye they fear the vaccine will be ineffective. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

He also revealed that, like the flu jab, this was most likely to be offered annually.

“We have a big ambition, wherever possible, to co-administer flu and Covid booster jab to protect the most vulnerable.

“We've had the interim advice from the experts a joint committee on vaccination and immunisation, and we're following that advice to protect the most vulnerable.

“Ultimately, we'll probably have a campaign every year, like we do with flu, a Covid vaccination programme annually, to protect the nation and have to live with this virus.”

Pressure

The prime minister, Boris Johnson, appointed Zahawi to his current post last November.

Since that time, he has been leading the vaccination rollout, facing often hostile questioning by journalists and the public.

So, how has he found the pressure of being the nation’s “pandemic saviour”?

“I'm going to be totally candid with you, because actually, my wife said this to a couple days ago,” said the minister smiling.

“She said, it feels like you've been living in a pressure cooker for the last eight months.

“And every time she sees me on television, I look a little bit more tired with more rings around my eyes.

“It has been at times like living the pressure cooker because every step, every decision, and we're making hundreds of decisions a day, thousands a week in government.”

But unlike many a politician, this minister knows he cannot do anything without “his team”.

“The pressure of the vaccination programme and protecting the nation is on the shoulders of the whole team,” Zahawi continued.

“We know every step has to be right, and that's been a challenge.

“But I have to say I'm also in many ways blessed I've got some of the best people that I've had the privilege and the pleasure to work with.”

Analysis

The first Covid vaccination was administered to Margaret Keenan, a grandmother from Coventry, on 8 December 2020.

As of the 11 July, NHS England reported that it had administered a total of 67,358,993 jabs.

But that does not mean this is the number who are fully protected.

Only 29,051,803 of the 38,307,190 who had their first dose, have had a second.

[Source: NHS England https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/07/COVID-19-weekly-announced-vaccinations-15-July-2021.xlsx]

2,518,836 south Asians have had their first vaccinations, while 1,706,169 have had their second.

NHS England told Eastern Eye that about 3.5 million people were south Asians aged 18 or over.

So, 72 per cent have had their first dose and 68 per cent their second.

That means just 49 per cent of south Asians, aged 18 or over, are fully protected.

https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/6793525/