Nkhoma, Pearson. 2025. 'Rethinking Perspectives: Misconceptions about Anti-Vaxxers within Black Communities in the Context of COVID-19 and Covid-19 Vaccine'. In: The 87th Annual Meeting of the Rural Sociological Society. Hilton Salt Lake City Center, United States 30 July - 02 August 2025. [Conference or Workshop Item] (Forthcoming)

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Abstract or Description

Despite widespread acknowledgment that vaccination significantly contributes to saving lives, the Covid-19 pandemic revealed that considerable barriers continue to persist. The situation is particularly worrying among black communities. Published evidence indicates a notably low COVID-19 vaccine uptake among Black communities and other ethnic minorities. This paper aims to unearth possible reasons, drawing on a qualitative study examining key motivators for COVID-19 vaccination among people of Black African and Black African Caribbean heritage in London, England. It presents findings to make sense of anti-vaxxers and individuals' strong attitudes and perceptions against COVID-19 and the Covid-19 vaccination, especially within Black communities. Failure to contextualise anti-vaxxers' views on vaccination and global health systems will perpetuate resistance to vaccination efforts, particularly within Black communities globally. With the World Health Organization warning that vaccine hesitancy poses a significant global health threat and is listed as one of the top 10 global health problems, requiring urgent attention, this paper, while utilising critical race lens, reveals critical insights that may necessitate policy and practice actions among Black populations.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Keywords:	Covid-19, Institutional Racism, Decolonisation, Vaccination, Vaccine Hesitancy, COVID-19 vaccination, Immunisation, Racial inequality, Critical Race Theory
Departments, Centres and Research Units:	Social, Therapeutic & Community Engagement (STaCS) Social, Therapeutic & Community Engagement (STaCS) > Centre for Community Engagement Research
Dates:	Date Event 2 May 2025 Accepted 31 July 2025 Completed 11 December 2024 Submitted
Event Location:	Hilton Salt Lake City Center, United States
Date range:	30 July - 02 August 2025
Item ID:	35727
Date Deposited:	20 Mar 2024 14:22
Last Modified:	22 May 2025 14:49
URI:	https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/35727

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