MP Rayner encourages more from BAME community to take up their covid vaccine invites

Ashton and Failsworth MP Angela Rayner hosted a meeting with key members of the North West Muslim community to help encourage more BAME citizens to take up their covid vaccine invites.

The Labour Party is calling for a plan to support the vaccination of Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities amid fears over low vaccine uptake.

The call comes ahead of the holy month of Ramadan in April and concern that it will have an impact on vaccine uptake amongst British Asians.

ONS data shows that people from Bangladeshi and Pakistani backgrounds were up to five times more likely to die than white Britons during the second wave.

A survey undertaken by Oldham Mosques Council found that only 28% of Muslims would have the vaccine, and a significantly lower proportion of South Asian Britons aged over 70 have been vaccinated compared to white Britons aged over 70.

Labour is demanding the government put in place a targeted vaccine communications strategy as well as addressing the impact of pre-existing health inequalities and mistrust on lower uptake among some communities.

The virtual meeting was co-hosted by Gorton MP Afzal Khan and attended by the Mayor of Burnley, Wajid Khan, Oldham Council’s Deputy Leader, Arooj Shah, and Oldham Council Cabinet Members Abdul Jabbar and Zahid Chauhan.

Ms Rayner, Labour’s Deputy Leader, and Mr Khan, Chair of the Labour Muslim Network, discussed the vaccine roll out and what steps the government can take to support community leaders to ensure that as many Black, Asian and ethnic minority people are vaccinated as possible.

Ms Rayner said: “I want to pay tribute to the NHS, scientists, armed forces, volunteers and everyone working to rollout the vaccine across the country.

“But as a country we won’t be safe unless we are all safe – that is why the lower uptake among certain communities is so concerning and must be addressed.

“Not only does low vaccine uptake put lives at risk but spikes in infection and hospitalisations among people who haven’t been vaccinated could also threaten the unlocking of our economy in the months ahead.

“This crisis has had a disproportionate impact on Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities.

"The government must not let the vaccine roll out leave any community behind.”

Mr Khan added: “The disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities, coupled with the low vaccine uptake, is deeply concerning.

“Organisations like Muslim Council of Britain and the British Islamic Medical Association have been doing fantastic work on this issue, such as providing vaccine information in different languages and encouraging uptake within communities.

“However, it is the Government’s job to effectively engage and build trust with minority communities.

"No one can be left behind.”

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