Student NHS volunteers say youngsters must get jabbed

Now, as the age bracket lowers for people eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, Jalila Mirza, of Dinnington, Morgan Boynton, of Bramley, and Mollie Hogg, of Maltby, are encouraging others of a similar age to have the jab.

The double-jabbed students tell Advertiser health reporter Chloe West why they believe it’s so important.

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourselves?

Jalila: I want to be a paramedic and I am hoping to go to university. I decided to take a different approach to the ‘jab-demic’ and chose to volunteer at Stag Medical Centre, Hot Shots Junior Theatre Group in Thurcroft, the Rotherham Hospice charity shop and became a dementia friend with Age UK.

I started to work at a GP practice because I wanted to help develop an informative and safe space via social media called @so_long_stigma where there is myth-busting information around the vaccine as well as live chats and Q&As. I am hoping this will enable young people, like myself, to become more conscious of the decisions they take and feel more confident around their health.

Morgan: I have volunteered at a few of the vaccine centres, undertaken work experience at Broom Lane GP surgery, worked at a local dementia cafe and Wonder Years Nursery in Ravenfield. I don’t want to go to university, I’d rather take up an apprenticeship and I hope to work within the NHS in phlebotomy.  

Mollie: I am hoping to go to university and, afterwards, pursue a career in nursing. I’ve also worked across vaccine sites in Rotherham, done work experience at Stag Medical Centre, a dementia cafe and Limestone Nursery in Maltby.

Q: Why did you decide to have the coronavirus vaccine?

Jalila: Working with the NHS I have seen first-hand how people have been affected by the pandemic and feel having the vaccine is a way to protect people. As time goes on, there also seems to be more opportunities and places to be able to go once you are double vaccinated. There has been a lot of scaremongering throughout the pandemic so I started to look into the vaccine and research the science behind it online.  

Morgan: My brother is asthmatic and I wanted to have the vaccine to protect him. Also because I worked in close contact with people at the vaccination centres, I was given the offer to have the vaccine and I wanted to take it. In addition, it helps to protect other people around me, such as my Nan, and I am still choosing to wear my mask around busy areas.

Mollie: I was part of the clinically extremely vulnerable cohort so I wanted to protect myself and others, such as my grandparents, against the virus so I am still able to see them. It helps to keep them safe.

Q: Why do you believe it is important for other people of a similar age to yourself to have the Covid-19 vaccine?

Jalila: In making this decision, in some ways you need to detach yourself from everything, look into all of the information that is out there and look at how having the vaccine would impact you and how it affects other people around you. With there being conversations around vaccine passports it means not having the jab could potentially limit your opportunities in the future to places and travel. It’s also thinking about the people who have risked their lives for us. Eucating yourself about the virus and vaccine is very important.

Morgan: At times it feels like general Covid information is not being tailored to younger people. In the beginning it was all about how to protect elderly people but it does affect us all. So we felt talking about our thoughts and experiences might help others of a similar age.

Mollie: We have all seen people being affected by Covid in the vaccine centres and their nerves over having the jab. But we’ve also all had family members who have had Covid — so we’ve seen both sides. It’s important people do get the vaccine to protect others.

For further local information about coronavirus and the vaccine visit http://www.rotherhamccg.nhs.uk/covid-19-gp-information.htm.

Additional national guidance is also available via https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus