National Institute of Health Research launching encouraging ethnic minorities to join Covid-19 studies to help put their communities at ease and ensure representation for all
- Vaccine researchers are calling for ethnic minority volunteers to join the NHS Vaccine Research Registry as they want communities to feel vaccines will support them because participants in studies have been like them
- Only 33,566 of 452,284 of volunteers for vaccine research registry are of non-white ethnicity (7.4 per cent)
- Huge concern as black men and women are nearly twice as likely to die from Covid-19 in comparison to white people
- There’s a lack of confidence among ethnic minority communities in relation to receiving the vaccine, specifically among those of Asian ethnicity
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.
There is also concern among trust in the vaccine among ethnic minority communities as only 57% of respondents from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds were likely to accept a COVID-19 vaccine, in comparison to 79% of White respondents. Confidence was particularly low among the Asian ethnicity of whom only 55% claimed they were likely to say yes to the vaccine.
Hear Dr Dinesh Saralya, NIHR - Consultant Respiratory Physician at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (BTHFT) and Director for Bradford’s National Institute for Health Research’s Patient Recruitment Centre (PRC: Bradford). NIHR Respiratory Disorders Co-opted member - Industry Lead
Background: Dr Saralaya has played a leading role in city’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Bradford, as one of the Bradford Royal Infirmary’s frontline medics and has appeared on both national and local media as a key communicator informing communities how to stay safe during the pandemic.
Listen to the interview by pressing play on the player
Calls for New Bus Route to Connect Growing Milton Keynes Communities
West London ANPR Camera Plan Sparks Row Between Neighbouring Councils
Eight Men Appear in Bradford Court Over Alleged Cockfighting Offences
Man Jailed for 14 Years Over 20kg Heroin Plot in Leeds
Former Senior Church Figure Jailed for Historical Sexual Offences
Free Fireworks Displays to Return to Manchester Parks
Bradford Woman Jailed After Committing Burglary Just 14 Days After Suspended Sentence
Bradford and Keighley Care Workers Named Finalists in Regional Awards
Drug Dealer Jailed After Accidental Wi-Fi Login Revealed His Hiding Place
High Wycombe Man Jailed for Supplying Heroin and Crack Cocaine
Calderdale Among Areas to Get New Young Futures Hub
Two Arrested in Bradford Historical Child Abuse Investigation
Remix Saturdays
Bhangra Nights
The Golden Era
Legal Show