Thread by @BDavisBriz

Looking forward to learning more about why there is vaccine hesitancy, and why #Coronavirus misinformation has spread so readily in the UK's black community #CV19Conspiracies

https://twitter.com/KingstonUni/status/1481228117981208576

Speaker @Psych_Tush opens her presentation by stating that this presentation is part of a wider research project in helping to formulate a #Coronavirus response tailored to the specific needs of #BAME communities #CV19Conspiracies

Vandrevala highlights that the #Coronavirus pandemic has disproportionately impacted #BAME individuals. Notes that this was known to the public & policymakers early on in the pandemic #CV19Conspiracies

Vandrevala notes that diaspora media was more likely than MSM to contain dubious or misinformation about #Coronavirus & many minority communities have different interpretations of risk, compared to Western cultures, which ;ed to #BAME folk being more exposed #CV19Conspiracies

Looking at socio-economic factors, Vandrevala observes that #BAME folk tended to have lower socioeconomic status, were in key-worker roles so were more exposed, lived in sub-standard multigenerational households & often used public transport #CV19Conspiracies

Turning to the research, Vandrevala says that their main focus of research was on how Ethnic Minority Groups (EMGs) engaged with the information they were given, and how conspiratorial beliefs became more prevalent in UK Black community #CV19Conspiracies

Vandrevala explores the main conspiratorial beliefs that permeated during the #Coronavirus pandemic. It ranged from CV-19 being a "hoax" to more sinister ideas that it was a way to exterminate/control #BAME communities #CV19Conspiracies

Vandrevala says that such concerns came from historic mistreatment of African communities during previous clinical trials, media portrayals of higher death-rates in #BAME communities at home & overseas #CV19Conspiracies

Looking at how these messages took roots, Vandrevala said that much of the MSM/Govt messaging was not particularly diverse & painted EMGs as "outsiders". In particular, the fact that most Govt spokespeople where white #CV19Conspiracies

Vandrevala said this was further compounded on the increased focus on science (& the assumption that "most people don't understand it") which many felt implicitly meant EMG communities were "stupid". Messages also did not reflect cultural & economic differences #CV19Conspiracies

For example, Vandrevala said that the "rule of six" focused on smaller family groups. While this may work for a Western atomic family, it would not work for EMG communities who have larger familes & consider wider cirlces part of their families #CV19Conspiracies

Vandrevala said that this also built in to ongoing mistrust of Government and authorities. This stemmed from EMGs being in "left-behind" communities, the "Hostile Environment" for migrants & younger people mistrusting police #CV19Conspiracies

The #Coronavirus pandemic did not happen in a bubble, and Vandrevala said many participants spoke of historic experiences of racism. She notes that the #BlackLivesMatter movement went global just as CV-19 made the plight of black people worse #CV19Conspiracies

Vandrevala concludes saying that the research suggests that hesitancy around vaccines & health measures were not pandemic-specific or place-specific. Says that we need to learn to be more inclusive in our pandemic messaging & understand the needs of communities #CV19Conspiracies

Vandrevala now explores how we can make our messaging and interventions more equitable and inclusive. In particular, there needs to be greater diversity of voice, informed by lived experiences, to break down barriers rather than "othering" EMGs #CV19Conspiracies

In particular, Vandrevala advocates for Community Champions within groups that have lower uptake. Allowing people to see "someone like me" getting the virus, rather than being stigmatised as "hesitant" or "infectious" #CV19Conspiracies

On addressing mistrust in authority, Vandrevala calls for increased & sustainable funding for grassroots VCSE sector to help build networks of "trusted places" amongst EMG communities #CV19Conspiracies

Vandrevala also says that addressing historical societal inequalities needs to be addressed in our Covid recovery - focusing on addressing wider social determinants of health, rather than on individual behavioural change #CV19Conspiracies

The webinar now moves on to a Q&A session #CV19Conspiracies

The first Q is on the importance of intersectionality, Vandrevala says that while the sample of this study was too small to explore intersectionalities, she agrees it is an important to consider as part of how communities have experienced the pandemic #CV19Conspiracies

When asked how experiences of CV-19 in their home countries informed diaspora communities' views on #Coronavirus in the UK. Vandrevala says initially reportage of low or no infections in their home countries originally fed in to mistrust of UK pandemic measures #CV19Conspiracies

By contrast, as the pandemic spread across the globe, this led to people in EMG communities starting to take the pandemic more seriously, as friends & loved ones back home also began to experience it #CV19Conspiracies

When asked about the negative connotations of "conspiracy theories", Vandrevala says she prefers the term "alternative sense-making". Part of their view may be shaped by conspiracies, but also are rooted in historic misunderstandings & MSM messaging not landing #CV19Conspiracies

Interesting presentation on why #Coronavirus conspiracies have been more prevalent in 🇬🇧 EMG communities & how to better engage with these groups in the future. Thanks @Psych_Tush for your presentation, to @VariDrennan for chairing & @KUStGeorges for hosting! #CV19Conspiracies