MP calling on people from ethnic minority backgrounds to get their COVID-19 vaccine

On 30 January 2021 the Department of Health and Social Care and Nadhim Zahawi MP, published a press release titled “Vaccine Deployment Minister and Mayor of London collaborate to share benefits of vaccine uptake.

“Explaining that people of black African ethnicity in England are over twice as likely to die from this virus than white people, according to the ONS. The same is also true of South Asian people.

The article articulated that the “reasons for this go beyond ethnicity. It is to do with socio-economics – where and how people live – as well as historic issues of racism and inequality in this country. Those from minority ethnic groups are more likely to work in some of the lowest-paid, public-facing jobs in the country which has put them at increased risk of catching this virus.“

In the article Vaccine Deployment Minister Nadhim Zahawi and the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan called “on people from ethnic minority backgrounds to get their COVID-19 vaccine – it is safe, it is effective and it could save your life or the life of someone you love. This is an issue of vital importance and one that transcends party lines. “

The press release refers to a video produced by “black MPs from both the Conservative and Labour parties united against the spread of false rumours about vaccines in a video where they shared heart-breaking stories of losing loved ones to COVID-19.”

The video can be accessed here.

The press release also refers to a video produced by celebrities including comedians Romesh Ranganathan and Meera Syal and cricketer Moeen Ali. This video was co-ordinated by Citizen Khan creator Adil Ray, who said he wanted to dispel vaccination myths for those from ethnic minority communities.

The video can be accessed here : https://twitter.com/adilray/status/1353677950550495243

The press release concludes with the comments “ We’ve asked everyone to play their part to protect the NHS, save lives, and get society up and running again, and we know the sacrifices communities have made to follow the rules. Now the vaccines have finally given us hope, we urge everyone but especially people from black, Asian and ethnic minorities, to find trusted advice, call your GP, visit the NHS website, and encourage your family and friends to protect themselves when the call comes, it could save their life. “

The press release can be accessed here.

Local VCSE organisations supporting diverse communities may wish to use the videos with the communities they support to encourage take up of the Vaccine rollout.