Black People not taking the vaccine

[tootsytoo]

Just wandered what you guys think about it really?

I'm a little sad about this whole situation. That we are so mistrusting and paranoid about everything, and forget about real problems that actually are holding us back, the vaccine not being one of them.

I fully get why we do not trust the government but I don't get why as a majority, when covid is killing us disproportionally, we are more concerned about long term (unproven) effects of a vaccine as opposed to covid which we know can kill and cause long covid.

Just wandered views of other black people here on this?

I'm not black but staff that i work with are and all were eagerly awaiting the vaccine and have had the first dose.

I had a friend tell me at the start of the pandemic that he had the real scoop on Covid, that it was spread by 5G at which point I laughed him off the phone. It was months later that I realised that this conspiracy theory had gained quite a bit of traction 🙄

More recently a family member informed me of the idea that the vaccine is microchipped to control people worldwide and also sent me a video clip of a US woman who was interviewed saying she had had the vaccine and her body was doing weird things since. The clip showed her body convulsing - limbs flailing and yet her speech was unaffected. The neurologist that I showed it to said it wasn't credible - the body movements suggested a neuropathy that was not consistent with her speech.

Are we more likely to believe conspiracies/fake news? I don't know.

But I have had family members who have had the vaccine and seem fine. No hairs growing from the palms of their hands......yet.

I know what you mean

I don't blame people for being weary right now, and I shan't be forcing my views on anyone re the vaccine, but the misinformation can be too much at times. I get it almost daily! (Thank you WhatsApp Aunties😘). I can't fight. I have decided not to engage with it.

More to the point of your post. I know a black pregnant woman in a coma right now, and she certainly did not think Covid was as big of a deal as everyone was making out. She was very vocal about it, very anti-mask, etc. This is just terrible, and her kids miss their mum. I wonder if this could have been prevented, but even people who are being careful are getting it so I'm not so sure. How can I argue/persuade when I am not so sure? It's all about risk, and I can only implore people to consider reducing risk wherever they can (which IS a problem for the black community often through no fault of their own, other than to work where they do).

@JayDot500
It is difficult indeed and when family members ask what I think I tell them that I'll get it when it's my turn even although I'd rather not but that's purely from a point of not having medication unless necessary. So think of having gas and air rather than an epidural if possible.

But if I don't take it then I'm relying on someone else to in order to get the virus under control and to reduce my chance of getting it and possibly save my life or loved ones'.

@maggiethecat exactly that. My only real fear is that the vaccines are duds due to the mutations, but that isn't enough for me not to get it, since it will still be effective against a few strains. I would have even participated in the trials for the Oxford Vaccine if the venues were closer to me.

Of course, there are the instances where medical trials have been dishonest and black people have been victims of targeted dishonesty. I think many apprehensions surround trials because of this. I want our people empowered enough to make informed decisions. But, misinformation is not any good for us either and can actually be harmful. I now see black medics and scientists are trying to speak up about it all, so i wish them well.

What's particularly interesting is that that BAME groups usually have higher vaccine uptake, at least in the UK and before COVID. So something's changed in that respect.

There's lots s literature on it, if anyone's interested heres one source I found after a quick Google www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2660004/#!po=1.47059
.

@Apple31419

What's particularly interesting is that that BAME groups usually have higher vaccine uptake, at least in the UK and before COVID. So something's changed in that respect.

There's lots s literature on it, if anyone's interested heres one source I found after a quick Google www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2660004/#!po=1.47059
.

If I'm going to speak plainly, I'd say that I was naive in thinking that antivaxxers were only white middle class people.

I've never really heard much about this until recently. Mostly from my own black Caribbean community, but increasingly from west African ones. Of course my anecdata is not fact, but I can't help but be intrigued. My own mum vaccinated me fully, but is now a vocal antivaxxer. Which makes me inclined to believe I'm missing some important nugget of information. What has happened?

@JayDot500
That is a possibility as this virus is mutating as all viruses do in order to survive and multiply and we don't know yet the level of protection the vaccine will have against variants. But as you say, there will be some protection.

@Apple31419
Social media and the ability for conspiracy theories to gain a lot of traction? I note that the study was conducted in 2007 so the sources of information are a lot different now.

Good point @JayDot500 There were actual measles outbreaks in the states, in wealthy white areas because of the antivax movement.
Is it increased propoganda from the rise of Facebook?
Or spending lots of time in a rich Western country, and forgetting what it's like with bad healthcare?
My mum was very much for vaccines but also over the top hygenic (much to my embarrassment) but not out of place amongst my cousin's . I am definitely not as hygenic as she was am I complacent? My daughter even less so haha

@maggiethecat nail on the head with social media.
I have also only just realised that 2007 was 13 years back 😂 it doesn't feel that long ago!
The internet was a very different place back then. The iPhone was only launched that year!

Usually I would agree but I don’t blame them on this one OP.

I will tell you want it boils down to...

Is this pandemic really that bad as it needed to be or has it been very poorly managed and still continues?

I booked my vaccine. I will wait to hear Borris tomorrow but I may cancel and I’m front line. I definitely know Covid is a thing I have no questions about that!

My husband said to me as this shitshow really took hold "anti vaxxers are looking at a world without vaccines now, how do you think they like it?".

I really hope everyone takes it up, if offered, and shouldn't rely on the rest of us ponying up.

My mother is a nurse and remembers all too well the devastation measles brings with it. We were always taught the vaccination programme offered in England (we are Irish immigrants) was second to none and we should be proud to be a part of it - privileged, even.

& another thing. How timely that we find a vaccine and the government is focusing on new strains “allegedly” from South.A and Portugal.

Based on what? Because they still cannot fathom out how some people are getting so ill and others are not...

I’m no anti Vaxer.

These are ethnic Countries so there’s no surprise... Did you watch the clip of the French doctors?

www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/i-m-black-doctor-who-didn-t-trust-covid-vaccine-ncna1255085

I found this interesting. A black doctor who was reluctant kind of hits all the points regarding why people are hesitant. And then why she got the jab.

I’m not black I’m Indo-Kenyan and there’s a lingering distrust of authority amongst my circles. The people I know had a family history of being thrown out of India for wanting to keep British citizenship, then they themselves got thrown out of East African countries for being too British, and they experienced huge discrimination in the UK too.

They were taught to trust and rely on just themselves and so turn to dodgy as fuck cultural figures for advice who get their info from unofficial sources too. It’s a shit show. You can’t even blame poverty or lack of education because these guys are, on the whole, neither in my circles at least.

Plus there’s the fact that my dad’s generation still remember when white scientists came to african and south asian countries to test vaccines, but they rarely benefited from the final approved result. I can understand that part. The media hasn’t reported the facts around the vaccine research appropriately at all.

@JayDot500
That was a powerful read and why doctors and scientists like her need to advocate.

Of course there will be those who will wonder if she and the science she refers to are fake news and no amount of evidence will convince them. But hopefully these will become the very few.

I'm frontline so I will be taking it. But even I fully expect an 'oops!' In 20 years.

There are some many frikkin apologies when it comes to women's lives and bodies, and so many dismissals when it comes to how the scientific and research community has historically treated black people. Vagina mesh, anyone?!

Fundamentally though, anti-vaxxers are just so because they know the rest of us will pick up the tab. I'm part of a black WhatsApp group for parents thats very return to Africa (tick), honeschooly (not so much for me, it's only the women who give up their jobs to HS even when they earned more or had greater vocationsl success than their male partners?) And lastly VERY anti-vaxxer.

So I'm well aware that this has taken root in black communities.

The Tuskeegee Trials have left and impact on the many black descendents. Even though it didn't happen here, I have no doubt similar tragedies have, thats just the one I know about. Lots if black people feel they aren't treated kindly when receiving NHS care and the disproportionate deaths in childbirth are enough to put people off too. I listened to a podcast recently and a guest briefly mentioned that there is a who philosophy and psychology behind cultural attitudes to medicine/health care. I wish he had gone in to more detail tbh.

I saw all that to say that I can definitely understand why some Black people are fearful or sceptical about getting the vaccine.

I will be getting it when offered but I definitely won't know anyone who has severe distrust.

@daisypaisy2 yep I saw that clip, absolutely disgusting. It's no surprise that some Black people have such distrust.

@Daisypaisy2

& another thing. How timely that we find a vaccine and the government is focusing on new strains “allegedly” from South.A and Portugal.

Based on what? Because they still cannot fathom out how some people are getting so ill and others are not...

I’m no anti Vaxer.

These are ethnic Countries so there’s no surprise... Did you watch the clip of the French doctors?

Is kent an ethnic county. or have you left it out because it doesn't fit your narrative?

I think some points are valid but the more important point is that life is pretty messed up right now so I have no idea what antivaxxers think the alternative is?

Also, definitely fact black people are dying more than most when contracting covid so I do t understand why you e are happy to take that risk but not the risk of a vaccine! It just doesn't make sense to me at all.

I also feel sad about it because the more we as a community don't take, more people will die so we need to change our mindset.

@justoverthehorizon sorry what do you mean by that. Do you read both my posts?

What is my narrative? England is a white Country and I’m saying I can see how some black people have mistrust.

I noticed you didn’t comment on any other part of my post.. Did it fit YOUR narrative because I’ve looked from BOTH sides have you! I’m black and I’ve booked my vaccine.

What are you getting out

@Waakyeandredred exactly. Nobody should be shouting down on others at this stage. People are entitled to wait a bit and change their minds. Just like other medical decisions.

The pandemic has been badly managed without a doubt - all the more reason to get the vaccine as we failed to get it under control due to government bumbling. And the black community is worst hit and in more need of the vaccine.

It is often difficult to understand where people are coming from when their views fly in the face of science. I do hope that as many as possible will get the vaccination.

I intended to say that I dont blame anyone who has distrust. Lots if typos there. Oops