Working with external stakeholders and local leaders to increase take-up of the COVID-19 vaccination in some groups within the BAME community.

Pharmacy type

Community

Pharmacy context

​Covid-19

Relevant standards

• 4.1 - The pharmacy services provided are accessible to patients and the public

Why this is notable practice

The pharmacy works with external stakeholders to identify and attempt to overcome the barriers to COVID-19 vaccination amongst groups within the local black and minority ethnic (BAME) community. The lead pharmacist works with the local community to identify locations that are suitable for outreach vaccination clinics and is working with NHSE to develop the service. This is so people can access the service in an environment they are comfortable in and which is familiar to them.

How the pharmacy did this

The pharmacy had been delivering the COVID-19 vaccination service from an associated site for about five weeks. It had worked with NHS England (NHSE) and the local press to try and increase uptake amongst some groups within the local BAME population. There had been articles about the vaccination service in various television, radio, social media and newspaper articles. These had featured the lead pharmacist and members of the community, such as a Pastor, Imam, Nurse and television presenter. The articles focussed on trying to dispel ‘fake news’ from social media, historical myths and nervousness. Uptake of the vaccine amongst the target groups had started to slowly increase. But the lead pharmacist was concerned that the vaccination figures still did not match the local demographic.

The lead pharmacist had worked with local leaders to identify locations that could be used as outreach clinics to administer the vaccination from. These were ‘pop-up’ clinics for one or two days per week. As people already trusted their local leaders, they thought that people would be more likely to use the outreach clinics. As a result of these conversations, the lead pharmacist was working with NHSE to amend the current contract to enable the vaccination to be administered in different associated sites.

The pharmacy had private vaccination booths. This meant that it could protect people’s privacy and dignity if they if they needed to remove any items of clothing before being vaccinated. People using the service could also choose to be vaccinated by someone of a particular gender. And pharmacy team members spoke a number of different languages so they could explain the process if English was not the person’s preferred language.

What difference this made to patients

People from groups within the BAME community are encouraged to take up the offer of a COVID-19 vaccination. The pharmacy works with members of the local community to understand and address their concerns about the vaccination programme. So, they can have confidence in it and help protect themselves and others from the effects of COVID-19.