Vaccines Minister Maggie Throup visited Green Lane Masjid vaccination centre in Birmingham, to meet with community leaders, staff and patients and see first hand the impact of the amazing work being carried out to keep people safe.
Green Lane Masjid has been a shining beacon of support on community initiatives since the beginning of the pandemic.
The mosque organisation has been distributing food parcels to most vulnerable families since the beginning of the pandemic, as well as being at the forefront of assisting the Covid-19 vaccination drive.
“It was great to visit the Green Lane Masjid vaccination clinic in Birmingham,” said Vaccines Minister Maggie Throup.
“Community and religious leaders are doing brilliant work to explain the benefits of vaccination, dispel common myths and encourage uptake.
“I am delighted to see vaccine hesitancy continues to fall, with the Office for National Statistics reporting hesitancy among ethnic minority groups has more than halved.
“However, the data shows vaccine hesitancy is still higher for adults identifying as Muslim and vaccine uptake among people from Pakistan, for example, is significantly lower than white people.
“I know more work still needs to be done to address inequalities in uptake – it is my mission that everybody, regardless of ethnicity, culture, religion or gender, has the opportunity to get their vital life-saving vaccinations.
“Countless lives have been saved by vaccines so far and it’s thanks to their protection that we are able to live without restrictions. The NHS will always be there for you – please come forward as soon as you can.”
