Labour calls for vaccine plan for Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to encourage vaccine uptake

Labour has today called for a plan to support the vaccination of Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities.

The government’s plan to ensure all Black, Asian and ethnic minority people are able to benefit from the vaccine should include:

• The publication of daily data showing the progress of the vaccine roll out across people from different ethnic backgrounds
• An analysis of the impact pre-existing health inequalities are having on lower uptake amongst some communities
• A vaccine communications strategy which reaches all communities and tackles disinformation

The call comes ahead of Labour’s Deputy Leader Angela Rayner MP and Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities Marsha de Cordova MP hosting a virtual roundtable meeting with Black faith and community leaders in the West Midlands today to discuss the vaccine roll out and what steps the government can take to ensure that Black, Asian and ethnic minority Britons take the vaccine.

Labour has launched the #LetsVaccinateBritain campaign to support the national effort to get Britain vaccinated and encourage Labour Party members, supporters and members of the public to get involved and sign up as NHS volunteers, speak to friends, neighbours and relatives about the importance of getting the vaccine and support faith leaders and local community leaders in promoting the importance of vaccinations and tackling anti-vaccine disinformation.

Angela Rayner MP, Labour’s Deputy Leader, speaking ahead of the meeting with Black faith and community leaders, said:

“Black, Asian and ethnic minority nurses, doctors and volunteers are on the frontline of our vaccine roll out and I thank them for their service to our country.

“This crisis has had a disproportionate impact on Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities, and it is so important that the vaccine roll out doesn’t leave any community behind.”

Marsha de Cordova MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, said:

“We need to vaccinate Britain, and that means a plan to ensure that Black, Asian and ethnic minority people benefit from the vaccine. The government must publish regular data showing the progress of the vaccine roll out among ethnic minority communities, and take every step possible to encourage take-up.

“That means a vaccine communications strategy that reaches every community and a thorough analysis with an accompanying action plan to address the impact that pre-existing structural inequalities are having on low uptake.

“Black, Asian and ethnic minority people are being hit hardest by this virus. The government must ensure they are not left behind by the vaccine roll out.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• In May, Labour called for Covid-19 health inequalities strategy to protect deprived and Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities.

https://labour.org.uk/press/labour-call-for-covid-19-health-inequalities-strategy/

• Labour commissioned Baroness Doreen Lawrence to undertake a report looking at the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities and in October demanded that the government implements a plan to protect Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities.

https://labour.org.uk/press/labour-demands-immediate-action-for-black-asian-and-minority-ethnic-communities-as-new-report-lays-bare-pandemic-suffering/

• In her report, Baroness Doreen Lawrence concluded that decades of structural racism, inequality and discrimination led to the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities and that ethnic minority Britons had been “overexposed, under-protected, stigmatised and overlooked” throughout the crisis.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/27/structural-racism-led-to-worse-covid-impact-on-bame-groups-report