Join with us, and help to become part of the solution by taking the vaccine and encouraging others in your communities to do so

The Minister for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething today outlined the need to increase the up-take of vaccinations for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, to strongly refute misinformation about the vaccine and issue a plea for all ethnic communities to help in the fight against COVID-19.

Minster for Health and Social Services Vaughan Gething stated:

As we all know, Covid-19 is having a disproportionate impact on our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities. This isn’t fiction, its fact. Our communities have experienced higher levels of illness and, sadly, death rates have been higher than among the white population.

The ONS analysis is clear, males of Black African ethnic background had the highest rate of death involving COVID-19, 2.7 times higher than males of White ethnic background; females of Black Caribbean ethnic background had the highest rate, 2.0 times higher than females of White ethnic background.

The reasons for this are complex, and may be related to factors such as health conditions, employment, deprivation or social characteristics.

What we must never forget is that behind each figure is a family, a community and a neighbourhood that are impacted and damaged.

That’s why, today, the Welsh Government is issuing a plea, to all our ethnic communities across Wales, we need to dispel misinformation and unite as a country to protect those we care about the most, from this deadly virus.

I want to make it abundantly clear to all, the vaccine contains no pork products or traces of foetal matter and is safe for all ethnic minority and faith communities.

Taking the vaccine, is the only way to boost immunity to Covid-19 and will help us limit the spread within our communities. It’ll help us save our brothers and sisters, our family and friends, our neighbours and our colleagues.

We cannot allow this dreadful situation to continue. So join with us, and help to become part of the solution by taking the vaccine and encouraging others in your communities to do so.

So that we, in the near future, can return to normal life once again.

Supporting the message from the Health Minister and highlighting the support programmes and information on vaccines, Deputy Minister and Chief Whip Jane Hutt stated:

Welsh Government is working with race and faith groups across Wales to help protect and support our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities. We are considering the use of mosques, and other places of worship, to make it easier for people to access the vaccine and keep their communities safe.

In partnership with the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Advisory Group chaired by Judge Ray Singh, Welsh Government developed the ‘COVID-19 Workforce Risk Assessment Tool’, a two-stage system designed to help people understand their individual risk to then be followed by a conversation with employers about their individual risk factors and the specific actions which can be taken to help reduce those risks at work.

It’s vitally important that we tackle this deadly virus, but we can only do that by uniting as one community to dispel misinformation. The figures are stark and show that this isn’t just about us as individuals anymore, it’s about protecting our families, our communities and our loved ones.