‘It will help to lower the epidemic rate’

DR BHUPENDRA PATEL, who lives in Dartford, Kent, and has been a GP in the county for 32 years, got the vaccine on December 18 at the Swanscomb Health Centre, Kent.

A native of Nadiad, Gujarat, Dr Patel said, “The main reason for getting the vaccine was to protect myself. I have mild diabetes, as well as high BP.

“In addition, a study by the NHS and Public Health England on people who died or were severely affected by coronavirus found that BAME people over the age of 60 were at greater risk than their white counterparts in the UK.

“Asian people, especially those who have serious illnesses, are more likely to be affected by Covid-19. That is why we all need to get vaccinated.

“This vaccine is one of the best in the world, developed after adequate research, after trials and tests on thousands of people. The vaccine does not cause any side effects and only slightly affects people who already have certain allergies. After being vaccinated, medics ask you to stay for 15 minutes – if you have any reaction to the vaccine, it usually happens within that time.

“The more people are vaccinated in our country, the lower the epidemic rate will be and society as a whole will benefit.”