‘It’s vital to get the shot’

Nurses share COVID-19 experiences

PEOPLE can become easily confused with the symptoms of the common flu and COVID-19 because they are very similar, says Oxford University Hospital nurse Mereseini Bulanauca.

Sharing her UK experience during a virtual COVID discussion on the Bula ko Lau Facebook page, she said there was no specific symptom to pinpoint the virus and that could be a reason people thought it was all a lie.

However, Ms Bulanauca said the severity of the virus could cause death, as she had personally experienced in cases in the ward she serves.

She said it was important people got vaccinated because it safeguarded them from contracting the full severity of the disease and also lessened the burden on the medical system which was already struggling with cases.

While sharing her personal experience, Ms Bulanauca said her husband had contracted the virus after deciding not to get vaccinated.

She said he had lost taste for food and had high fever but she and her children did not contract the virus because she had been vaccinated.

Ms Bulanauca said she was grateful he finally decided to take the vaccine.

Her colleague, Oxford University Hospital laboratory technician Vasiti Matewale shared her own experience when last year, her husband contracted the virus before the development of vaccines.

She he was fine throughout his 14-day isolation.

However, after his isolation, Ms Matewale said her husband developed symptoms of the disease and reported chest pains and shortness of breath with high fever.

She said he was fortunate because he was taken to the hospital early where he was successfully treated.