The Mayor said BAME communities had been shown to be at higher risk of becoming seriously ill or dying from coronavirus and deserved preferential treatment when distribution of the jabs begins.
Guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation says the vaccine should be distributed according to age, with care home residents and workers first on the list.
But Mr Khan revealed yesterday he had asked for ethnicity to be included as a factor.
He told BBC London radio last night: “The NHS and Public Health England are working up criteria for who gets the vaccine first. Basically speaking, it’s done by age.
“But I have asked for additional things to be factored in, and that includes concerns I have got around black, Asian, ethnic minority Londoners who disproportionately suffered during the deaths we saw in March, April, May and June.”
Death rates from covid were higher for Black and Asian ethnic groups when compared to white ethnic groups.
Mr Khan is also concerned that traditionally poor take-up of routine vaccinations in London could hinder efforts to vaccinate residents against covid.
Sadiq Khan is concerned about possible poor take-up of a covid vaccine by Londoners
/ REUTERS )“My concern is that in London there is a greater hesitancy to taking vaccines than in other parts of the country – the take-up of polio, MMR, HPV, it’s less in London than in other parts of the country,” he said.
“So one of the things we have got to do is give Londoners the confidence it’s worth getting this vaccine, and also make sure that the most vulnerable – the most likely to catch the virus and, God forbid, die – get the vaccine first.”
Of 700 Londoners polled online between October 19 and November 2, almost half of those who would not or might not get a vaccine (47.5 per cent) said that they either did not trust government guidance or did not trust drug companies.
About two-thirds of respondents said they were likely or definitely to get vaccinated. Willingness to get vaccinated was lowest among east Londoners.
The 45-54 age group had the most respondents say they were not likely to have the vaccine.
As a result, the assembly called for a “Debunk, Reassure and Promote” campaign from the government, NHS England and the Mayor on vaccines.
Dr Onkar Sahota, chair of the health committee, said: “The NHS, Government and the Mayor must now work together to debunk false information, reassure Londoners and promote the uptake of Covid-19 vaccines.
“If we are really gearing up to start rolling-out these out next month, these efforts must begin urgently.”
