Mark Brown spoke to Peter during a pop-up vaccination session in New Cross Gate, London.
TRANSCRIPT:
MB: This is Mark Brown for Lewisham Vaccination Stories, in Besson Street Community Garden, in a gap between showers and heavy winds. And I’m here with…?
P: Peter.
MB: Peter, you’ve had your vaccination today. How was it?
P: Quite simple, actually. Painless, which is good.
MB: That is good. Was there anything you were worried about before having your vaccination?
P: Only that I suffer from allergic reactions to certain things. Just worried about that. That’s why I’m waiting 15 minutes.
MB: Excellent. But you got asked all those questions beforehand and checked out?
P: Yes, that’s right. All sorts of questions. Age and so forth. And then if you have any allergies or stuff like that.
MB: So what I wanted to ask you is how has the last year been for you? Because it’s been quite an interesting year for a lot of us, and the reason why we’re having these vaccines is because of all those interesting reasons. What has it been like for you?
P: The first lockdown was okay, novelty. Second one, “Okay, this is serious.” The third one was very difficult because didn’t really see anyone because everyone was locked down. Hence why I’m here, because I need to work. So the quicker I can get the vaccines the better, basically.
MB: So holding that thought about working, getting your vaccine quickly and stuff, what is it you’re really, really looking forward to after this vaccination effort is successful?
P: Just to get out a bit more, actually, I think, really. Friends and all that kind of thing. But, you know, just to get out. Because since normal times when I want to go out, in the past, I haven’t been able to. So that kind of thing. You know, just get your “I want to do it” freedom, “I’ll do it” freedom, that kind of thing.
MB: Yes. I was talking to someone earlier today. They were talking about how the pandemic has made everything like a big decision about risk and all of those sort of things.
P: Yes, when you go out, risk. I’ve been avoiding big supermarkets, spray everything that comes in with Dettol, that’s the kind of things I’ve been doing, you know. And shopping at certain times just to avoid the big queues.
MB: So are you excited that we might be coming to the end of kicking the bum of COVID?
P: In many ways, yes. But I like the way that COVID has made people reassess and rethink and so forth. And I like the way that it’s made society slower, I guess.
MB: Excellent. Well you can now slowly go off and enjoy the rest of your day. Thank you for that, Peter.
P: Thank you.