A SPECIAL online event aimed at tackling vaccine hesitancy amongst  black Londoners is set to take place later today (December 22).

As cases of people infected by the Omicron variant continue to rise The London Informed: Big Conversation webinar in collaboration with the Ubele Initiative will give Londoners the opportunity to have their questions answered about the COVID-19 vaccines, booster doses and the Omicron variant.

The webinar is part of a series scheduled to take place over the coming weeks which will involve the capital’s health leaders and community representatives organised by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

The series has been organised in partnership with the NHS, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) and a range of community organisations. At the launch earlier this week Khan said that his goal was that “no Londoner is left behind in the vaccine rollout”.

People from Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities as well as those living on lower incomes have been impacted disproportionately by the pandemic.

According to data published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) in 2020, black individuals are more than four times more likely than white people to die from Covid-19. The findings revealed the epidemic’s devastating impact on black and minority ethnic (BAME) communities in England and Wales. But despite this, figures also show that black people in the UK are more unwilling to be vaccinated than other ethnic groups.

According to a YouGov poll conducted in March last year, one in ten Britons from ethnic minority communities (10%) say they will not get vaccinated. The number rises to 19% for people from African Caribbean heritage. In contrast, only 6% of White Britons said they would refuse the vaccine.

Mistrust

Experiences of poor NHS treatment, a profound mistrust of authorities, and prior unethical medical trials on black people, such as the infamous Tuskegee Institute syphilis study, have all contributed to some African Caribbeans’ scepticism about the benefits of getting a vaccination.

As Omicron spreads, London’s Black and minoritised communities have some pressing and urgent questions to answer about how we respond to this new emergency.

Michael Hamilton, Director of Practice at The Ubele Initiative
 

Among those who will be on the panel for today’s event are health equalities campaigner Patrick Vernon, Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice, Cedi Frederick, Independent Chair of the London Vaccine Legacy and Health Inequalities Programme and Dr Oge Ilozue, GP and Senior Clinical Advisor to the COVID Vaccination Programme in London .

Khan, said: “As cases of the Omicron variant continue to rise, I want to make a direct appeal to the more than one million Londoners who are yet to come forward for any COVID-19 vaccinations – it’s never too late to get your first or second dose. It will help to protect you, your loved ones and our NHS.

‘Badly affected’

“I don’t want any Londoner to be left behind in the vaccine rollout – particularly those communities who have been so badly affected by the pandemic, with the disproportionate loss of both loved ones and livelihoods.

“That’s why, working closely with leading community groups and health leaders, we’re hosting these Big Conversation sessions to encourage frank, honest and open dialogue on the questions and concerns Londoners have about the safety of the jabs. I urge Londoners to join these sessions, to ask the questions you want answered and to take the right action to protect yourself and your loved ones this winter.”

Michael Hamilton, Director of Practice at The Ubele Initiative, said: “As Omicron spreads, London’s Black and minoritised communities have some pressing and urgent questions to answer about how we respond to this new emergency. How do we best support and protect each other? Who should we trust? What is reliable information? The Ubele Initiative is pleased to host this important event, exploring these important questions, providing informed responses from Black and minoritised experts.”

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