Local BAME communities urged to take up vaccine offer
Staff from across the health and care system and members of different BAME communities have recorded information in a number of languages to help people understand the importance of staying safe during the pandemic and having the vaccine when it is offered.
These include videos in Urdu, Polish, Romanian, Malayalam, Punjabi, Gujarati, Hindi, Czech/Slovak and Chinese.
Ash Ahmed, Lay Member for Public and Patient Involvement, and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion for the Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Groups, said:
“Vaccines are the way out of this pandemic. An effective vaccine is the best way to protect people from coronavirus.
“We know how important it is for people to have the right information, in a way that is meaningful for them, so they can make informed choices about their care.
“We really hope that these videos will help vulnerable patients take up the offer of the vaccination, which is one of the best opportunities we have for our communities to return to normal life”.
Cllr Raj Mehta at Telford & Wrekin Council, who is also Chair of the Interfaith Group, said:
“The past year has been difficult for us all, taking the vaccination will allow us to reunite and return to normality.”
“There is no scientific evidence to suggest that the vaccine will work differently on people from minority ethnic backgrounds.
“Myself and my parents have had the vaccine and I want to encourage others to have it too when they are invited by the NHS.”
To support the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine locally, people are being asked to share the videos and the following key messages with friends and family:
The NHS will contact people in the priority groups when it is their turn to receive the vaccine. People are being called forward who meet the criteria based on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s recommendations.
The public have an important part to play:
- please don’t contact the NHS to seek a vaccine, the NHS will contact you;
- when we do contact you, please attend your booked appointments; and
- please continue to follow all the guidance to control the virus and save lives
Whether or not you have had the vaccine you still need to:
- practice social distancing
- wear a face mask
- wash your hands carefully and frequently
- follow the current guidance
The approved COVID-19 vaccines do not contain any animal products or egg. The British Islamic Medical Association has considered all varieties of the vaccine and recommends that Muslims have the vaccine.
You can have the COVID-19 vaccine if you're breastfeeding.
If you're pregnant there’s no evidence the COVID-19 vaccine is unsafe. But more evidence is needed before you can be routinely offered the vaccine. The JCVI has updated its advice to recommend you may be able to have the vaccine if you're pregnant and:
- at high risk of getting coronavirus because of where you work
- have a health condition that means you're at high risk of serious complications of coronavirus
If you are trying to get pregnant speak to a healthcare professional before you have the vaccination. They will discuss the benefits and risks of the COVID-19 vaccine with you. You do not need to avoid pregnancy after vaccination. The vaccine cannot give you or your baby COVID-19.
If you've ever had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) please tell the healthcare staff before you have the vaccination. You should not have the vaccine if you've ever had a serious allergic reaction to:
- a previous vaccine
- a previous dose of the same COVID-19 vaccine
- some medicines, household products or cosmetics
Serious allergic reactions are rare. If you do have a reaction to the vaccine, it usually happens in minutes. Staff giving the vaccine are trained to deal with allergic reactions and treat them immediately.
Press release link and video links
The videos are available on the Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Sustainability Transformation Partnership YouTube and and on the Telford and Wrekin Council website
