Vaccine hesitancy a real issue in minority groups

Migrant communities in Ireland, specifically Roma communities, have high negativity perceptions of the Covid-19 vaccine. Many refuse to receive it as they fear death and disability

Following a pandemic and the impact of the Covid vaccination, it would be fair to say that vaccine hesitancy is more of a threat now than ever before. File picture

Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy within marginalised ethnic minority populations must be considered a real issue. Much of the dialogue and discourse around vaccine hesitancy and vaccine refusal in this country centres on far-right, extremist groups and their protests in different cities on different weekends. Their agenda is promoted by people that are anti-mask, anti-vaccine, and believe that Covid is a hoax. 

Amusingly, many people who identify with these groups refused to accept (and still do) women’s bodily autonomy during the Repeal referendum yet now use pro-choice slogans such as ‘my body, my choice’ to promote the discriminatory violation of their individual freedom — ie, being offered a non-mandatory and potentially life-saving vaccine.