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Sir Lenny Henry has written an open letter, signed by several household names, calling on black people in the UK to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor, actress Thandie Newton, radio host Trevor Nelson and author Malorie Blackman are among the signatories of the letter that asked people to “trust” the vaccine and not allow “concerns to be which widens racial inequality in our society. “
Sir Lenny’s letter, endorsed by the NHS, reads: “We don’t want you to be left out or left behind. While other communities are rushing to get vaccinated and millions have already been vaccinated, some black people in our community are being more cautious. . “
Occurs when 30 million people have received their first dose of vaccine, more than half of the UK’s adult population.
However, figures from the Office for National Statistics taken from January 13 to February 7 show that less than half (49%) of black or black British adults reported that they were likely have the vaccine.
Sir Lenny also blamed an “element of mistrust” in the system for caution in the black community. He said: “I felt it was important to do my bit and that is why I wrote this letter to Black Britain asking people not to be left behind, not to continue to be disproportionately impacted and to trust the facts of our doctors, teachers and scientists “. not just in the UK, but around the world, including the Caribbean and Africa. “
The open letter comes along with a short film by BAFTA award-winning director Amma Asante, which features Sir Lenny alongside others like actor Adrian Lester and Rt Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, the Bishop of Dover.
London’s Regional Director of Public Health in England, Professor Kevin Fenton, said “we can all play a role” in encouraging friends and family to take the vaccine.
He said people should tell others “information and advice from trusted sources” and not “pass on myths and misinformation circulating on social media.”
Professor Fenton said: “We know that our black communities have been among the hardest hit during this pandemic, but we also know that there are some among us who are less likely to request the life-saving vaccine … Let’s all do our bit, our loved ones safe and end this pandemic sooner rather than later. “
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Sir Lenny Henry’s letter in its entirety
Dear moms, dads, grandparents, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, nephew, nieces, daughters, sons and cousins,
We love you!
We know we don’t say it often enough and sometimes we have our disagreements, as all families do, but wherever you are, we love you from the bottom of our hearts and we know that you love us.
And we want to see you again. Covid-19 has kept us apart for too long. We want to hug you, we want to celebrate with you, we want to go out to dinner with you, we want to worship with you, we want to go watch soccer and cricket with you, we want to win at video games – in the same room so we can see the expression on your face when we do.
But to do all of that, we all need to take the Covid-19 jab. We are all in this together.
Things will slowly return to normal. Well, what people call the new normal. The reality is that the new normal may mean the need for a vaccine to do many of the things we now take for granted.
Because we love you, we want you to be safe, and we don’t want you to be left out or left behind. While other communities are rushing to get vaccinated and millions have already been vaccinated, some black people in our community are being more cautious.
You have legitimate concerns and concerns, we listen to you. We know that changes are necessary and that it is difficult to trust some institutions and authorities.
But we ask that you trust the facts about the vaccine from our own professors, doctors, scientists involved in the development of the vaccine, GPs, not just in the UK but around the world, including the Caribbean and Africa.
Many of them are related to us, many of whom have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the people of this country from this pandemic.
And the thousands who volunteered to be part of the vaccine trials so we know that it is safe and works for people of all ethnicities.
Don’t let their sacrifice be in vain. Don’t let your understandable fears hold you back. Don’t let your concerns be what widens racial inequality in our society.
Don’t let blacks continue to be disproportionately affected by this terrible disease.
Many in our community say they don’t want to get vaccinated, much more than other groups. But the fact is that the virus has affected us disproportionately, many of our loved ones have died. Don’t let the coronavirus cost even more black lives.
We love you. We don’t want you to get sick. We don’t want you to die.
We know you love us too, so listen to us and, when your turn comes, hit him.
And once you do, tell Cousin Mo to do the same (is he really my cousin?)
Let’s do this together.
Thank you.
Lenny x
