‘Peace of mind and protection’ – why members are getting the jab

COVID-19 vaccinations are rapidly being rolled out across the UK, and UNISON members are among some of the first people to receive them. UNISON member Sharon Fowler is a third-year student nurse in Plymouth. As a Black woman, she’s been waiting for the vaccine to be available to her. “I’m originally from South Africa, and as an ethnic minority, I am considered high risk. One of the reasons I agreed to have this vaccine was for peace of mind and protection. I’m so relieved I got to have it.” In June last year, a Public Health England report on COVID-19 deaths confirmed the risk of dying among those diagnosed with COVID-19 was much higher for Black people. Ms Fowler continues: “This vaccine gives me protection. I’ve treated people with COVID-19 and some of them are positive in the ward I work in. If you’re working on the frontline, you will have peace of mind. If you have any co-morbidities, this doubles up your chance of not getting the virus. “I got the notification through my NHS email – not my student account. I used to do nursing for a trust and still remain on their list as bank staff. I received an email from them to say ‘we have now opened the slots for non-permanent staff members and you can book your appointment via the website’.” Research from SAGE, the government’s scientific advisory group, found that up to 72% of Black people were unlikely to take a COVID-19 vaccine and that Pakistani and Bangladeshi individuals were the next most-hes...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Article News Covid-19 vaccination vaccine Source Type: news