Love Island’s Yewande Biala urges people from ethnic minority backgrounds to get coronavirus vaccine

Love Island star Yewande Biala has urged people from ethnic minority backgrounds to get the coronavirus vaccine.

The star, who is a science graduate and has worked in vaccine development, appeared in a video speaking with healthcare professionals Professor Kevin Fenton and Dr Emeka Okorocha about issues surrounding the vaccine and its rollout.

She was keen to debunk any misinformation or conspiracy theories, and said she feels a responsibility to educate people.

Yewande, 26, said: ‘As someone that has previously worked with vaccines, I feel like I have a responsibility to help to increase confidence and trust in communities where there has been low take-up.

‘It was important for me to hopefully educate people on the importance of vaccines and in particular the Covid-19 vaccine, helping to answer some questions they might have.’

Dr Emeka reminded viewers of the trials that the vaccinations went through before they were approved and rolled out, and explained that it does not affect fertility.

Professor Fenton went on to say that it’s important to ‘dispel myths and misinformation around the vaccine.’

He added: ‘To provide the facts about the vaccine, to be absolutely clear about how you can access the vaccine and to be clear about the evidence on the effectiveness because if this is helping everybody else in the community, we want to ensure that our community is also well protected as well.’

The vaccines have been proven to give high levels of protection against Covid-19.

The AstraZeneca vaccine, for example, gives 70% protection after a first dose, and is topped up to 90% after a second.

In the UK, more than 24 million people have received the first dose of their vaccine.

Yewande isn’t the first person to speak out and urge others to get their jabs.

Stars including Adil Ray, Romesh Ranganathan, and Konnie Huq previously came together to urge people from ethnic minority communities to get their vaccine.

Appearing in a video, created in association with the British Asian Trust, to share guidance and information about the vaccine and offer reassurance, Ackley Bridge star Adil stressed the need to ‘look after others’.

He says: ‘Looking after others and serving our community is what we do. It’s how we have been brought up. It’s why we have such immense pride when a family member becomes a doctor or a nurse.

‘We have so much respect for them. They need our respect now more than ever. They need our help.’

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