Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Racial discrimination could drive vaccine hesitancy, says study

Racial discrimination could drive vaccine hesitancy, says study

RACIAL discrimination is twice as high in public sevices among ethnic minorities and could also be driving vaccine hesitancy in the group, a report has found.

The findings showed disparities in the impact of Covid-19 and the research done by Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) could help to explain the low take-up of the vaccines among minorities.


Compared to 19 per cent of the white population, 52 per cent of Asian and 50 per cent Black respondents said they have faced discrimination when accessing local services.

The survey of 2,600 people in Britain, carried out in March by Savanta ComRes for the RSA, and included a weighted sample of 1,000 people from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Anthony Painter, chief research and impact officer at the RSA, said: “The evidence from our research casts serious doubt on the idea that institutional racism is not an issue in the UK. People from ethnic minorities are much more likely to have experienced discrimination in public services, and we saw some evidence that this is linked to vaccine hesitancy."

The report comes after the government-backed Commission for Race and Ethnic Disparities concluded that systemic racism did not exist in the UK in a report published earlier this month.

Moreover, the pandemic’s impact on minority groups has been further compounded by issues with living space and caring responsibilities, the report said.

Asian, mixed race and Black respondents were twice as likely than white respondents to say they have struggled during the pandemic due to lack of space at home.

More For You

Eid-prayer-Getty

Muslims pray during Eid al-Adha at an open-air Eidgah in Hyderabad, Pakistan, on June 7, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

Ahmadis stopped from offering Eid prayers in Pakistan

RELIGIOUS extremists in Pakistan stopped members of the Ahmadi community from offering Eid prayers in at least seven cities, the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan (JAP) said on Tuesday.

In Punjab, police arrested two Ahmadis and booked three others for trying to perform the ritual animal sacrifice during Eid-ul-Azha. According to JAP, members of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) also forced two Ahmadis to renounce their faith.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bangladesh's Muhammad Yunus to step down after April polls

Chief adviser to the government of Bangladesh Professor Muhammed Yunus speaks during a live interview at Chatham House on June 11, 2025 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Bangladesh's Muhammad Yunus to step down after April polls

BANGLADESH interim leader Muhammad Yunus said on Wednesday (11) that there was "no way" he wanted to continue in power after elections he has announced for April, the first since a mass uprising overthrew the government.

The South Asian nation of around 180 million people has been in political turmoil since a student-led revolt ousted then prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, ending her 15-year rule.

Keep ReadingShow less
Leicester residents invited to shape future of local councils

The proposed reorganisation could save £43m a year, say council leaders, but critics question the figure

Leicester residents invited to shape future of local councils

Hannah Richardson

RESIDENTS can now have their say on a plan which would see the number of local councils in Leicestershire drop from eight to two.

The proposal is one of three put forward for the political re-organisation of Leicestershire after the government told local leaders it wanted areas with two tiers of councils – such as the county – to reduce it to a single-tier set up.

Keep ReadingShow less
Modi & Trump

Donald Trump and Narendra Modi shake hands as they attend a joint press conference at the White House on February 13, 2025.

Reuters

India, US talks edge towards interim trade deal: Report

INDIAN and US negotiators reported progress after four days of closed-door meetings in New Delhi on Tuesday, focusing on market access for industrial and some agricultural goods, tariff cuts and non-tariff barriers, according to Indian government sources.

"The negotiations held with the US side were productive and helped in making progress towards crafting a mutually beneficial and balanced agreement including through achievement of early wins," one of the sources said to Reuters.

Keep ReadingShow less