LONDON: Minority ethnic communities are at greater risk of becoming ill and dying of coronavirus with the UK’s “color-blind” vaccine distribution strategy, doctors have warned.
Writing in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, they say that the current priority is “avoiding the unequal impact of pandemic on minority ethnic groups” and exacerbating inequalities. ethnicity where the pandemic has emerged.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Vaccination (JCVI) has largely recommended an age-based approach, stating that age is the single biggest risk factor for Covid-19.
They recently considered but rejected a move to prioritize people in higher-risk positions, saying this could delay distribution.
Different ethnic groups are not specifically mentioned on this list but the JCVI stated that there should be “flexibility” at a local level, with a view to “reducing health inequalities, as may be the case with regard to accessibility. on health care and ethnicity ”.
People from minority ethnic communities are more likely to live in multi-generational, overcrowded households, where transmission may be higher.
They also make up a higher proportion of those working in high-risk, low-paid jobs. These workers are less likely to work from home and are open to more people, meaning they have a higher risk of disease.
The authors write: “The invisibility of these vulnerable groups from the priority list and the growing health care inequalities and inequalities are putting minorities at risk much higher Covid-19 morbidity and mortality.
“The UK color blindness vaccination model disregards the unequal impact of pandemic on minority ethnic groups, enabling structures known to cause systemic disadvantage to communities BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic). ”
Lead author, Professor Azeem Majeed, from the Department of Primary Care and Public Health at Imperial College London, said: society, will help revitalize the economy and enable essential community working. services. ”The authors state that ineffective vaccine distribution strategies“ appear to play a role in the high levels of vaccine complaints seen across ethnic minorities ”. Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published this week show that 44 per cent of black or black people in Britain reported vaccine discomfort.
All respondents from indigenous ethnic minorities were more lazy than white adults, with the prevalence rates of laziness six times as high in black or black British adults compared to white adults after switching for other factors.
The authors note that key factors that tend to include a lack of trust in some communities are due to racism, low confidence in the safety or effectiveness of the vaccine. , and limited agreements from trusted community leaders. Strategies that may reduce barriers to getting the vaccine can ensure that people do not suffer financial loss by taking time off work and traveling. to inject, and administer the vaccine in accessible community settings.
