To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to tackle
covid-19 vaccine misinformation among African communities in the UK by providing accurate
information in (a) Tigrinya, (b) Amharic, (c) Blen, (d) Kibajuni, (e) KiSwahili, (f)
Tigre, (g) Oromo, (h) Afar, (i) Sidayama, (j) Wolayatta, (k) Hausa, (l) Chichewa and
(m) Igbo.
<p>The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government’s Community Champions
scheme works with trusted local leaders to advise local communities about the vaccine
and support local communities. The Government’s vaccination programme includes the
use of street ambassadors to provide advice and information to local communities.
The teams include ambassadors who can speak KiSwahili, Oromo, Afar, Yoruba, Akan and
Somali.</p>
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking
to assess the (a) availability and (b) dissemination of covid-19 vaccine information
in (i) Tigrinya, (ii) Amharic, (iii) Blen, (iv) Kibajuni, (v) KiSwahili, (vi) Tigre,
(vii) Oromo, (viii) Afar, (ix) Sidayama, (x) Wolayatta, (xi) Hausa, (xii) Chichewa,
(xiii) Igbo, (xiv) Pashto and (xv) other languages spoken by asylum seeker and refugee
communities.
<p>We are working closely with the National Health Service and Public Health England
to provide advice and information at every possible opportunity to encourage people
to come forward for vaccination when they are eligible, and support anyone who might
have questions about the vaccination process, regardless of their immigration or residency
status.</p><p> </p><p>The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government Community
Champions scheme works with trusted local leaders to engage with their communities.
The Government’s vaccination programme includes the use of street ambassadors to provide
advice and information to local communities. The teams include ambassadors who can
speak KiSwahili, Oromo, Afar, Yoruba, Akan and Somali. The programme can access additional
translation support if a local need is identified.</p><p> </p><p>Anyone living in
the United Kingdom, including refugees and asylum seekers, can receive the vaccine
free of charge in line with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI)
prioritisation groups. Because there is no charge for the vaccine for people living
in the UK, no proof of residence or immigration status is needed. NHS Regional teams,
working with various appropriate local systems will reach out to unregistered people
to ensure they are offered the vaccine.</p><p> </p>
