Vaccines – why we got the jab

‘THIS IS HOW WE GET BACK TO NORMAL’ YOUNG QUEUE IN THEIR THOUSANDS FOR VACCINE

You might expect the average young adult to be sleeping in late on a Bank Holiday Saturday but that certainly wasn’t the case as the walk-in vaccination clinics opened for the over 16s back in August.

In Drogheda, where the walk-in clinic was being held at the Drogheda Institute of Further Education, there were lots of happy faces emerging with their first jab down.

“It’s hard to believe that I actually have the vaccine. It doesn’t seem real,” said Jennifer Reilly, 22.

“It wasn’t an option for me not to take the vaccine. It is what we have all been waiting for and I’m thrilled that it means that we are getting nearer to a normal life again. The vaccine is how we get back to normal.”

Dean Hodgins, 19, said his mum is a nurse and he has seen the value of the vaccination at home.

“Mam is a nurse and she got her vaccine months ago. I saw how relieved she was that she was able to protect us coming home from work. She’s delighted that I can get mine now. She was the one waking me up this morning to come down. It also means that I can go see my grandad in his house without worrying that I might pass it on,” he said.

Stephen O’Brien, 19, was looking forward to being able to go on holidays abroad again.

“We didn’t think we would have the vaccine so soon so we never thought we could go away this summer. But my friends and I have booked a week in Greece in September before college starts. It’s mad to think that we will be getting on a plane in a few weeks,” said Stephen.

Friends Hannah Dawson, 17, and Chloe Murphy, 18, were elated to get the Pfizer

first jab and looking forward to the protection of the vaccine.

“My nana has COPD so I didn’t see her for such a long time. I have visited her in her garden a few times in the last few months but I was worried about going into the house in case I passed on anything,” said Chloe.

Hannah said that it would make life a bit easier going back to sixth year in school.

“It was strange in school last year with all the COVID rules but most of us will be vaccinated in our year now so that should help a lot,” she said.

There were huge queues at all of the larger vaccination centre as the first day of the walk-in clinics began. In Citywest, 1,850 people attended the clinic, which was open between 8am and midday. Most of those attending were in the younger age groups and many queued from as early as 6am.

Pamela Maguire, who had dropped off daughter Nicole, 17, and three of her friends at the centre, said it was well worth the early start.

“We were in the car by 7am and they all had big smiles on their faces as the joined the end of the queue. They were as excited this morning as if they were heading off for a concert,” she said.

There were plenty of smiling faces at Mallow Vaccination Centre as many in the over-18 age group got their first dose of the Pfizer vaccination. 19-year-old Matthew McHale said he was delighted that his time had finally come.

“It’s been a long time coming, to be fair. I think I’ve waited months and months on end for it and now that it’s finally here it’s a big sigh of relief, to be honest,” he said. 18-year-old Ruby said, “It’s a relief to be vaccinated. It’s just peace of mind and everything was okay getting it.”

Sarah, 21, said she got her appointment notice less than 24 hours after registering on the online registration portal.

Miriam O’Callaghan, also 19, said having the vaccine will make her work life a lot safer.

“Working in my local pub, it is much handier now being vaccinated,” she said.

Amy, 21, has great plan for when she becomes fully vaccinated.

“As soon as I get my second dose I am going travelling. I haven’t left the country in a long time. I’m very excited,” she said.