Healthwatch board member Dr Shobha Srivastava MBE has used her extensive experience as a retired hospital consultant and excellent community links to run a successful campaign to encourage women from ethnic minority communities to have the Covid jab.
Dr Srivastava, also Chair of Apna Ghar Women’s Centre, recorded a short campaign film and helped arrange a special vaccination day at Flagg Court Health Centre in South Shields which proved a huge success.
She said: “I was asked by South Tyneside Council to become a ‘Covid champion’ and produce a film to address vaccine hesitancy in BME communities.
“I did the video and sent it to everyone, and had it translated into Bengali and Arabic. Apna Ghar did a great job, getting a lot of women to watch the film, convincing them to have the jab.
“I also spoke to a lot of people who were reluctant, many because of concerns over potential side effects. There isn’t a single medicine on earth that would not cause a reaction to someone, but all the Covid vaccines have been thoroughly tested and approved by the authorities as safe.
“The numbers were great at the special clinic; it was a very good turnout. My video has had a tremendous impact.”
Watch the video here.
