LACK of trust in government and other authorities underpins “vaccine hesitancy” among black and minority-ethnic (BME) people, the TUC Black Workers’ Conference heard yesterday.

Scientists and trade unionists discussed why black people’s uptake of Covid-19 vaccines remains the lowest among all age groups compared to other ethnic groups.

TUC race relations committee chairwoman Gloria Mills said that many people have concerns over how the vaccine was developed so quickly, how effective it is against variants, and how it works with conditions found predominately in black people, such as sickle cell anemia.

“Trust is so important as it’s part of our history and lived experience,” she said. “Some people have no need to ask questions because they do not have the same lived experience as black people and they have not had to deal with racism in their day-to-day lives.”

Ms Mills referred to the Public Health England report showing disproportionate deaths and hospitalisations among BME people, which she said the government “sat on for weeks” last year.

“The same speed used in promoting the vaccine was not used to protect lives,” she said.

Imperial College senior teaching fellow Dr Wayne Mitchell said that there are issues of trust within black communities due to prior experiences of NHS services, such as the documented higher mortality of black women in childbirth.

He also mentioned concerns over the British government’s handling of inequalities, the Windrush scandal, historical “abuses of black bodies” and the two French scientists who had suggested using Africa as a testing ground for a Covid-19 vaccine.

Dr Mitchell said it is important for authorities to stress that the vaccine was developed quickly thanks to the technology available, “astounding” collaboration between scientific groups around the world and the lack of barriers to investment and resources.

He praised black academics, MPs and celebrities for supporting the vaccination scheme, such as by being pictured having the jab themselves.

Meanwhile, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady urged employers to give staff paid time off to receive a Covid-19 vaccine and recover from any side effects.

A new TUC survey of 1,000 employers suggests that less than half of firms are giving staff paid time off to get the jab.

A government spokesman said it “encourages employers to be as flexible as possible when it comes to staff getting the jab.”