I work for one of England’s most diverse trusts – building faith in the Covid vaccine is vital to save lives
- Danielle Oum is the co-chair of the NHS Confederation’s BME Leadership Network
When it comes to persuading vaccine-hesitant NHS staff to roll up their sleeves and get jabbed, it is important to remember the context within which vaccine hesitancy exists. The population of England has a rich diversity of cultures, ethnicities and religions, but there are stark socioeconomic inequalities between these groups that translate into health inequalities.
In Birmingham and Solihull, a very diverse area for which I am chair of the mental health trust, there is a nine-year gap in life expectancy between people born in those born in the richest and poorest areas. When it comes to healthy life expectancy – the number of years a person spends in good health – there is a 17-year gap between people in these areas. We also know from research into the impact of Covid on BAME groups that these inequalities have contributed to fear, stigma and distrust of the vaccine in some communities.
Danielle Oum is the co-chair of the NHS Confederation’s BME Leadership Network and chair of Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
