Dear Sir,

THE figures for Harlow show that we currently have the highest numbers of Covid infections in Essex. We also have among the lowest rates of vaccination – with the Harlow vaccination figures being approximately 14% below the national average.

Thanks to the work of the West Essex CCG, we have the vaccination clinics (both bookable and walk in) with details being regularly published on line and in Your Harlow. But we still have the relatively low take up.

So my question is, could it be that as 1. We do not have a free local newspaper, 2. Most people do not get Anglia or BBC East TV and 3. because to date there are no posters in the Town Centre or in any of the other local shopping centres telling people where and when they can be vaccinated a large proportion of the population who are not on line quite simply do not know where to go?

So, for example, last week, there was a pop-up clinic in the Phoenix Live Unit on the first floor of the Harvey Centre and I understand that the take up there was poor – but were there any notices either in the Harvey Centre or the Town Centre telling people that the clinic was there and encouraging them to get vaccinated? No!

So although 64,014 have had their first dose, 58,753 the second and 40,397 a booster we still have a way to go, and to protect our local health services and ourselves we simply have to get the vaccination rates higher. I was told that a leaflet had been sent to every home in Harlow, detailing the times whereabouts of the vaccination centre however I understand that in some areas they did not arrive.

So, I am now publicly calling for the CCG with the help of Harlow Council to urgently use, what may seem to some old-fashioned methods such as, information posters in shop windows and on the Harlow Council notice boards to both actively inform residents where and when they can get vaccinated.

Cllr Tony Edwards