A
vaccine festival organised by an east London council only managed to jab 435 people, according to a Freedom of Information request.
The four-day Summer Festival at Langdon Park in Poplar cost Tower Hamlets Council £237,000 to put on, the BBC reported.
This equates to a cost of £535 per person vaccinated.
The festival took place between July 30 and August 2 last year. It included a stage with live performances.
Those who got jabbed also received a free food voucher at an onsite food truck.
READ MORE
Officials also did not record how many people attended the festival in total, a freedom of information request from the broadcaster showed.
A Tower Hamlets Council spokesperson told the Standard that councils are encouraged to find “new and innovative ways” to reach hard-to-vaccinate groups.
“The vaccine event at Langdon Park, funded by Covid-19 grants from central government, was set up to help vaccinate young residents, where data was showing a low uptake in this group,” the spokesperson said.
“Councils across the country have been actively encouraged to use funding to deliver vaccines in new and innovative ways, which is important in efforts to address vaccine hesitancy and low uptake in particular groups.
“Every vaccine in the arm of a resident helps prevent severe illness from Covid-19, build immunity and keep people safe. We continue to work to increase vaccination rates through novel approaches including our mobile vaccination bus, events, and clinics in community spaces.”
Council officials are “learning” from all work relating to vaccines to ensure events are effective, they added.
Tower Hamlets has witnessed one of the lowest vaccine uptake rates in the UK throughout the pandemic.
At the time, Tower Hamlets’ mayor John Biggs said the summer festival was “the latest local clinic” to support everyone in getting a vaccine.
“We know events like this appeal particularly to younger groups, so come along protect yourself and have some fun,” he said.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/east-london-covid-vaccine-festival-tower-hamlets-council-langdon-park-b992860.html
