RESEARCH ARTICLE COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in an ethnically diverse community: descriptive findings from the Born in Bradford study [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 1 approved with reservations] Josie Dickerson 1 , Bridget Lockyer 1 , Rachael H. Moss 1 , Charlotte Endacott 1 , Brian Kelly 1 , Sally Bridges 1 , Kirsty L. Crossley 1 , Maria Bryant 2,3 , Trevor A. Sheldon 4 , John Wright 1 , Kate E. Pickett 2 , Rosemary R.C. McEachan 1,5 , Bradford Institute for Health Research COVID-19 Scientific Advisory Group 1 Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford, BD9 6RJ, UK 2 Department of Health Sciences, University of York, UK, York, UK 3 The Hull York Medical School, University of York, UK, York, UK 4 Institute of Population Health Sciences, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK 5 Faculty of Life Sciences and Health Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK First published: 04 Feb 2021, 6:23 https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16576.1 Latest published: 16 Aug 2021, 6:23 https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16576.2 v1 Abstract Background: The roll out of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines are now underway in the UK, and ensuring good uptake in vulnerable communities will be critical to reducing hospital admissions and deaths. There is emerging evidence that vaccine hesitancy is higher in ethnic minorities and deprived areas, and that this may be caused by misinformation in the community. This study aims to understand COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in an ethnically diverse and deprived population. Methods: Questionnaire surveys were sent to parents in the Born in Bradford study. Cross tabulations explored variation by ethnicity and deprivation. Text from open-ended questions was analysed using thematic analysis. Results: 535 (31%) of 1727 invited between 29 th October-9 th December 2020 participated in the study. 154 (29%) of respondents do want a vaccine, 53 (10%) do not. The majority had not thought about it (N=154, 29%) or were unsure (N=161, 30%). Vaccine hesitancy differed significantly by ethnicity and deprivation: 43% (95% CIs: 37- 54%) of White British and 60% (35-81%) in the least deprived areas do want a vaccine, compared to 13% (9-19%) of Pakistani heritage and 20% (15-26%) in the most deprived areas. Those that distrusted the Open Peer Review Reviewer Status Invited Reviewers 1 2 version 2 (revision) 16 Aug 2021 version 1 04 Feb 2021 report report Richard Shaw , Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool, UK 1. Umair Majid , University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada 2. Any reports and responses or comments on the article can be found at the end of the article. Page 1 of 19 Wellcome Open Research 2021, 6:23 Last updated: 16 AUG 2021