‘YOU DO ONE VACCINE, BUT THEN YOU NEED A SECOND AND THIRD SHOT... WHEN DOES THIS STOP?’
We visited part of city with lowest jab uptake
THE city centre is currently the least vaccinated part of Stoke-on-trent and North Staffordshire.
The latest figures show that 61.2 per cent of residents aged 12 and over in Hanley and Etruria have had one dose, and 52.4 per cent have had both doses.
The numbers come as cases across the UK appear to be on the rise. As of November 14, the government reports a total of 9,561,099 positive tests.
In light of the vaccination numbers and the cases, we visited Hanley and Etruria to see what residents had to say.
Charity fundraiser Jessica Pollard, aged 25, who lives in Hanley, said: “I’m double vaccinated. I will be having the booster, but it’s been less than six months.
“I live with my sister, she’s a medical student. The NHS have to be vaccinated by spring next year, from what she gathered a lot of people are vaccinated.
“We’re very much for it, and would encourage people to get it. I know it’s a personal preference, but it’s a nobrainer.”
But Kyria Kigkouskou, aged 44, of Hanley, was more sceptical, saying: “I haven’t had it. I am an anti-vax person. Maybe trying to force people to do it, we decided not to do it. I think a lot of people think that way.
“It doesn’t mean I’m not taking any other measures, I’m avoiding large groups and trying to keep my distance. I’ve not been sick so far.
“We don’t understand – you do one vaccine and then we need a second shot, and a third shot, when does this stop?”
Business development manager Chris Thain, aged 57, urged people to listen to medical advice.
“I’m over the age of 50, I have an underlying health condition. We’re both double vaccinated and I’m looking forward to getting a booster,” he said.
“There’s lots of reasons why people may not have them. Some of them may be cultural, maybe it’s a degree of misinformation. If people have got underlying health conditions then they’re going to think carefully. They need to listen to their doctors and heed the medical advice.”
Sham Zahoor, aged 52, from Etruria, lost a family member to covid and thinks the vaccine is the best way to protect loved ones.
“I’ve had both of mine. All of my children, they’ve all had both,” she said.
“If you have got your health, you’ve got everything. You don’t want one of your loved ones to go from this type of illness.”