From faith leaders and celebrities to doctors and nurses, black African and Caribbean figures have used their platforms to increase understanding about the vaccines and dispel misinformation. Charles Kwaku-Odoi, Chief Officer at the Caribbean and African Health Network (CAHN), has many years of experience connecting the community with trusted health professionals and improving health literacy. He reflects on how we’ve come together to improve vaccine confidence.
The headlines detailing low vaccine uptake among the black African and Caribbean people and the devastating disproportionate impact Covid has had on our communities has left many feeling stigmatised and scapegoated but there’s plenty to be proud of. Throughout the pandemic there have been countless examples of our communities joining together to support those affected by this deadly virus and to make sure we benefit from the protection the Covid vaccine offers.
More than 33 million people in the UK have now had their first dose of the Covid vaccine and over 10 million have had their second dose. While research last year showed that black people were most likely to be reluctant to get the vaccine, this week, it was revealed that vaccine uptake among ethnic minority groups has tripled since February.
This increase in confidence in the jab wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of grassroot groups, community leaders and healthcare professionals who have spent their time listening to the concerns and working to ensure that black people have access to the facts about the vaccine. The hard work these individuals and organisations have been doing is paying off. Lives are being saved.
At the Caribbean and African Health Network, we work directly with black healthcare professionals who understand our community and our cultures and connect them with members of the public.
During the pandemic we’ve held webinars to give members of our community a space to have their concerns addressed and provide them with transparent and truthful answers to their questions about the vaccine and Covid-19. These events have undoubtedly had an impact. We’ve heard that people who have attended our online events have gone on to get vaccinated as a result.
Like us at CAHN, black majority churches have used their platforms to spread factual information about the vaccine through online Q&A events. They have also shared photos of their leaders getting vaccinated on social media and opened up as pop-up vaccination sites in the case of Jesus House and Emmanuel Community Church International. Black celebrities including Lenny Henry and Adjoa Andoh have come together to urge the community to get the jab in a powerful short film. Healthcare heroes working in the NHS have spared their time to speak directly to members of the public about the vaccine.
Getting the Covid-19 vaccine is important for everyone, but as our community has been disproportionately affected by this virus, it’s even more urgent. My work to address health disparities goes beyond Covid-19 but it’s crucial that a significant amount of people within the black community get vaccinated against Covid-19 to avoid exacerbating these existing inequalities in these communities.
I’ve had my Covid-19 vaccine and I hope that when it’s your turn, you will too.
If you’re aged 45 or over, you can now book your Covid-19 vaccine via nhs.uk/covidvaccine. You don’t need to know your NHS number and you can get the jab no matter what your immigration status – this will not be checked or passed on to immigration enforcement.
If you still have questions about the jab, I’d encourage you to speak to a qualified healthcare professional such as your GP or pharmacist and visit the NHS website for information you can trust.
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