‘They’re being selfish – and an risking the lives of vulnerable people’

Lizzie Randall, 31, is a physiotherapist, and lives in London with her fiancée, Katie.

She says, “I’d been working for the NHS for five years when coronavirus hit the UK in March 2020. I loved my job, but during the lockdowns our service was deemed nonessential and I was redeployed to work in ICU [intensive care unit]. I worked 12-hour shifts, three or four days a week. Usually in ICU, it’s one patient per nurse, but at times during the pandemic it was six patients per nurse.

“My time on ICU was harrowing. Most of the patients I cared for were under 70.

People came in who were my age and had no previous health conditions. I had to sit with patients as they passed away, because their families weren’t allowed on the ward. The situation took a real toll on my mental health. Thankfully, I’ve since received counselling and I’m now back working as a physiotherapist, but it maddens me to see so many young people still aren’t taking the situation seriously.

“As frontline workers, we did our bit to keep people safe. Now it feels as though some of the under-30s aren’t holding up their end of the bargain. I’ve met young people through work who’ve said they don’t plan on getting jabbed. They say that because their grandparents and parents have been vaccinated, they don’t see the point in getting it themselves. But unvaccinated youngsters can still catch Covid-19 and pass it on to vulnerable people. Why would you run that risk?

“There’s also a myth that if you’re young and healthy, catching coronavirus isn’t a problem – but that’s just not true. Your symptoms are more likely to be mild, but you could still feel rough for weeks, and there’s always the risk of long Covid, too.

“Sadly, I think the only way some young people will get jabbed is if it becomes compulsory in order to go to university and go holiday. It’s sad that the younger generation can be so selfish.”