Brummies tell us whether they plan to get the Covid Vaccine in Birmingham

The new Pirola variant of Covid has arrived in tandem with a spike in hospital admissions. Eligibility for the jab has been tightened by the NHS. I’m here in the city centre to speak to people here and find out whether they plan to get it and their thoughts on the decreased availability.

Mark says: “I had the COVID jab when most people were having it. I can’t even remember when that was now, but the main reason personally was actually because I wanted to travel.  That was the only reason that I wanted it. I was trying to not have it in a way, just to avoid it. 

“But because we like to travel a lot,  it made that easier, without it, it would have been really difficult.  So I’ve had it once in regards to getting it going forward. I’m not that educated on it, but it seems to me like just a flu now.”

Molly says: “I haven’t gotten the COVID jab, no.  My nan got it and ended up in hospital.  My nan got really poorly.  I don’t know what’s in it, I don’t want it. I don’t think people should get it. I don’t necessarily disagree with it.  You do it on your own merits,  but I wouldn’t get it myself.”

Rebecca says: “Oh, first of all, I had the first two jabs.  And the main reason I had the jabs was because I needed to get them to go into Strictly Come Dancing because you had to have a COVID passport to get in. So I had the two jabs - but I haven’t had anything since, which as a hospital worker,  people might frown up on that.

“But it’s just a personal choice. I just feel that I’ve heard a lot of side effects and I had a terrible side effect when I had the COVID jab myself. I’ve had a really bad headache and I didn’t feel very well. And then I got COVID anyway. So I kind of thought, well, what’s the point in it? 

“And as far as lesser eligibility,  well, as I say, I think the vulnerable and elderly, maybe I hope that they can carry on having it. But as far as if you’re fit and healthy, I know there’s a risk and fit,  healthy people have died with COVID, but I think sometimes you have to put it on the scales and decide for yourself really what’s best for you. And I’ve decided for myself, it’s best that I don’t have it.”

James says: “​​Do you know what? I did have the jab and I know it’s a little bit controversial now, you know, the for’s and against. I did have it, but I’ve also lived in the real world and I’ve drunk and in my younger days,  I’ve smoked a little bit of this and that and so on. 

“So it was a little bit hypocritical for me not to put something into my body, which people moaned about being foreign  So I didn’t see an issue with it.  Now we know a little bit more, I’m not so driven to go and get it again. And I understand the criticism of, it’s not as readily available.  I don’t think this is necessary now,  but yeah, I’m sort of in the middle with the whole thing.  I don’t lose sleep over it either way”