Edinburgh equality council calls for better vaccine information for ethnic minorities

Edinburgh's ethnic minority communities need better information to encourage them to get the Covid vaccine, equality campaigners have warned.

ELREC chair Foysol Choudhury says misinformation can be as deadly as the virus

Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC) urged the Scottish Government to ensure the facts on the vaccine were communicated to the black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) community in a way that reassured them.

ELREC chair Foysol Choudhury claimed since the start of the pandemic information had not always been disseminated properly among local ethnic minority communities.

“There hasn’t been official translated information made available to minority groups, specifically to those with language and literacy issues which is quite prevalent amongst the older BAME generations. Many older south Asians living in Edinburgh and Lothians rely on friends and family to relay information to them, and this doesn’t always happen so they are left to rely on foreign messages which may not always be correct.”

“During the Covid-19 pandemic the information hasn’t always been executed in a responsible manner which has led to many relying on other sources. Misinformation in these circumstances can be just as deadly as the virus. People need to know factual information about every aspect of the pandemic.

“As the vaccine is being rolled out, we need to know the facts, in order to ensure all individuals are vaccinated. We need facts, such as the ingredients and side-effects. Many BAME people have underlying health issues and illnesses specific to their groups so how will the vaccine affect them, has it been tested vastly and diversely enough.

“Everyone has the right to correct information in a manner they understand and can apply to their lives. This is the responsibility of every government.”

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