The Covid-19 pandemic had a severe and disproportionate impact on Black people in the U.K. They were twice as likely as white people to catch the virus and were also overly represented in the numbers of those working in frontline services, particularly the National Health Service (NHS).

Latest reports show that over 30 million people in the UK have received their first dose of the vaccine so far, with millions more to go. Prior to the news of the Covid-19 vaccine being readily available to UK residents, many Black people were sceptical about any vaccination programme and expressed doubts about receiving a jab.

Growing up, I was unsure of my feelings regarding vaccinations. There was a lingering fear instilled by family and close friends who, when I gathered the courage to ask, shared anecdotes about their experiences with vaccines. I also heard unsettling stories about historical interactions between global pharma and Black communities across the world. However, this is just one, among a number of reasons why many Black people just don’t trust vaccines. I remember how my father was opposed to what he would refer to as ‘unnecessary jabs’ at school. His disapproval is one of the reasons why I developed resentment towards any type of jab that claimed to shield me from various illnesses or diseases. So, it’s no surprise that when I heard about the Covid-19 vaccination I was extremely cynical, like many others from my community.

Digging deeper

According to a survey conducted by University College London and the London School of Economics, 64% of young Black people in England are ‘vaccine-hesitant. The Office for National Statistics study stated that 44% of Black adult respondents were hesitant compared with 8% of White adults.

‘In a sense it is rather challenging to understand why some Black people are vaccine-hesitant, as we’re not a monolith, meaning that there are different reasons for vaccine hesitancy,’ says Dr. Chinedu Ike-Morris, NHS Junior Doctor. 

‘People remain sceptical due to a range of reasons from misinformation, to religious reasons. However, one thing that bounds us all together and fuels the distrust today is institutional racism,’ he adds.

The pandemic has ultimately exposed the racial disparities within UK healthcare. Institutional racism plays a huge part in the community’s interaction and overall relationship with the healthcare system. As a whole, the NHS has a poor track record on outcomes for Black people. Studies and reports have shown poor satisfaction rates and a lack of access to healthcare services.

When referring to the Black community’s hesitancy regarding vaccinations, it’s important to look at the history of unethical practices and experiments that we have endured over the years. Understanding history is key to finding out why some among us remain suspicious about vaccinations as a whole. Failure to do this can lead to continued scepticism and mistrust.

Mistrust and stereotypes

Some right-leaning tabloid publications in the UK have appeared to harbour questionable motives when they publish disparaging headlines about the Black community’s response to vaccinations. This has often happened without any analysis or historical context. Sadly, it perpetuates negative stereotypes about Black people and also feeds into sections of the tabloid press’ audiences that may already hold negative preconceived notions. These attitudes undermine any efforts to build a better understanding of why this inertia is prevalent among Black people.

‘Tackling the Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy is going to take multiple efforts. All of us must come together to understand and address the concerns that are causing the Covid-19 hesitancy,’ says Dr. Melva Thompson-Robinson, Professor and Executive Director at the Centre for Health Disparities Research. 

‘One of the big reasons that there is Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy in Black communities is because we are asking these communities to trust organisations that have not been trustworthy in the past. In the US, it goes beyond the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, and the story of Henrietta Lacks.’ 

‘We have to make sure that the messaging about the Covid-19 vaccine is based on where communities are and understanding their reasons for hesitancy. This messaging needs to also come from and include members of the Black community. These community members need to see and hear from persons that they trust and to a point persons who look like them,’ she adds. 

Social media timelines have been awash with humorous content on the potential side effects of the Covid-19 vaccines. Some of this serves as much-needed comic relief during these difficult times. However, we shouldn’t ignore the fact that beneath the comedy lies some real and deeply rooted concerns. These concerns are based on a long history of ill-treatment and targeted abuse at the hands of colonial authorities, government bodies, and powerful pharmaceutical companies, both in Africa and its global diaspora. 

History