Retired doc reveals disappointment as young don’t get jab UPTAKE IS LOWEST
VACCINE IN THOSE 25 TO 29
A RETIRED anaesthetist who was re-registered to battle Covid-19 has said he is disappointed in the take-up of the coronavirus vaccine among young people – and blamed “propaganda” for the problem.
Figures show fewer first, second and booster doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been administered to people aged between 25-29 than in any other age group bar children and those aged 75-79.
Oliver Weldon, a former anaesthetist at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, has been vaccinating people at Newcastle Racecourse and the Newcastle Eagles Arena for the past 12 months.
He said: “It has been quite disappointing there has been quite low take-up of the vaccine in certain populations particularly young people who have had a lot of anti-vax propaganda shoved down them.
“All we can do is offer the vaccinations and hope people will come and take them up.”
Dr Weldon was speaking on the one-year anniversary of the first jabs being administered at the Eagles Arena.
Work at the site at the racecourse in Gosforth began a few days later and reached 12 months today.
Dr Weldon explained how he came to be part of the vaccine rollout.
He said: “I am a retired anaesthetist at the Freeman Hospital.
“I have been retired for a few years, then when the Covid emergency appeared I was re-registered by the GMC and looked for something to do to help.
“My GP put me in touch with Newcastle GP Services and I was able to help.
“I have been coming here on and off for exactly a year since we actually had our first vaccination session in at the Eagles. Shortly after that we started working here at the racecourse.
“Subsequently we have started delivering vaccines in a number of other centres like Molineux and Benwell as well as the bus and pop-ups around Newcastle.”