Online fake news about Covid vaccine 'spreading fear' in Sheffield BAME communities

Zoom conferences are being held to help dispel the myths for ethnic minorities

Author: Ben BasonPublished 29th Jan 2021

Community leaders in Sheffield say a "dangerous narrative" of online misinformation's putting many BAME people off the coronavirus vaccine.

Worrying stats show 72 percent of people in black ethnic groups across the UK say they're unlikely to get the jab.

Conferences are being now held on Zoom in Sheffield to try reassure ethnic minorities about about the jab's safety, by giving them access to experts who can dispel myths about it.

Sahira Irshard's the co-chair of the Sheffield BAMER Covid-19 Action Group who's organising them - she says many BAME people are worried about the vaccine:

"There's been many many social media posts and messages which have been passed through WhatsApp groups saying the vaccine will affect your fertility, it will affect the BAME communities more.

"That's a narrative that's been driven by certain groups - I feel it's really important to address these points.

"My mum was vaccinated on Monday and she was scared. She honestly felt like something crazy was going to happen to her. And this is a consequence of her reading messages in our own languages about how this is a huge conspiracy."

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi has said he is concerned the take-up of the jab might be lower in BAME communities after a survey found hesitancy was highest in black ethnic groups.

Sheffield's Director of Public Health Greg Fell and NHS bosses were among those invited to a Zoom conference earlier this week to explain about the safety of the Covid jab to BAME community leaders.

The Sheffield BAMER Covid-19 action group has more planned in the future.

Sahira says the key to tackling the problem is engaging with communities:

"It's such a dangerous narrative that's being driven. If English isn't your first language and if you are listening to these YouTube clips from so-called Muslim clerics who are saying that the vaccine has got pork in, the greatest detriment will be the fear that it invokes.

"Whether it's Zoom led or socially distanced, community groups are having these meetings with Immams, with the local community leaders, with their GPs. They speak and they engage and have conversations with individuals in their own languages so they understand what this vaccine will entail."

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