This event is aimed at addressing common themes from a series of community webinars in order to shift the conversations and offer reassurance to people who are unsure about the safety of the vaccines.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been well documented that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities have been disproportionately impacted in terms of higher infection, hospitalisation and death rates. However, this disparity has not been reflected with regard to vaccines uptake, with figures demonstrating significant underrepresentation amongst those from BAME communities, in comparison with those from White backgrounds.
There are a number of underlying factors contributing to the low uptake ranging from: inequalities in access and poorer outcomes in engagement with health services, the perception of high risk associated with the vaccine, and a lack of culturally tailored communication. Additionally, when it was established that individuals from minority backgrounds were more vulnerable to COVID-19, elements of mistrust will have been exacerbated by the fear that BAME communities would play the role of ‘guinea pigs’ in testing vaccines efficacies. It is also important to note that low uptake of vaccines among BAME communities has been weaponised by anti-vaxxers, thus reinforcing existing scepticism.
Nadhim Zahawi, Photo courtesy Lee Goddard Crown Copyright
This event is organised by CORE (the Coalition of Race Equality Organisations) and the secretariat is administered by Voice4Change England (V4CE) and Race on the Agenda (ROTA).
V4CE and ROTA would be in touch following the event with thank you email and how to engage with CORE and the 27 national BAME-led member organisations working across England.
List of speakers:
– Nadhim Zahawi
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment
– Dr Binita Kane
Consultant Chest Physician, Manchester Foundation Trust
Co-Founder of South Asian Heritage Month
– Dr Ngozi Edi-Osagie
Consultant Neonatologist, Manchester Foundation Trust
– Professor Dr Mahesh Nirmalan
Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine, Manchester Foundation Trust
Vice Dean for Social Responsibility and Public Engagement, University of Manchester
– Dr Diana Asante, GP
– Dr Sunil Daga Nephrologist
– Dr Prashanth Patel, Consultant in Metabolic Medicine, Honorary Associate
Professor, University of Leicester
– Dr Yakubu Karagama
Consultant ENT Surgeon and Laryngologist, St Guy’s and St Thomas
