“I’m scared of needles, but I know how important the vaccine is”
Christine Emelone’s fear of needles nearly stopped her from getting the jab. But the 21-year-old from Sheffield changed her mind when her mum explained the benefits
“I suffer from extreme trypanophobia, a strong aversion to blood or needles. Each time I find myself in this type of situation, I start to feel faint and my heart rate increases. Then, it drops rapidly, which sometimes causes fainting or severe headaches.
“Friends had told me they’d had side effects after the Covid vaccine like dizziness and shaking, so I put the idea of getting jabbed out of my mind. I was not interested. Then I thought about the sharpness of the needle, seeing blood and the injection which caused fear, panic and anxiety.
“I was determined not to get jabbed, but I took the courage to take it after my mother walked me through the risks of being unvaccinated. As a secretary for the NHS, she sees many people each day and understands the value of vaccines.
“She slowly explained why it is important for me to protect myself in this way as well as people close to me and I decided to have the vaccine.
“I would say to remember why you are doing this. It’s not just to keep yourself safe, but also your loved ones around you. Also, keep in mind that is a positive step towards immunity and helping your community.”