Sir Lenny Henry urges Black Britons to take COVID-19 vaccine

On 30 March 2021 the Department of Health and Social Care published a press release, which includes a full copy of the open letter written by Sir Lenny Henry to the Black British community.

Television veteran Sir Lenny says he understands the concerns of many in the Black community but tells them he does not want their concerns about the jab to leave them disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

An Office for National Statistics (ONS) survey taken from 13 January 2021 to 7 February 2021 shows that less than half (49%) of Black or Black British adults reported that they were likely to have the vaccine and NHS data shows that only 466,000 Black of Black British adults have had a first dose of the vaccine so far.

The press release can be accessed here.

Local VCSE organisations supporting the local black community may want to share the letter with those communities to encourage take up of the vaccine.