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Emma-Li grew up in Partille and Torslanda, but moved to Oxford twelve years ago with her English husband. In connection with this, she also took a hiatus from her professional career as an auxiliary nurse, but in March of this year she applied for a job at John Radcliffe Hospital. So she didn’t know what to expect.
– It was a week before Britain closed. When I got there, half of the workforce was already on sick leave from Covid. So it was a very bad time, he says.
Emma-Li was also infected, but had mild symptoms. In May of this year, he had an antibody test that came back positive, and just two months ago, a new test showed that he still carried antibodies against COVID-19.
– But they have asked us to get vaccinated even if we have been sick. I think they want as many of us vaccinated as possible, and that’s reasonable, he says.
READ MORE: More and more studies indicate that your blood type affects the risk of infection
Total protection in 28 days
On December 8, Margaret Keenan of Coventry, 90, became the first in the world to get vaccinated against COVID-19. An incident that brought British Health Minister Matt Hancock to tears on a live broadcast. Since then, priority has been given to vaccinating people selected in risk groups and in vulnerable jobs, and on Wednesday it is Emma-Li’s turn. Therefore, she will probably be one of the first Swedes to receive the vaccine.
– Tomorrow I will receive the first dose and a second dose 21 days later. And seven days after the second dose, you are supposed to have adequate protection.
How will your life change?
– I don’t think it’s going to change much, because I already think I have good protection because I have antibodies. But the advantage is, above all, that if the elderly population is vaccinated, it is the one that has the highest risk of becoming seriously ill. And I hope that Sweden will also start its vaccination program soon so that I can go visit my parents in Gothenburg. They haven’t seen us since February.
The older sister is skeptical
In Sweden, several have expressed doubts about taking the vaccine, partly in reference to the fact that it developed at record speed, but also because many remember how the swine flu vaccine caused some 500 children to develop narcolepsy. Emma-Li says there are doubts in England too.
– I was born in the 70s, and I think my generation and the younger ones are more skeptical than the older ones. I saw a study here that showed that more than 90 percent of those over 65 said they wanted to take it. And that is good, because it is above all who needs it.
Do you feel anxiety yourself?
– No, not really. I think it is quite proven and although it is a new vaccine, it is based on previous vaccine experiences. And of course, the swine flu vaccine in 2010 was obviously not completely safe, but it involved young people who were not yet fully developed. It has been said that this vaccine should not be given to children under 18 years of age. And the only way to end the pandemic is, in principle, by vaccinating ourselves. If we are all skeptical and dare not, we will never finish it.
However, not everyone is so happy that Emma-Li is now a Swedish vaccine pioneer.
My older sister in Gothenburg has been very skeptical and thinks I’m stupid for exposing myself to him, but I don’t think you would start a mass vaccination program if you weren’t sure it’s safe, says Emma-Li Beaven.
READ MORE: Ten Common Questions and Answers About the Corona Vaccine
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