YEWANDE BIALA has released a video urging young people, and those from ethnic minorities to take the COVID-19 vaccination.

Biala starts the video by pointing out that there is a lack of “trust and confidence” in the community around the vaccine, and that this is a symptom of wider issues.

Among adults aged 16 to 29 years, 17% reported hesitancy towards the coronavirus vaccine, compared with 1% of adults aged 80 years and over, according to the latest ONS data. 

The same data also indicates that less than half (49%) of Black or Black British adults reported that they were likely to have the vaccine. This is in stark contrast to white groups, where 85% of people said they would be happy to take it.

Yewande herself is a Science graduate who worked in vaccine development before gaining popularity on reality television.

She said: “I feel like I have a responsibility to help explain how vaccines will protect us all from COVID-19 and prevent us getting seriously ill. 

“It was important for me to provide information to people about the need for vaccines and help answer some questions they might have.”

She speaks with Professor Kevin Fenton, a regional director at Public Health England and Dr Emeka Okorocha, a frontline A&E doctor in the video.

They answer common vaccine questions about how safe and efficient it is, and how it was developed so quickly.

They also discuss community initiatives to tackle vaccine hesitancy, and you can watch it in full here.

The video comes as the government hopes to offer the vaccine to all adults by the end of July.

COVID-19 minister Nadhim Zahawi said: “The government and the NHS are working hard to encourage people in all communities to come forward and accept the offer of a jab when it comes, and it’s great to have Yewande support these efforts to boost vaccine uptake among young people and those from minority ethnic groups.”

Over 25 million people have now received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose, meaning almost half of the adult population have had their first COVID-19 vaccination.

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 107 large-scale vaccination centres or 195 pharmacy-led 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.