A charity has released a series of videos aimed at dispelling Covid-19 vaccination myths within the Asian community.

The videos entitled ‘Dispelling the Myths’ features local health experts, religious leaders and vaccinators and has been launched by One Voice Blackburn.

Recent research shows that members of the South Asian heritage are most likely to abstain from taking the new vaccinations.

According to some reports, including GP online, there have been between 20 and 30 per cent  ‘Did Not Attends’ among the BAME community compared to 2/3 per cent with other sections of society in the UK. Covid-19 has disproportionately affected ethnic minority groups in developed countries. In the UK, people of black ethnicity have had the highest diagnosis rates.

Local GP, Dr. P Muzaffar, who is featured in the video said: “Many people have asked me if the vaccine is safe because it has been developed so quickly. My response is that the greatest medical minds have got together throughout the world to create these vaccines.

"The world has become one big research laboratory in the last 10 months working around the clock to give us a way out of the pandemic. All vaccines are safe to use.”

Maulana Rafiq Sufi, Lancashire Council of Mosques Chair, believes it is imperative to take the vaccine said: “The vaccine is completely halal (permissible in Islam). The Islamic scholars have decreed that all three developed vaccines are halal. I would encourage everyone who is given the opportunity to receive the vaccine, please take it.”

One Voice Blackburn health lead Nazia Khan feels an awareness programme has become essential.

She said: “We have all been subjected to negative social media messages about the vaccination process. 

"We felt it was the right time to offer some real facts about the programme from the safety of the COVID jabs, to the religious clearance being provided by scholars. We have been pleasantly surprised by the amount of knowledgeable and articulate individuals coming forward to promote the vaccine to our communities.”

Dispelling the Myth is supported and funded by Near Neighbours. The Near Neighbours CPVID Relief grants support communities who have been affected by the Covid-19 Pandemic.