Enhancing COVID-19 vaccine acceptance within Scotland Black, African, and Caribbean communities and lessons for future vaccination programmes

This study highlights how the intersection of multiple factors shapes the experiences of Scotland’s Black, African, and Caribbean communities in their access and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in the vaccination programme’s first, second, and booster stages. There was particular interest in understanding the vaccination journey, from scheduling an appointment to attending the appointment. Data in this study was collected between the 1 and 30 April 2022 using a triangulated approach, including a survey (with 408 responses), interviews (26), and focus group discussions (5 groups involving 30 participants). The study shows that 62% of respondents found scheduling a COVID-19 appointment easy, with less than 1% of respondents indicating that the process was complex. Online booking, appointment letters, and walk-in appointments were the most common ways of securing vaccination appointments. Letter appointments, specifically the blue envelope, were beneficial reminder mechanisms. It also provided information about COVID-19 vaccines and what to expect when attending the appointments. Other forms of securing vaccination appointments, such as through GP surgeries, were less commonly used. Around 21.5% of participants felt that receiving an appointment letter provided useful pre-vaccination information and a helpful reminder for their appointment. The accessibility of the vaccination centre, professionalism of the staff, and friendly approach enhanced the vaccine user access, use, and experience of COVID-19 vaccination.