Clinically extremely vulnerable Ealing resident describes vaccine experience

By Dimitris Kouimtsidis

26th Aug 2021 | Local News

A CLINICALLY extremely vulnerable woman who was expecting to receive her vaccination at home has described her surprisingly good experience' getting her jab at Ealing Town Hall.

Pam Franklin, who is disabled from having motor neurone disease for 30 years, was initially awaiting her vaccine as a housebound patient at her Northolt home.

But having had a call from her GP offering her the vaccine at the town hall within a matter of days, the 76-year-old decided to make the journey as she was 'so desperate to be protected'.

Pam previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that due to the new strain of the virus she was 'extremely fearful' of catching the disease, adding: "It will kill me, I have no doubt about that."

According to Pam, the GP was only able to offer the vaccination appointment at Ealing's vaccine hub, instead of at home or at her local surgery.

She travelled to the hub with her personal assistant Dana and daughter Kate, in her accessible vehicle.

Describing her experience, she said: "The day arrived at last, in spite of anxious worrying about picking up the virus at the Ealing Town Hall vaccination centre.

"We parked in a disabled bay at the side of Perceval House and walked to the front entrance of the Town Hall.

"It was so easy; we booked in at the entrance, were escorted to a large airy room with several vaccination desks, introduced to a doctor who asked questions and booked me into a computer.

"I was given the vaccine and escorted to the 'waiting area' in case I had an allergic reaction.

"15 minutes later, a nurse asked how I felt and we were free to go.

She added: "All in all a surprisingly good experience.

"I felt a bit flushed and headachy for a day, but I can't wait for the next vaccine in 12 weeks!"

Pam receives 24-hour support from carers for her condition which has paralysed her and the mum was also worried she could pick up the virus from her carers before any of them received the vaccine.

While they were previously told it would be a few weeks before they received their vaccines, Pam says the progress has been 'good news all round'.

She said: "Most of my carers have had their vaccines now so things are definitely looking up.

"We asked the council for letters of proof that the carers are professionals in case they weren't contacted by the NHS but, so far they haven't needed to use them.

"We are all pleasantly surprised."

And she's heard good news for another housebound resident who has been given a date to be vaccinated at home.

In an update from Ealing Council leader Julian Bell on January 22, he said so far 77,000 North West London residents have received at least their first dose of the vaccine, which includes most of Ealing's over 80s population.

Ealing Town Hall and Southall's Dominion Centre have been the main delivery of both the Pfizer and Oxford vaccine, while vaccinations at care homes were due to be completed at the weekend.

But he added: "The number of vaccinations being undertaken remains constrained by supply of vaccines, which is currently determined centrally."

     

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