Adil Ray, Sadiq Khan and Meera Syal among stars urging vaccine take up by ethnic minorities in new video

Harriet Brewis
·2 min read
(Adil Ray/YouTube)
(Adil Ray/YouTube)

Famous faces from across Britain’s ethnic minority communities have fronted a new video campaign to encourage take-up of the coronavirus vaccine.

Presenter Konnie Huq, London mayor Sadiq Khan and cricketer Moeen Ali are among the big names participating in the clip, titled ‘If you could save someone’s life’.

The initiative was spearheaded by Good Morning Britain presenter Adil Ray, who shared a link to the five-minute video on Twitter on Monday.

He tweeted: “A group of us have come together to encourage people from Ethnic Minority communities to take the vaccine. Please share, retweet and watch here.”

It comes after experts called for targeted campaigns to address worrying vaccine hesitancy among the British Indian community and other minority groups.

Some 56 per cent of British Indians said they would take up a vaccine when asked by the 1928 Institute, a new think tank led by academics from the University of Oxford.

The think tank said much of this stems from people feeling they are not informed enough about the vaccines, while a significant proportion feel other people deserve to receive a vaccine more.

The ‘If you could save someone’s life’ clip begins with comedian and writer Syal telling the audience: “Hello, Namaste, Sat Sri Akal and As-Asalaamu ‘alaykum.

“This past year has been the most challenging for many of us. We have suffered in unimaginable ways, and many of us have lost our loved ones.”

Actor Shobna Gulati then takes over, saying: “But we will find our way though this, with our friends and our families.

“All we have to do is take the vaccination.”

England cricket star Ali continues: “Many in our community have suffered the most, largely due to our efforts on the frontline at the NHS or as key workers.”

Ray then says: “Looking after others and serving our community is what we do.

“It’s why we have such immense pride when a family member becomes a doctor or a nurse.

“They need our respect now more than ever.

“They need our help.”

The video’s participants include:

Meera Syal

Shobna Gulati

Moeen Ali

Adil Ray (Organiser of video)

Sadiq Khan

Abdullah Afzal

Boman Irani

Sean Fletcher

Nazir Afzal

Rageh Omaar

Konnie Huq

Colin Salmon

Asma Khan

Shobu Kapoor

Sanjeev Bhaskar

Romesh Ranganathan

Bhavna Limbachia

Sonali Shah

Shola Mos-Shogbamimu

Asim Chaudhry

Mehreen Baig

Sayeeda Warsi

Ria Hebden

Nina Wadia

Read More

Schools reopening row as lockdown ‘could start easing next month’

We should prioritise black Britons in the vaccine rollout

Ethnic minorities ‘will take jab from trusted doctors’

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