The Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees Councillor Mohammed Javed and nurse Millie Magadlela have joined our campaign to record video appeals to the BAME community about the importance of having the COVID-19 vaccine.
Members of the BAME community are at a higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19.
Low uptake of the vaccination within the BAME community has led to the Trust recording and releasing a series of video appeals by BAME members of staff, some even in different languages.
Councillor Javed and Millie were themselves seriously ill with the virus, with both making headlines after being applauded out of intensive care after lifesaving treatment saw them spend time on ventilators.
Mayor of Stockton, Councillor Javed appeals to the BAME community to have the COVID 19 vaccine
My name is Councillor Mohammed Javed. I am Mayor of Stockton.
I urge people that please have a vaccine It is safe. Don’t listen to the fake media, fake social media.
You know, it is safe to have a vaccine and please make sure that you don’t visit each other houses you know it is important that we don’t get together. You have to play your role. Look at me I was in intensive care, I was ill. I received thousands of messages, you know, across the community, across the world also. But when my brother and my sister asked me that can they come to see me when I came back from the
Hospital, I said ‘no’. Nobody is allowed to come to see me and I have not seen my family for a
long period of time. I know it is hard, it is difficult but we need to make a sacrifice to get control over
on this virus and please follow the guideline. Keep the social listen, wear the mask, keep yourself safe and keep other people safe also.
[Caption] Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees Councillor Mohammed Javed appeals to the BAME community to have the COVID-19 vaccine. It’s safe and fully tested. Don’t believe the fake news. Councillor Javed was himself seriously ill with COVID-19 and he doesn’t want anyone to go through what he experienced. #HandsFaceSpace
On his video appeal Councillor Mohammed Javed comments: “I urge people to please have the vaccine. It’s safe. Don’t listen to the fake news and the fake social media. It is safe to have the vaccine.”
Millie Magadlela appeals to the BAME community to have the COVID 19 vaccine
My name is Millie Magadlela. I have had COVID-19, I was positive, last year. And I was very poorly, I was in the intensive care unit. I am one of the BAME, high-risk people, so I have had my covid vaccines. And I am really happy and proud that I have had it because I know I going to be safe and I know I am protecting myself, and my colleagues and the public at large. Now, for the BAME people I’m begging you – can you please go out there and go and help your family. It is safe to have it. Once you have it you can be assured your family you will be safe because you have protected yourself, you have protected your family and the community. It is a safe vaccine to have. Having the vaccine will really give us hope. In the future we might be able to have quicker lockdowns. I am living in hope that if everyone of us is having this vaccine we are all going to go out there and go to our normal lives. So don’t be afraid. The virus is still very high, the infection rate is still very high – like I said if every one of us can be responsible and go out there and get the vaccine there is light behind the tunnel.
I’m really excited – I’m even working here at the vaccine centre as I say now, as you see me here. I am really so encouraged to see lots of people coming up here to have the vaccine. People coming round, all the nationalities coming round, there is really hope. Thank you.
[Caption] Nurse Millie Magadlela was seriously ill with COVID-19 and is appealing to all members of the BAME community, who are more at risk from the virus, to have the vaccine. It is safe, it has been tested and is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones. When you get you vaccine appointment, please take it!
“I’ve had my COVID vaccine and I’m really happy and proud to have had it because I know I’m going to be safe. I’m protecting myself, my family, my colleagues and the public at large”, says Millie on her video.
The Mayor’s video and Millie’s video are both available on YouTube and are being shared on the Trust’s social media feeds.