Sir Lenny Henry urges black Britons to take covid-19 vaccine
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Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, actor Thandie Newton, radio personality
Trevor Nelson, musician KSI and author Malorie Blackman, among the
signatories on Sir Lenny Henry’s open letter Short film based on
the letter by BAFTA award-winning director Amma Asante stars Adrian
Lester, David Harewood, and Bridgerton’s Adjoa Andoh, and will be
aired across Sky, BT Sport, Viacom, Discovery, A&E and ROK and
Channel 5 tonight from 8pm Letter comes as 30 million people have
had their...Request free trial
Sir Lenny Henry has written an open letter to encourage Black Britons to take the COVID-19 vaccine, signed by some of the most high-profile names in the UK. 12 Years a Slave actor and Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor, author Malorie Blackman, actor Thandie Newton, football pundit Garth Crooks, performer George the Poet and musician KSI, radio personality Trevor Nelson and Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh are among those who have put their names to the letter which encourages Black adults in the UK to make informed decisions about the vaccine and protect themselves and the people they care for by getting vaccinated when their turn comes. Sir Lenny’s letter, supported by the NHS, has also been turned into a powerful short film, directed by BAFTA Award winner Amma Asante, which features Lenny alongside Adrian Lester, David Harewood, Naomie Ackie, Rt Rev Rose Hudson Wilkin, Bishop of Dover and Adjoa Andoh. The film will be aired across Sky, BT Sport, Viacom, Discovery, A&E and ROK between 8pm and 9.30pm. Sir Lenny Henry said: “I felt it was important to do my bit and so I wrote this letter to Black Britain asking people not to get left behind, to not continue to be disproportionately impacted and to trust the facts from our doctors, professors and scientists, not just in the UK but across the world, including the Caribbean and Africa. “I hear and understand the concerns which people of all backgrounds are wrestling with, but which are particularly concerning in Black communities. I want people to be safe, I don’t want people to die or end up in hospital because of Covid-19. So I’m saying, when your turn comes, take the jab. “I want to thank everyone who has signed the letter and dear friends who took part in Amma’s beautiful film.” More than 30 million people have now received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose, meaning over half of the UK’s adult population have been vaccinated and will soon develop strong protection from serious illness, saving lives and significantly reducing pressures on the NHS. Television veteran Sir Lenny says he understands the concerns of many in the Black community but tells them he doesn’t want their concerns about the jab to leave them disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. An ONS survey taken from 13 January to 7 February shows that less than half (49%) of Black or Black British adults reported that they were likely to have the vaccine and NHS data shows that only 466,000 Black of Black British adults have had a first dose of the vaccine so far. Amma Asante, who directed the film, said: “Creating something for the community I come from was important to me, particularly on a health issue that is as life and death as coronavirus. “I wanted to make a film that acknowledges the concerns of Black people while sharpening the lens on why the vaccine is so important, and why we deserve to have our lives and the lives of our loved ones protected. “I hope the film can contribute to making a difference”. Professor Kevin Fenton, London’s Regional Director for Public Health England, said: “We know our Black communities have been among the hardest hit during this pandemic, but we also know there are some among us who are less likely to come forward for the life-saving vaccine. “We can all play a role in encouraging our friends and family to take it up when offered, whether that’s answering questions or concerns they may have, pointing them towards information and advice from trusted sources, sharing our own experiences of getting the vaccine or declining to pass on myths and misinformation circulating on social media. “Getting back to normal life in the UK will mean every one of us joining the over 30 million people across the UK who have already taken up the vaccine. So I am fully behind Sir Lenny’s call to our Black communities. Let’s all do our bit, keep our loved ones safe and end this pandemic sooner rather than later.” People who have received a letter inviting them for a jab can log on to the national booking service at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination and choose from 1,700 vaccination sites. Anyone unable to book online can call 119 free of charge, anytime between 7am and 11pm seven days a week. For more information on the Covid-19 vaccine, visit: www.nhs.uk/covidvaccine. Signatories to the letter have come from across the spectrum of British society. From the business world, signatories include Karen Blackett OBE, Ric Lewis, Sonita Alleyne OBE, Eric Collins, and Wilfred Jones. Names from the arts and entertainment include Malorie Blackman, Lemn Sissay, Roy Williams, Reni Eddo-Lodge, George The Poet and KSI and from sport – Garth Crooks and Chris Hughton. Names from science and medicine have also supported the campaign, including Professor Kevin Fenton and Dame Donna Kinnair. Baroness Valerie Amos, Baroness Doreen Lawrence and Trevor Phillps have also added their names. The Government is working with the NHS, local authorities, charities and faith leaders to provide advice and public health information in over thirteen languages to people from all communities and backgrounds to ensure they come forward for the vaccine. ENDS Note to Editors
Further quotes Olivier Award-winning actor Adrian Lester CBE said: “I didn’t hesitate to take part in this worthwhile campaign when asked by Lenny, a national treasure and a man so trusted across the country. I hear and understand there are concerns, but we mustn't let that stop us from protecting ourselves from this terrible disease.” Acclaimed actor Adjoa Andoh, who recently starred in hit Netflix period drama Bridgerton said: “I want all the people I love to have access to the same protection as everyone else; to not be exposed to disease, illness, loss or a reduction of opportunities in their lives. My cousin and uncle are doctors and I have many friends and relations who work in the NHS, as well as health services in Ghana and the West Indies. “Everybody who loves me has urged me to have the vaccination. My parents, aunties and uncles have all had it, and yes, some of them were nervous too. But please, please, please we love you, we want to protect you, and want you to be safe. On this basis, I was very happy to join our Lenny's campaign.” Star Wars actor Naomi Ackie said: “Covid-19 is an awful disease that has impacted young people as well as older generations. I wanted to do my part to spread the word and encourage people, even my age, to make informed decisions about taking the vaccine and to listen to trusted experts.” Rt Rev Rose Hudson-Wikin, Bishop of Dover said: “Vaccines offer us a way through the pandemic, they’re safe and have been tested on Black people. I want everyone to have the same level of protection. “I understand the concerns, but it’s important to trust the facts and if you are worried speak to and get answers from your GP.” Sir Lenny Henry’s Letter in full: Dear mums, dads, grandparents, uncles, aunties, brothers, sisters, nephew, nieces, daughters, sons and cousins, We love you! We know we don’t say it often enough and sometimes we have our disagreements, like all families do, but wherever you are we love you from the bottom of our hearts and we know you love us. And we want to see you again. Covid-19 has kept us apart for far too long. We want to hug you, we want to celebrate with you, we want to go out for dinner with you, we want to worship with you, we want to go and watch football and cricket with you, we want to beat you at video games - in the same room so we can see the look on your face when we do. But in order to do all that - we all need to take the Covid-19 jab. It’s all of us in this together. Things will slowly get back to normal. Well what people are calling the new normal. The reality is the new normal may mean needing a vaccine to do many of the things we now take for granted. Because we love you - we want you to be safe and we don’t want you to be left out or left behind. While other communities are rushing to get the vaccine and millions have already been vaccinated, some Black people in our community are being more cautious. You have legitimate worries and concerns, we hear that. We know change needs to happen and that it’s hard to trust some institutions and authorities. But we’re asking you to trust the facts about the vaccine from our own professors, doctors, scientists involved in the vaccine’s development, GPs, not just in the UK but across the world including the Caribbean and Africa. Many of whom are our relatives, many of whom have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the people of this country from this pandemic. And the thousands who volunteered to be part of the vaccine trials so that we know it’s safe and works for people of all ethnicities. Don’t let their sacrifice be in vain. Don’t let your understandable fears be what holds you back. Don’t let your concerns be the thing that widens racial inequality in our society. Don’t let Black people continue to be disproportionately impacted by this terrible disease. Many in our community say they do not want to take the vaccine, much more than other groups. But the fact is we have been disproportionately affected by the virus, many of our loved ones have died. Don’t let coronavirus cost even more Black lives. We love you. We don’t want you to get sick. We don’t want you to die. We know you love us too so please hear us and when your turn comes, take the jab. And once you do, tell cousin Mo to do the same (is he really my cousin?) Let’s do this together. Thank you. Lenny x Signatories to the Letter: Dr Maggie Aderin Pocock, MBE Sir David Adjaye, OBE, Architect Naomi Ackie, Actor Sonita Alleyne, OBE, Master, Jesus College, Cambridge Baroness Valerie Amos, Master, University College Oxford Amma Asante, MBE, Writer/Director Adjoa Andoh, Actor Zeinab Badawi, Journalist, Chair, Royal African Society Karen Blackett, OBE, GroupM UK CEO, WPP Country Manager Malorie Blackman, OBE, Writer I. Stephanie Boyce, Deputy Vice President, Law Society Dr Margaret Casely-Hayford, CBE, Lawyer, Chair, Shakespeare's Globe, Chancellor, Coventry University Dr Nira Chamberlain FIMA FORS CSci PhD HonDSc, President of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications Eric Collins, CEO, Impact X Capital Garth Crooks, OBE, Ex-Footballer/Football Pundit Professor Patricia Daley, Vice Principal at Jesus College, Oxford Reni Eddo-Lodge, Journalist and Author Chiwetel Ejiofor, CBE, Actor Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, MBE, The Black Farmer Ekow Eshun, Writer and broadcaster Professor Kevin Fenton, London’s Regional Director for Public Health England Simon Frederick, TV Director and photographer George the Poet, Spoken word artist, poet Patricia Hamzahee, Advisor, Investor, Philanthropist David Harewood, MBE, Actor Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, MBE, Actor Rev Rose Hudson Wilkin, Bishop of Dover MBE Chris Hughton, Football manager at Nottingham Forest Football Club Dame Vivian Hunt Adrian Joseph, OBE, Managing Director, Group AI and Data Solutions at BT Kanya King, CBE, Founder MOBO Awards Dame Donna Kinnair, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing Wol Kolade, Managing Partner at Livingbridge Carol Lake KSI (Olajide Olatunji), Musician, Youtuber Baroness Doreen Lawrence Adrian Lester, CBE, Actor Darren Lewis, Assistant Editor, Daily Mirror Denise Lewis, OBE, Olympic heptathlon gold medalist, TV Sports Presenter Ric Lewis, Executive Chairman, Tristan Capital Partners, Founder Black Heart Foundation Trevor Nelson, MBE, Radio personality Thandie Newton, OBE, Actor Dr Sandie Okoro, Senior Vice President and Group General Counsel, World Bank Sir Kenneth Olisa, Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London David Olusoga, OBE, Historian and broadcaster Trevor Phillips, OBE, Writer, broadcaster, businessman Professor Cynthia Pine, CBE, Professor of Dental Public Health, Queen Mary University of London Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol Dr Nicola Rollock, Distinguished Fellow, Faculty of Education at University of Cambridge Tom Shropshire, General Counsel, Diageo Lemn Sissay, MBE, Author, poet and broadcaster Tevin Tobun, CEO and founder of GV Group Alex Wheatle MBE, Novelist Dame Sharon White, Chair of John Lewis Partnership Charlene White, TV news anchor, ITV Roy Williams, OBE, Playwright Marcia Willis Stewart QC, Director, Birnberg Pierce Lord Simon Woolley, Founder and Director of Operation Black Vote Gary Younge, Professor, Manchester University and journalist |