How to tackle distrust issue around uptake of Covid-19 vaccine

Many people are relieved that there are three Covid-19 approved vaccines which are currently being rolled out among the elderly and vulnerable. However, the work is not yet done and research studies are still running while members of the public receive vaccines. Researchers are always learning more about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, and need volunteers to help make this possible. 

Different vaccines will be needed for different groups of people and as part of trials there is a real need for representation. Ethnic minority communities in particular are needed as part of the as research given that research has shown people from minority ethnic groups are at greater risk of becoming very ill with Covid-19. In particular, black men and women are nearly twice as likely to die from COVID-19 compared to white people .  

However, despite these alarming statistics, only 7.4% of those part of the vaccine research registry are from ethnic minority communities. Of almost half a million (452,285) volunteers who have signed up to the registry, just 33,566 are of non-white ethnicity. 

Ros spoke to Consultation Physician at Barts Hospital in London, Dr Vanessa Apea: