A video message has been made encouraging black, Asian and minority ethnic groups to take the Covid-19 vaccine when it is offered.

The Kent Equality Cohesion Council, art and community group Cohesion Plus, Gravesham community and faith partners and Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust teamed up following reports that in some parts of the country there are lower uptakes of the vaccine from BAME (Black Asian Minority Ethnic) backgrounds.

Gravesham Community Message - Together We Can Defeat this Virus

After the mass vaccination centre opened at The Woodville theatre in Gravesend, community leaders were keen to make sure the message got through to those thinking twice about getting a jab.

Gurvinder Sandher, chief executive of the Kent Equality Cohesion Council, said: “I am aware that in some parts of the country the uptake when it comes to taking the vaccine has been lower amongst some BAME groups.

"I think it is important that if we are to get out of this current situation and get back to some kind of normality over the coming months that as many people as possible need to take the vaccine.

"It is important to understand that it is not just on religious grounds that people have refused the vaccine. Factors such as fertility and fears of long-term side effects, especially amongst those with underlying health issues, have also contributed.

"We hope our video message, which features local community and faith representatives, will send a positive message.”

Dr Manpinder Sahota has been a GP in Gravesend for more than 20 years and is also keen to spread the message about the importance of getting vaccinated.

He said: "There’s lots of fake vaccine news going around - that people shouldn’t take the vaccine, particularly in the Muslim community, that there is pork there or that it will alter your DNA.

"It absolutely does not alter your DNA, it doesn’t contain any meat, any egg and will not affect your future pregnancies.

"If you are currently pregnant, at the moment we don’t recommend you having the vaccine, but if you plan to get pregnant in the future it is completely safe to have the vaccine.

"We need people to get vaccinated so they’re not in hospital, they’re not in intensive care and they are not dying."

The video, which can be found on YouTube and on the Cohesion Plus Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, includes many representatives from faith groups across Gravesham.

They include: Sonia Nayyar from Cohesion Plus, Gurvinder Sandher from the Kent Equality Cohesion Council, Carol Gosal from Rethink Sahayak and Genny Jones, the Confident Queen blogger.

Other guests included Ejaz Aslam from the Gravesend and Dartford Muslim Association, Daya Sharma from the Hindu Mandir Gravesend, Manpreet Dhaliwal from Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara and Gurdip Bungar from the Guru Ravidass Gurdwara.

Read more: All the latest news from Gravesend