Hospital staff from a wide range of cultural backgrounds have produced a special video urging members of ethnic minority communities to step forward for their vaccine.

The employees at Medway NHS Foundation Trust from a wider variety of cultural backgrounds came together to produce the film.

It comes in response to data showing up to a quarter of members of the BAME community are less likely to take up a Covid-19 vaccine.

The video features messages from trust staff in 12 different languages – English, Marathi, Punjabi, Mandarin, Cantonese, Thai, Bajan dialect, Yoruba, Malayalam, Egyptian Arabic, Urdu and Bengali.

While the uptake of the vaccine has been high across the board, research has found uptake rates among the Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups were 5-25% lower than for the white British population.

Dr Eleana Kamalanathan, foundation doctor at Medway NHS Trust, introduces the video and outlines that BAME communities have suffered some of the highest mortality rates and serious illness during the pandemic.

"The reality is that until the majority of us are vaccinated we're all still at risk.

"That's why we and colleagues at the hospital have created this video to encourage our community to get vaccinated, protect ourselves and those around us and move forwards into our new reality.

“Those from an ethnic minority background are more susceptible to COVID-19 and yet they are also among those most hesitant about the jab.

“Experiencing side effects after getting vaccinated means the vaccine is working and your immune system is responding as it should. It is really important that we all play our part in defeating COVID-19 by having our vaccination.”

Dr Nandita Divekar, consultant at the trust added: “I have had the vaccine myself and so have lots of my colleagues from the ethnic minority community.

"It is safe, effective and the most important thing you can do to keep your friends, family and community safe. Please book your vaccination as soon as you are eligible to do so”.

To book an appointment if you have been invited or to check eligibility visit www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination and for more information visit www.kentandmedwayccg.nhs.uk/covid19vaccine

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