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My mum is set to be vaccinated this Sunday and I could not be happier. But there's been a growing concern that fewer BAME people will get the jab so I want to share some of the struggles that I've been through over the last few weeks to try and encourage folks to get vaccinated.
Sadly, before today Mama Abdou was completely against getting vaccinated. Ever since the vaccines were authorised for use, I've had to argue with my mum about why it is safe to get jabbed. To be clear, my mum isn't an anti-vaxxer or conspiracy theorist...
She fully knows that COVID is real and has always gotten her flu jabs. But the speed in which the new COVID vaccines were developed made her adamant that it wasn't safe. When home I caught her watching a video on Facebook which was spreading misinformation...
This video was hosted by another person of colour and quickly I learned that this misinformation was being spread particularly around BAME groups on Facebook. I wish I could say that I managed to convince her that the jab was safe and that I drove her away from these groups...
But sadly I ended up leaving my parents saying that I refuse to come home until I know they've been vaccinated and are protected. I love my parents and to threaten them that they won't see me again was not an easy thing.
And then a few weeks later, my mum got sick. She works as a teaching assistant and that one-day Bojo made all the teachers and students go into school was enough time for her to catch COVID. So it was at this point that my mum began to reconsider her stance.
But the thing to tip her over completely was my dad being hospitalised shortly after he caught the virus next. It was at this point where as soon as my mum was offered the vaccine she acted so quick to get an appointment asap.
The reason I'm sharing this is so that other parents will not leave it until it's too late. Please don't wait for the virus to make it's way to you in order for you to be convinced that getting the vaccine might be a good idea. Do get vaccinated when you get that offer.
For folks who do see this thread and are still anxious about the vaccines, please watch this video from Care 1st Homecare dispelling any vaccine myths you might've heard.
