Evidence Review: Achieving COVID-19 Vaccine Equity in Ealing and North West London

Abstract

This review sets out key considerations for improving vaccine equity – as well as broader health equity – in the North West London (NWL) borough of Ealing. It foregrounds the political, economic and social dynamics which have perpetuated health inequalities during and prior to COVID-19, and how they have manifested to shape COVID-19 vaccine accessibility and uptake among different social groups. It also highlights how local actors have sought to address these inequalities. By bringing together data and insights from existing social science research and consultations with people involved in local COVID-19 vaccination efforts (in local authorities, the NHS and community groups), we point to ways local authorities and healthcare providers, in collaboration with local people and organisations, can support vaccine equity – and health equity more broadly – now, and into the future. Critical to this are further efforts to integrate sensitivity to context, sustain collaborative working, build trust and meaningfully engage citizens (especially vulnerable groups), and support a robust civil society. The review begins with summary key considerations for operational actors. This review was produced by SSHAP in collaboration with Ealing Council. It was authored by Tabitha Hrynick and Santiago Ripoll, and reviewed by Maddy Gupta-Wright, Ellen Schwartz, and Nikita Simpson. It is the responsibility of SSHAP

Youth COVID-19 Vaccine Engagement in Ealing, London, United Kingdom

“…Ealing residents struggle particularly with issues of long-term unemployment (including predating the pandemic), an insufficient supply and quality of housing stock, and rising rates of gig-economy and zero-hours employees. (16) Ealing ranks the 8th London borough for overcrowded housing (17) while almost half of Ealing's LSOAs (Lower-layer Super Output Areas -small areas of a similar population size) are within the most deprived deciles for "barriers to housing and services" and most within the lower deciles of "living environment" of the IMD. (18) Local organisations have noted the ways in which migrant and ethnic minority communities face structural barriers and discrimination in relation to accessing housing, and also face poor quality and unsafe conditions.…”

The COVID-19 YPAR Project: Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) to Explore the Context of Ethnic Minority Youth Responses to COVID-19 Vaccines in the United States and United Kingdom

“…The IMD is an official measure used in England taking into account income, employment, education, skills and training, health and disability, crime, barriers to housing service and living environment. Ealing residents struggle particularly with issues of longterm unemployment (including predating the pandemic), an insufficient supply and quality of housing stock and rising rates of gig-economy and zero-hours employees (Hrynick & Ripoll, 2021). For instance, 49% of Ealing's social care workers are on zero-hours contracts compared with 42% in London and 25% in England (Skills for Care, 2020).…”

“…Total number of COVID-19 infections and infection rate per 100k in Ealing, NWL, London and England Data source: Ealing COVID-19 Dashboard. Table originally inHrynick and Ripoll, 2021. …”