Welsh Conservatives voice concern over low vaccine take up in BAME communities

Welsh Conservative Senedd leader Andrew RT Davies has welcomed encouragement aimed at people in BAME (black, Asian, and minority ethnic) communities to take up the offer of a Covid vaccination.

According to Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures, males of black African ethnic background had the highest rate of death involving Covid, 2.7 times higher than males of white ethnic background; females of black Caribbean ethnic background had the highest rate, twice as high as for females of white ethnic background.

Andrew said:

“The reasons for the disproportionate effect of coronavirus on BAME communities are complex and remain under investigation, but as we have sadly seen people in these communities have experienced greater levels of illness, while death rates have been proportionately higher than in the white population. 

“I raised this issue last month with the health minister as I had serious concerns regarding some reports on take-up and misinformation about the components of the vaccinations that could be influencing members in Wales to reject it.

“It’s right ministers are tackling this problem head-on as it is vital all communities in Wales hear loud and clear the evidence that the vaccine is safe and suitable, and take up the offer of a vaccination when offered to benefit and protect all people in Wales.”