Thursday 18th February 2021
As many as 50 per cent of the black, asian and minority ethnic community have refused to take the vaccine and health professionals have been answering questions at a series of seminars to dispel real fear, anxiety and mistrust.
A lot of the scaremongering has been generated on social media and doctors, nurses, faith and community leaders want decisions, to have or not to have the jab, to be informed by facts rather than misinformation, lies or hearsay.
Among the more creative stories circulating is that the vaccine can change your physical appearance and that you could grow a tail! A panel discussion organised by Croydon BME asking ‘should we take the vaccine?’ saw four doctors and a faith minister answer questions at the online event which was attended by 800 people.
Croydon BME Forum has joined forces with local organisations in a bid to inform the black community about the Covid-19 vaccines following the recent low uptake.
A recent study by the University of Oxford and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that 21 per cent of black people over the age of 80, who are currently eligible to have the vaccine, have been vaccinated compared to 43 per cent of their white counterparts.
