- Increased vulnerability: Depending on the ethnic group, individuals were found to be between 5% and 88% more likely to contract the virus. This alarming disparity underscored the urgent need for targeted interventions to address the specific challenges faced by these communities, the report said.
- Excess deaths: By April 2022, the end of community testing, Asian communities in England had over 10,500 excess deaths and Black communities almost 6,000. These are people who would likely have been alive were it not for the pandemic. Black and Asian communities had around a 23% higher risk of experiencing excess deaths and the same trend exists for other ethnic groups too.
- Limited access to sick pay: Black, Asian, and minority ethnic workers were found to have less access to sick pay, while undocumented workers had no access to it at all. This lack of financial protection not only compromised the health and well-being of individuals but also perpetuated the spread of the virus within these communities.
- Inadequate support schemes: Many Black, Asian, and minority ethnic individuals reported limited support from existing schemes. This insufficiency exacerbated the economic and social hardships faced by these communities, hindering their ability to cope with the pandemic’s impact effectively.
- Unequal vaccination coverage: The vaccination program failed to reach migrants and Black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities adequately, leaving them without the same level of protection as their White British counterparts. This disparity threatened to prolong the pandemic and perpetuated health disparities among different demographic groups.
- Develop targeted interventions and public health campaigns to raise awareness and mitigate the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on ethnic minority and migrant communities.
- Implement inclusive and accessible sick pay policies to ensure financial security for all workers, irrespective of their immigration status or ethnicity.
- Strengthen support schemes to provide comprehensive assistance to individuals and families facing socio-economic challenges during the pandemic.
- Prioritize equitable vaccine distribution and actively engage with disempowered communities to address vaccine hesitancy, promote trust, and ensure equal protection against the virus.
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