PDA urges pharmacists to encourage BAME patients to get vaccinated

The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) has launched a new campaign on Wednesday (Feb 17) calling on all pharmacists to have Covid-19 vaccine and encourage others, especially those in the BAME community, to do so.

As part of the campaign, the PDA will be posting videos on its social media accounts, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, from pharmacists across the UK, who would have had their vaccines and would like to encourage others to stay safe by getting vaccinated.

The campaign hashtags are #PDAbame, and #GetVaccinated.

The PDA is also supporting an NHS campaign to dispel Covid-19 vaccine myths and to tackle the hesitancy of those in the BAME communities to get vaccinated.

Last week, England’s deputy chief medical officer, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, said it "really concerns” him that fewer BAME people may choose to get the Covid-19 vaccine. He's also worried about the impact of fake news on vaccines that is being circulated online.

Professor Van-Tam said “the vast majority of people in the UK would prefer to take their advice on vaccines from trusted sources rather than from some of the nonsense that is being circulated on social media.”

“We are calling on our members to not only stay safe by getting the Covid-19 vaccine but to also talk to their patients in the local community and those who know and trust them, to help dispel the Covid-19 vaccine myths,” said Collette Bradford, director of organising and engagement at the PDA.

She added: “The PDA #GetVaccinated campaign is such an important campaign for pharmacists to be involved in, the videos are a powerful way to show people that many health care professionals have already had the vaccine. They know that by having it, they are protecting themselves and their loved ones.”

Sherifat Muhammad Kamal, vice president of the PDA BAME Network, said: "Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy and the impact on its uptake by the BAME community is of great concern. As pharmacists, we can all help inform and educate our patients as to why they should get vaccinated."

Earlier, it was reported that Prince Charles has also joined the campaign to overcome the BAME communities’ mistrust of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Prince Charles, who received his first vaccine last week, has been reported to be urging people to ignore nonsense anti-vaccine propaganda.