Liz is a volunteer in Lewisham.
I first got introduced to the vaccination effort after a friend had volunteered at the Waldron Centre and worked on the very first vaccine shift. She messaged and said how desperate they were for volunteers, and that those getting vaccines were elderly and lonely, but that it had been a great experience. I have an elderly father and had recently lost my mother from Alzheimer’s, and it touched a nerve. I felt really strongly that I wanted to give something back, so I signed up immediately and within days I was doing a shift at the Waldron.
In the early days of volunteering it was predominantly the over-80s and I found it really comforting to be helping elderly people. Of course we had all had restrictions in lockdown but I was still able to do my shopping and was travelling to my office occasionally, but for some of the people it was their first time to be venturing out in months as they had been shielding. They were naturally anxious but so happy to talk to people, and I really felt I was making a contribution.
It has been such an interesting experience working in the vaccine programme, to see firsthand how so well organised it is and how dedicated the staff at the clinics are. For me personally I have been humbled by some of the people I have met: some are lonely, some are anxious, some have underlying health problems, but the centres offer a haven of hope.
It’s so very rewarding to see the relief on people’s faces when they have been vaccinated and to have been part of that process: maybe helping them navigate through the clinic, making them feel comfortable and more relaxed about the process, having a friendly chat, and making them feel safe.
The whole vaccine program has been a real success story for the NHS and their staff, and I have come away with absolute admiration for those involved in these clinics. The feeling of working together for the same cause has really lifted spirits, especially whilst most of us are remote from work colleagues and family and friends and the volunteering has definitely filled a void. It has also been refreshing being within larger groups of people and interacting again.
It has been really interesting watching all the different age groups come through the centre, initially the very old and venerable who were anxious to be out, but fascinating to see the difference as the patients get younger, a different dynamic and expectation. And then to see the older groups returning for their second vaccines and hear their stories of optimism and a newfound confidence for the future has been really inspiring.
There have of course been patients who have been quite challenging, and I have surprised myself with my own diplomacy and ability to calm agitated patients, and can’t imagine what it is like having to deal with some of the rudeness and attitudes on a daily basis, albeit a minority of the patients.
Quite selfishly the whole experience has been really fulfilling and I will take away the fact I have been involved, albeit for a small part, in something incredible. The whole medical environment is totally out of my comfort zone: I run a department in a busy commercial environment but a lot of the skills I need for my job, organising and communicating, have been useful. I will really remember the camaraderie and how collectively we have lifted each other’s spirits during difficult times and for making the clinics fun. The most rewarding must be seeing people’s gratitude for receiving a vaccine and how they can’t thank everyone enough.