Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic views on the COVID-19 Vaccine
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Healthwatch Camden undertook research into Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy, following discussions with the NHS and other partners in Camden. They used what they found to support residents to arrive at an informed view about COVID-19 vaccination. During February 2021, Healthwatch Camden worked with three local community organisations to survey 223 people about their views on the COVID-19 vaccine and the local rollout.
Nearly all responders (97%) were from Black, Asian, or minority ethnic backgrounds. The most common ethnicities of survey participants were Bangladeshi, Chinese, Somali, or other African background. For 80% of responders, English was not their first language and the survey was translated and conducted by representatives from local organisations before being translated back into English.
For the overwhelming majority, this survey was the first time they had been asked about their views on the COVID-19 vaccine. This provided a unique insight into local concerns. With this insight, Healthwatch Camden held an online ‘COVID-19 Vaccine Q&A Session’ where local GPs and Public Health professionals and addressed the key questions and concerns identified in the survey.
Five key findings have emerged that will support the NHS’s decision making during the COVID-19 vaccination rollout:
1. The more knowledge someone felt they had about the vaccine, the greater the likelihood of them wanting to be vaccinated.
2. The most popular sources of information about the vaccine were television and Social Media.
3. There were subtle differences in the most common concerns that different age groups have about COVID-19 vaccination.
4. Almost one-third of those that were reluctant to get the vaccine indicated that they would reconsider their decision if they had more information.
5. General Practices were the most popular location to get the vaccine, although many would be happy with any venue within a reasonable distance. In addition, younger people and people from Black or Black British backgrounds were less likely to get the vaccine, which is consistent with existing national evidence on this topic.
The report concludes with 3 recommendations on information needs and trusted support. Next