Leading London surgeon urges all BAME people to have COVID vaccine

A leading surgeon known for his work in tackling knife violence has turned his attention to battling vaccine hesitancy among black and other minority ethnic groups.

Martin Griffiths, who works at Barts Health NHS Trust in London, is urging fellow staff and others from black, Asian and other minority groups to get the jab – after suffering COVID and receiving the vaccination himself.

Those from a BAME background are more susceptible to COVID-19 and yet they are also among those most hesitant about the jab, according to the surgeon, who has seen first-hand the devastating effects of coronavirus.

This is something Dr Griffiths is “not prepared to tolerate” as the largest vaccination programme in NHS history continues to accelerate.

Dr Griffiths said: “Spread the word, not the virus. I’ve had coronavirus, I’ve seen it up close. You don’t want to die. The people doing badly are the same people who are hesitant about taking up the vaccine and it’s tragic.

“Minority ethnic groups take up a disproportionate amount of beds due to COVID and they are also the most hesitant to get the one thing that could save them.

“We need to rally around these groups and give them the support they need so that they choose to have the jab, saving their own lives and those of their loved ones.

“This isn’t me talking as a doctor, this is me talking as a human being. I recognise what coronavirus looks like up close.”

The government are working with faith and community leaders to 'dispel myths'

In a recent study based on more than 20 million patient records in England, The OpenSafely study, by the University of Oxford and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, found out of one million people over 80, but not living in a care home, who had received their first dose of the vaccine:

• 43 per cent were white

• 30 per cent were of Bangladeshi and Pakistani origin

• 21 per cent were black

Dr Griffiths wants more to be done to address concerns of security guards, porters, transport workers and cleaners, who are all in patient-facing roles.

“I recently vaccinated a security guard who had been encouraged to come and talk to me about her concerns from colleagues. These are the vital conversations that can make a huge difference.

“These are valued people who are an integral part of the healthcare system, people I have worked with for 30 years, and I don’t want to see them die because of misinformation.

“These are the patient-facing roles that are most at risk and they are also likely to be decision-makers on health within their families, with a butterfly effect of influence on their communities. It’s vital we listen and help.”

NHS staff are delivering jabs from a network of more than 1,500 sites across the country including sports stadiums, racecourses, show grounds, cathedrals, churches, a temple, a mosque and a museum.

Minister for COVID Vaccine Deployment, Nadhim Zahawi said: “Dr Martin Griffiths has a hugely important message on the vaccine being safe for all, and it’s vital that it is heard loud and clear. It is a top priority for government that we support black and other minority ethnic groups to get the right information so they can protect themselves and their loved ones.

“As part of this, we are working with faith and community leaders to dispel myths, give advice about the benefits of vaccinations and provide clear details for how their communities can get a jab. Martin’s message is a clear-eyed one: this virus is deadly and it is paramount that every eligible person benefits from a vaccine.”