On Thursday 21st October, Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) release a short film in which Gypsy and Traveller people have their questions about the coronavirus vaccine answered. The film was made in partnership with Brighton & Hove City Council, Arch Healthcare and NHS Sussex Health and Care Partnership. You can watch the film here.
In conversations with Gypsy and Traveller people in Brighton and Sussex, we heard that there were a number of recurring questions being asked about the coronavirus vaccine. We asked Gypsy and Traveller people to disclose the issues that were important to their family so we could raise these with GP Tim Worthley at Arch Healthcare.
We believe that everyone in society should have fair access to a COVID-19 vaccine when they’re entitled to one, and everyone should have the opportunity to remain up to date and informed on relevant information about the vaccine.
Earlier this year, we released a range of resources to support healthcare professionals to understand barriers which may play a role in vaccine uptake, and develop greater knowledge of how healthcare services can be more accessible to Gypsies and Travellers. View the resources for healthcare professionals.
Speaking on the release of the film, Samson Rattigan, Sussex Projects Manager at Friends, Families and Travellers said:
“We asked Gypsy and Traveller people in Brighton and Sussex what they wanted to know about the Covid-19 vaccine and we were really grateful with the honest concerns shared with us. We hope that people find this film a useful resource to learn what the vaccine does in the body and how it’s preventing the spread of the virus.”
Reflecting on the film, Tim Worthley, Clinical Lead and GP at Arch Healthcare shared:
“It was an honour to be asked to take part in this project. The panel asked some very important questions, and these videos are a way of getting good, truthful information out there. I hope they will help people to make informed decisions about the Covid vaccine. I am hugely grateful to FFT and the council for recognising this was needed, and for giving it the resources needed to make it so helpful and accessible. It’s important that everyone is able to get answers to the questions that we all have”.
About Arch Healthcare:
Arch is a GP surgery providing holistic primary care in the heart of Brighton, for people who are homeless or insecurely housed. Periods of homelessness can have a devastating impact upon health and we believe our patients deserve the highest standards of healthcare. Our surgery is one of the few in the UK rated as Outstanding, across the board, by the CQC.
About Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT)
Friends, Families and Travellers is a leading national charity that works to end racism and discrimination against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people and to protect the right to pursue a nomadic way of life.
Media Contact
Lucy Hetherington, Communications Officer
Tel: 07425 419853 Email: lucy@gypsy-traveller.org
Additional resources
Video: Gypsies and Travellers get answers to questions about the Covid-19 vaccine (short version). View here.
Video: Gypsies and Travellers get answers to questions about the Covid-19 vaccine (long version). View here.
FFT materials for healthcare professionals to support Gypsies and Travellers access the Covid-19 vaccine. Access here.
