CONCERNS HAVE once again been raised over vaccine hesitancy among Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

A new survey reveals that 72% of Black people are unlikely to consider taking the new vaccine.

A report from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) said that historic issues of unethical healthcare research, as well as structural, institutional racism remain key reasons for the distrust.

After interviews with 12,035 participants about vaccine hesitancy, the study found that Pakistani and Bangladeshi groups were 42% less likely to trust the jab followed by Eastern Europeans who were also less willing.

These figures are higher than previous estimates from the Royal Society for Public Health which found that 57% of respondents from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds would take the COVID-19 vaccine if advised to do so by a GP or health professional.

Commenting on the lack of trust among non-white communities, report writers wrote: “Minority ethnic groups have historically been underrepresented within health research, including vaccine trials, which can influence trust in a particular vaccine being perceived as appropriate and safe, and concerns that immunisation research is not ethnically heterogenous.”

“Approaches should acknowledge the historical issues in healthcare research to address mistrust towards government and healthcare services experienced in Black communities in relation to vaccination.” 

The report also encourages Black and minority ethnic scientists to advocate the safety and efficiency of the vaccine.

The Voice asked reader questions about a vaccine to Dr Tollulah Oni. You can watch her responses here.

These latest figures come from the UK Household Longitudinal Study, which conducts yearly interviews to gain perspectives on people’s lives in the UK.

In other news, researchers from the University of Leicester are trying to recruit 20,000 healthcare workers from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds, to see how the pandemic is impacting them.