AN independent health watchdog is looking to interview volunteers for research into why people in the black, Asian and minority ethnic community are not taking the Covid-19 vaccine.

Healthwatch Blackburn with Darwen is supporting further research into the reluctance of members of the BAME community to have the vaccine.

A spokesman for the centre said: “We are looking for volunteers to undertake a small paid activity to support this research. As you may have seen, there has been lots of discussion recently about black and Asian communities being less likely to want to take the Covid-19 vaccine.

“Healthwatch England want to understand more about what black and Asian people think about the vaccine and why, as well as how this compares to white people's opinions and whether there are differences."

This is an exploratory exercise with no end goal, apart from understanding what is driving people’s opinions. The research will involve interviews online over Zoom, or over the telephone and will last between 45 minutes and one hour. The health watchdog has interviewers who speak English, Hindi and Urdu.

A Healthwatch spokesman said: "This is an opportunity to help shape the way people talk about public health and the vaccine during COVID-19.

“As a thank you for your time we are offering £25 for taking part in an interview.”

Visit magpielanding.traverse.org.uk/surveys/vaccineopinions