Vaccines a huge success, but public trust must be earned - key findings from Covid report

Vaccines a huge success, but public trust must be earned - key findings from Covid reportImage source, EPAByNick Triggle, Health correspondent and Jim Reed, Health reporterPublished16 April 2026While the rollout of Covid jabs has been hailed a great success, the fourth report from the official inquiry into the pandemic also includes warnings about vaccine hesitancy, misinformation and support for those who have been harmed by the jabs. Here's a look at the key findings from the 274-page report.Vaccines showcased 'best of UK health and science'The Covid vaccination programme was unprecedented. Never before had vaccines been developed so quickly or rolled out so rapidly.What would normally takes years in research and clinical trials, was done in months. And safety and regulation, the inquiry said, was not compromised.Once available, around 130 million doses were given in the space of a year, as more than nine in 10 people aged over 12 were immunised.The authorities innovated too to try to boost uptake. Pop-up clinics were run in community centres and faith settings as the NHS and government partnered with local community leaders to tackle hesitancy.Overall, it was an achievement which the inquiry said "showcased many of the best attributes of the UK's health and scientific systems".Did government go too far on vaccines?Misinformation spread online about vaccines during the pandemic both damaged uptake of the Covid jab and has subsequently affected confidence more generally in childhood vaccines that have nothing to do with Covid, says the inquiry.High levels of distrust in authority in certain communities, including ethnic minority groups and people living in deprived areas, was and is also a factor.Both issues need addressing, it says, but the inquiry also raises interesting questions over the government's attempts to force some people to get the jab.In June 2021, the government announced care workers in England had to be vaccinated...