Vicky Walker spoke with Elizabeth at the Downham Vaccination Hub in July 2021.
TRANSCRIPT
VW: Hi, this is Vicky Walker for Lewisham Vaccination Stories. I’m here at the Downham Vaccination Hub with —
E: Elizabeth ___ from Uganda.
VW: And Elizabeth has just had her second vaccination with me, and we were just talking about the experience of vaccination and about everything else that’s going on. So, how did you feel when you came in today for your second jab?
E: Feeling happy, because I was welcomed by fantastic nurses. They greet you, they welcome you. Then they direct you what to do and then I came to the — where I have to get the vaccination. I met these two fantastic nurses, now I’m talking to one of them.
I’m happy that I’m going to be connected to somebody new from today.
VW: Yes, I should tell you that Laura and I are not actually nurses. We’re just volunteers. But we do have some training for the vaccination. But that’s — I hope that doesn’t change your opinion of us. (Laughter)
E: No.
VW: And you said you used to work in mental health?
E: Yes.
VW: What part did you play in that?
E: I worked there as a healthcare assistant for almost 17 years.
VW: Wow. You don’t work there anymore?
E: No. I don’t work anymore. Don’t work there anymore. I went to university, because I have a dream of changing other people’s lives. I came to UK to study a degree in fashion design. So, I want to personally see fantastic skills to people before I leave this world.
So, I said, “How can I do this?” I said, “Well, I hear about international development, and I’m going to do this course.” International development, it says I can do many things. You work with different people. So I went to university. I started a degree in international development and geo management in third-world countries.
And then I went to do a master’s degree in international social development. So now I’m working with the DWP, because I can’t go to the other job yet.
VW: You’re going to work today?
E: No, I’m not working today.
VW: All right, okay.
E: So, I work with the DWP. I’m the first person to receive the applications, and then I make calls to find out exactly how these people — whether the information that they’ve given me is likely to get Universal Credit. Then I submit their information back on the system and then they get Universal Credit or they’re being interviewed for more information to view that they’re eligible for Universal Credit.
VW: So, you’re helping people at work all day long in this very difficult time.
E: Yes.
VW: Some people have lost their jobs.
E: Yes.
VW: Some people have not been well, so how does that affect you at the end of the day?
E: Well, it affects me, but in a way, you have to cope, because if you don’t cope then you’re not going to help other people. So you have to cope. You have to cope and understand that when these changes happen to somebody’s life, what does the person do?
The person looks for help. So you are there to help them. So you have to be strong to be able to help them. So what do you do? You give them the right advice, you put them into the right directions, you refer them, if you can’t set something out or if you don’t understand something you refer them to somebody senior.
VW: So that they get the help. So you’ve been doing that work all through the pandemic?
E: Yes.
VW: So you’ve been going into the office and actually meeting people to help them —
E: Yes. And then sometimes we work one week home, one week in the office.
VW: Wow. So, you haven’t stopped. You probably haven’t been on furlough; you’ve been working?
E: Yes.
VW: So, when you got the chance to get your first vaccination, how did you feel when you were invited?
E: I was a bit quiet. I didn’t come exactly straight away. I was a bit lingering to tell you the truth. I was lingering and thinking that, “Oh, my God, maybe it’s true that there’s something wrong with this vaccination. I’ll wait a bit longer and just see.” Then eventually, I said, “No, all these reminders are telling me I have to go and do something.” So I came.
VW: Good. I’m glad to hear it, because I understand people were very hesitant, because it all happened very quickly. But now you are in the 49 percent of the country who have had two vaccines. So it’s many millions of people and it’s safe and it will protect you.
So what are you looking forward to doing now, after this? Do you think we will come out of — into a new normal?
E: Well, you still have to obey the advice from the experts, because sometimes you don’t know if they’re doing the right thing. So you have to follow the rules and the advice. I hope everything will be okay.
VW: And are you seeing more optimism among the people who come to see you for help? Are you able to give them more good advice to say that there is work coming?
E: Yes. What I tell people is that if you want something you have to keep on looking. You have to keep your energy going for that thing and then eventually you get it. Don’t lose your aspect of looking for something. Even if you don’t find it very quickly, you keep looking and you will get it. So a job you will find.
You can start doing something else, while you are waiting to get what you want, but you have to do something. You have to be doing something. So go for a job which you are less likely to want to do, so that you are into work — and then later on, you can get the other job you want.
VW: Right, we’ve all had to adapt to this new world that we’re living in, but yes, you sat down in the chair and you were immediately very positive and happy to be there. So it was lovely to have you lighting up mine and Laura’s moment there. We appreciate that.
E: Thank you very much.
VW: You’re very welcome, Elizabeth, and thank you for talking to us.
E: Yes, thank you.