This Morning: Phillip Schofield’s mother gets second Covid vaccine

Phillip Schofield confirms his ‘very lucky’ mother Pat, 84, has received her second Covid vaccine in Cornwall

Phillip Schofield confirmed on This Morning on Monday that his mother, Pat, 84, has received her second Covid-19 vaccine

The TV presenter, 58, professed she is not a billionaire but is nevertheless ‘very lucky’ to receive the immunisation jab which will help protect her against the novel coronavirus

During a discussion about nationwide plans for mass vaccines, he revealed his mother was on a list for the vaccination in Cornwall.

Staying safe and protected: Phillip Schofield confirmed on Monday's show of This Morning that his mother Pat, 84, has received her second Covid-19 vaccine

Staying safe and protected: Phillip Schofield confirmed on Monday’s show of This Morning that his mother Pat, 84, has received her second Covid-19 vaccine

He said to co-host Holly Willoughby: ‘Mum was very lucky actually, she’s not a billionaire, she’s just down in Cornwall. 

‘She just happened to be on the list and they called her back, I think maybe towards the end of the period they might have some left over or whatever, and she got her second vaccine.’ 

‘Really? Wow,’ responded Holly, 39. ‘Very lucky’.   

The Government is currently on course to vaccinate 15 million people across the UK by mid-February, including health and social care staff, the elderly and people in care homes.

Family: The TV presenter, 58, professed his mother (pictured in 2008) is not a billionaire but is nevertheless 'very lucky' to get the treatment which will help protect her against the novel coronavirus

Family: The TV presenter, 58, professed his mother (pictured in 2008) is not a billionaire but is nevertheless ‘very lucky’ to get the treatment which will help protect her against the novel coronavirus 

If that progress continues, the Government could be in a position to lift lockdown restrictions in early March, vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said.

However, he also shared his fears that black and ethnic minorities may see a lower take-up of the Covid-19 vaccination.   

There are concerns language and cultural barriers are feeding the spread of false information as the Government scientific advice panel revealed large differences in different communities taking the vaccine.

A document released by SAGE last week found a ‘marked difference existed by ethnicity, with black ethnic groups the most likely to be Covid-19 hesitant, followed by Pakistani/Bangladeshi groups’.

The report said adults in minority ethnic groups were less likely to receive vaccines than those in white groups, by between 10-20%. 

Relief: He said: 'She just happened to be on the list and they called her back, I think maybe towards the end of the period, they might have some left over or whatever and she got her second vaccine'

Relief: He said: ‘She just happened to be on the list and they called her back, I think maybe towards the end of the period, they might have some left over or whatever and she got her second vaccine’

'The UK's mass vaccination rollout continues': The Government is currently on course to vaccinate 15 million people across the UK by mid-February

‘The UK’s mass vaccination rollout continues’: The Government is currently on course to vaccinate 15 million people across the UK by mid-February

Nadhim said on Monday’s BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘My big worry is if 85% of the adult population get vaccinated, if the 15% skews heavily to the BAME community, the virus will very quickly infect that community.’  

The minister, who himself was born in Baghdad, Iraq, said he was working with local mayors and councils to get the message across to ‘hard-to-reach groups,’ that the vaccine is safe. 

Among the barriers to the vaccine uptake is the perception of risk, low confidence in the vaccine, and lack of endorsement from trusted providers and community leaders, the undated document said.

The vaccine minister continued: ‘I am worried about BAME communities, which is why I’m spending a lot of time with the mayors, with Sadiq (Khan), and of course other parts of local government to make sure we reach those hard-to-reach groups.’ 

Hope on the horizon: If that progress continues, the Government could be in a position to lift lockdown restrictions in early March, vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said (pictured)

Hope on the horizon: If that progress continues, the Government could be in a position to lift lockdown restrictions in early March, vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said (pictured)