At long last, it seems we are nearing the end of this COVID nightmare. The vaccine rollout is in full swing, and the NHS has already met its initial target of dispensing 15 million doses. Although it is difficult to say when things will return to normality, we can safely assume there will be significant improvements over the next few months. However, the vaccine program's success should not blind us to some of the bumps we faced along the way. Certain groups, namely health workers, should have been given higher prioritisation considering their unique susceptibility to the virus.
Instead of being in the first priority group, most medical staff had to wait until early 2021 to receive their first jab. Day in day out these people are on the front lines of the pandemic, caring for tens of thousands of infected patients across the country. Every time they went to work, they risk their lives, and unfortunately, hundreds of them have paid the ultimate price. Each death is a tragedy, particularly when the individuals in question were so selfless in their commitment to helping others. However, for the BAME community, this sacrifice has been tenfold.
As early as May, it emerged that over 60% of health workers dying of COVID were from minority ethnic backgrounds. Anyone who has visited a hospital or other healthcare facility will know that the BAME community makes an enormous contribution to the NHS. In England, almost half of medical staff are minorities; South Asians alone represent a third of doctors and nurses. Other groups including East Asian, Black and Mixed-Race people are massively overrepresented in both medical and non-medical roles. Combine this with the fact that BAME people are at higher risk of severe COVID complications, and it becomes clear why far too many of our heroes were lost.
We have known about the increased risk factors for months. Yet, as recently as January, the British Medical Association reported that 72% of ethnic minority doctors still did not feel safe at work. Doctors and nurses at risk of serious complications should have been in the first vaccine priority group for their own safety, and to ensure they could continue their vital work.
The disproportionately high number of deaths is quite frankly disgraceful and will undoubtedly be remembered as one of our worst pandemic failures. To truly call ourselves equal, we need to find out why these inequities persist, and more importantly, how to solve them. Because if our most valued and respected professionals are not safe, then who is?