Miss England receives Covid vaccine so she can keep saving lives
THE current Miss England has received her first dose of the Covid vaccine so she can continue to help save lives as a doctor on the NHS front line.
Dr Bhasha Mukherjee, 24, returned from India to the
UK in response to the Government’s call for retired and junior doctors in April 2020.
She has worked throughout the pandemic and has treated patients at the Derby Royal Hospital and the Boston Pilgrim Hospital in Lincolnshire.
The reigning beauty queen was delighted to get her Pfizer vaccination so she can carry on fighting against the virus on coronavirus wards at her busy hospital.
She said: “It’s good to know I’m protected and I’m sure my colleagues feel the same.
“When I walked over to my allocated nurse, I asked nervously if I could have a photo taken as I wanted to cherish the moment.
“She told me I was the first one to ask for a photo so far but of course I could have one.
“I’m thankful as being BAME, I’m in a high-risk group. I was so excited but also nervous.
“My colleagues and I found out just days before that we would be receiving the vaccine this week.
“It didn’t hurt and after a few hours I even did a Zoom home workout with press-ups and all. I have been perfectly well since.
“I feel so grateful to be in the position to have received the vaccine when millions are in the waiting line across the globe.
“My prayers are with everyone who’s waiting patiently at home including my own family members who I hope will get their vaccines soon too.”
Bhasha became the longest serving winner in the Miss England’s 92-year history in October last year.
The doctor, who was the nation’s first South Asian Miss England, has been working 12-hour shifts often seven days a week at the height of the pandemic.
Bhasha said the crisis has been a far cry from the glitz and glamour of beauty pageants but she has managed to juggle work with her Miss England duties.
She added: “It’s been an honour to continue serving my country during the Covid pandemic as well as being able to do it as Miss England.
“There’s no better time for me to be Miss England while helping England at this time of need.
“It’s a shame the Miss England contest was postponed again but I’m delighted to be their longest-serving winner. “It’s bittersweet in a way as the circumstances aren’t ideal, it’s hard to celebrate when you’re seeing Covid numbers rising in your hospital.
“In the summer we had far fewer positive Covid cases but now suddenly it is a different story.
“We’re seeing more asymptomatic patients testing positive and more people coming in for different problems who turn out to have the virus.
“So it has certainly been a challenging time, I’m in the urological surgery department as well as the Covid ward.
“Juggling that with Miss England duties can be tricky but I think I’ve managed to find the balance.”