Stoke-on-Trent MP Jack Brereton is backing the British Red Cross campaign to increase uptake of the vaccine in minority communities. Research from the Red Cross shows Black, Asian, and other minority groups are less likely to have been vaccinated, and less likely to accept a vaccine as a result of concerns about the safety of the jab.
The research indicates these concerns spread from friends and family, as people from these minority groups are more likely to trust friends and family then they are the Government or mainstream media.
To counter this, the Red Cross have launched a campaign aimed at exploring vaccine hesitancy, taking the issue head on and debunking false rumours, such as human or animal products being used in the making of the vaccine, or the vaccine reducing fertility.
The Campaign features videos from families openly discussing the vaccine and their thoughts on it, helping people from minority backgrounds talk about these issues. You can see an example here: https://bit.ly/3kpKZqf
The Red Cross also runs a page containing all the information about the vaccine and its safety, which can be seen here: http://bit.ly/CovidVaccineFAQs2021
Jack Brereton said:
“The vaccine rollout has now reached over 20 million people, the majority aged over 65. The vaccine will already have saved thousands of lives and is a key part of our plan to emerge from lockdown and resume normal life. The vaccine has been rigorously tested and is safe, the more people who get vaccinated the sooner we can start to see life return to normal.
I urge anyone, from a minority group or not, to visit the Red Cross website if they have any worries about the vaccine.”