Sports stars say give Covid-19 the red card!
A star-studded line up of sporting heroes from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities join the British Red Cross to encourage people to have the Covid-19 vaccine.
Rugby legend Jason Robinson kicks off the film.
He's joined by Aston Villa's Neil Taylor, paralympian Ade Adepitan, TV broadcaster Reshmin Chowdhury, cricket star Monty Panesar and sprinter, and Olympic hopeful, Imani Lansiquot.
'A return to some form of normality'
The film supports our recent research that explores the issue of vaccine hesitancy among B.A.M.E. communities in the UK. It suggests family conversations could be key in increasing vaccine uptake.
Premier League and Welsh international footballer, Neil Taylor, who recently supported a drive for more Asian footballers, says:
“Like many of us, I’ve really missed seeing my family regularly, and having fans cheering at games. I’m really looking forward to it being safe enough for life to return to some form of normality.
"That’s why I’m really happy to be part of the British Red Cross #TeamVaccine campaign.
“Research shows that people from B.A.M.E. communities are more likely to trust what their families say about vaccine information over the media or the government. There’s lots of worrying misinformation out there.
BEING EQUIPPED WITH THE FACTS AND RELIABLE INFORMATION WILL HELP US HAVE KIND, INFORMED CONVERSATIONS WITH THOSE WHO LOVE AND TRUST US.PREMIER LEAGUE AND WELSH INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALLER, NEIL TAYLOR
A family chat could save lives
Professor Geeta Nargund, Vice-Chair of the British Red Cross and senior NHS consultant, also believes that a simple family chat could save lives.
She says: "As a doctor, I know how important it is to reassure patients about the Covid-19 vaccine and address any concerns and hesitations they might have. Many people simply want to talk it through and check if the information they have seen is accurate.
“Unfortunately, we know that people from B.A.M.E. communities are far more likely to have received misinformation encouraging them not to have the vaccine.
"When it comes to family, a key thing to remember is that by taking the vaccine, you are not only protecting yourself but also saving the lives of your loved ones. Having informed conversations about the vaccine is a kind thing to do - it saves lives.”
More information
Share vaccine info with your team!
If you, or someone you know is worried about taking the Covid vaccine, seek reliable sources, learn the facts and, like these sports stars, encourage your team to give coronavirus the red card!
Visit our vaccine hub