The government and faith leaders have united in the national
effort to get the country boosted in the wake of a surge in
Omicron cases.
The drive is being supported by religious leaders, including
members of the Prime Minister’s Places of Worship Taskforce, the
, Sheikh Nuru
Mohammed, and the General Secretary of the Hindu Council.
Faith Minister was today (17 December 2021)
meeting with religious leaders to thank them for their work so
far and call on their urgent support in increasing booster
uptake.
Faith leaders – who are the pillars of many communities across
the country – have played a vital role throughout the pandemic,
from backing the vaccine drive, to making sure people practice
their faith safely, and even adapting places of worship into
pop-up soup kitchens and food banks.
As numbers of the new variant continue to rise at an alarming
rate, the government today joined forces with faith leaders to
help spread the message that booster vaccines are critical in our
fight against the virus.
At a summit alongside senior NHS figures, today outlined the
government’s response to the latest variant and highlighted areas
where faith leaders’ support will be most welcome.
Vaccines have saved countless lives and continue to be our best
way to protect against COVID-19 – and have helped over the last
few months to bring communities back together. The UK has one of
the highest uptake rates in the world, with more than 85% of
adults double jabbed so far, allowing people to come together in
places of worship, to practice their faith safely.
However, data shows that people from Black, Asian and minority
ethnic backgrounds are currently less likely to take up the
vaccine, and we need everyone from every background to do their
bit.
Health and Social Care Secretary said:
Faith and local community leaders have played a vital role
supporting the COVID-19 vaccine programme from the very
beginning. Thank you to everyone who is uniting behind this
national mission, spreading the word about the life-saving
benefits of the vaccines and encouraging people to roll up their
sleeves and get boosted now.
We’re working with the NHS to provide advice and information at
every opportunity on how to get a vaccine and the protection it
provides. Today’s discussion with faith leaders is another
opportunity to listen to views from across the country and join
forces to get ahead in the race against the Omicron variant.
It is never too late to get your vaccine, whether it’s your
first, second or third. Please come forward and get protected for
yourself, your family and your community.
Faith Minister said:
More than 25 million people have already received their booster
jab, helping to keep themselves, their friends and family safe
this winter but we need everyone from every community to come
forward to get ahead of this virus.
This is why I have joined up with leaders from across all the
major faiths to ask people of every denomination to come forward
and support this huge national effort.
Vaccines are our best defence against Omicron – I therefore urge
faith communities, and everyone, to book yourself in today and
join the national fight against this virus.
All eligible adults aged over 18 can get their lifesaving booster
jab from a walk-in vaccination centre or book online through the
National Booking Service following updates to the programme this
week.
A total of 750 troops have been drafted in to support deployment
of booster vaccines across the UK, while tens of thousands of
volunteers have stepped up to support the national mission. Extra
vaccine centres and pop-up sites have also opened to make it as
easy as possible for people to get vaccinated.
Vaccines are the best way to protect people against COVID-19 and
data from the UK Health Security Agency shows a booster vaccine
tops up protection against symptomatic infection from the Omicron
variant to around 70%.
The government is doing everything possible to spread this
message, including through regular meetings with local
authorities, faith leaders and organisations that represent
ethnic minority communities to provide advice and information
about COVID-19 vaccines.
Working together with the NHS and UKHSA, the Department of Health
and Social Care is providing advice and information at every
possible opportunity to support those getting the vaccine and to
anyone who might have questions about the vaccination process.
If you have yet to get your first or second dose, it is never too
late – vaccines reduce your risk of hospitalisation and death.
Whatever your faith or your background, join the national effort
and get the protection you need now.
