Mark Brown talked with Rahul at the Waldron Health Centre in New Cross in June 2021.
TRANSCRIPT
MB: This is Mark Brown for Lewisham Vaccination Stories, and I am deep in the heart of the Waldron Health Centre, where vaccinations are happening today, and I’m here with…?
R: Rahul. I’m a digital care co-ordinator for Waldron Health Centre.
MB: What is it you do in this grand effort then?
R: The main responsibility comes as a digital care co-ordinator to make sure that, calling the patient, call the right age groups and calling for Pfizer, AstraZeneca, making sure there are all details on the system so whenever they come for the vaccination that all the details, like their NHS number, their contact and everything should be on the list, making sure, book them on appointment.
As well as when they come for the vaccine putting their right details on a system, what vaccine they had, including hand, time, the batch number, everything we have to put on a system, as well as making sure they have the right card on a system, making sure that all the vaccine details are on a system as well.
Sometimes after, when time finishes, we call them for the second after 8 to 12 weeks. Now we are doing the same thing. Now we are calling the patients for the second dose of Pfizer which we have next week and yes, it is really exciting to see the people are really over here. They want to have the vaccine and they are very happy to have vaccines, so they are booking their appointments. It is a really positive response now.
MB: Yes, because it is kind of weird, because one of the things that people always ask me when I’m a volunteer is, “So how do they know what vaccine to give me? Am I going to get a call? How am I going to know when to come?” That is all sorted, yes?
R: According to government guidance, when you would receive your first vaccine, the interval is 8 to 12 weeks. But now, because of the Delta virus from India, government had this idea to bring the time a little bit early. We are trying to book after 5 to 6 weeks, so whenever patients, they had a vaccine last month, if they complete 5 to 6 weeks they can come. We can book their appointment and we can do the vaccine.
At the moment, all the first doses of Pfizer we are giving, they are under 18. Sorry, they are above 18 and the people who are above 40 won’t be allowed to have AstraZeneca, second dose and Pfizer, like first dose, because of the blood clot situation. Yes, we are trying to give Pfizer most at the moment.
MB: What would you say to anyone who was worried about the whole process?
R: Honestly, both vaccines are very effective. According to government guidance under 40 the first dose of AZ is not allowed. The young generation, they want to have Pfizer because it is 80 percent to 89 percent effective and yes, it is a very positive response with the Pfizer.
MB: You’ve been involved in this great, great vaccination effort, but how has this pandemic been for you when you’ve not had your professional hat on?
R: It is tough. Thanks to management they taught us very well. My previous manager, Natasha, and my team members, we learned everything here. I never worked in the NHS. This is the first time, learning everything. It is a great experience. It feels so blessed to help people and when you hear that line, the “Thank you, thank you, thank you for working for us, thank you,” that feels so joyful. Yes, it is all a new experience to us.
MB: Excellent. Thank you.