'I contracted Covid twice' says care home worker urging doubters to have vaccine

Rashellee Wauchope is a care worker who contracted the coronavirus twice and having received her first dose of the Covid vaccine, is now urging all care workers to put away any doubts and have the jab.

The 26-year-old has worked at Rogers House Residential Care Home in Wigmore since 2019 and has described being “delighted” to receive her vaccine, after both she and her parents became ill with Covid.

Rashellee Wauchope said: “I contracted Covid-19 twice.

“The first time I was very unwell but the second time, after having my vaccine, I wasn’t affected as much just a headache and feeling tired.”

Ms Wauchope said: “At the time, I was also taking care of my parents, who both had the virus and were affected badly; my father in particular was very poorly.”

There have been widespread reports of a low take up of the vaccine by care workers as well as members of the black and ethnic minority (BAME) communities.

Some fear the vaccine may negatively impact their health and have a myriad of concerns about vaccination but Ms Wauchope says such fears should be put aside.

She was eager for herself and her parents to receive the vaccine as soon as possible.

Ms Wauchope said of her parents: “I have advised them both to be vaccinated when offered and would advise anyone to do the same to protect themselves and their families.”

‘This disease has caused so much suffering’

Like Rashellee Wauchope, all staff and residents in care homes operated by Rapport Housing & Care have now been offered their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Angela Ryan, a learning and development officer at the care group, feels the raw pain of losing her father who died of coronavirus in a care home last June.

Echoing Rashellee Wauchope’s view, Angela Ryan said: “Not everyone in our community is able to recover from Covid-19 and my lovely dad was one of those, he died in a care home in June.

"This disease has caused so much suffering and I consider the vaccine our best chance to be rid of it.”

“I’m sure it’s the only time I’ve ever felt excited to get a vaccine and now I feel relieved to have had both doses.”

’I wouldn’t want to be that ill again’

Viv Allen, the housekeeper at David Baxter House contracted Covid and was rushed to hospital.

Viv Allen recalls: “I was so ill with Covid-19 just before Christmas that I had to go to hospital.

“I wouldn’t want to be that ill again and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone else either.

“Having been so poorly, having the vaccine was an easy decision for me!”

Rapport Housing & Care operates residential care, extra care housing schemes and cares for more than 300 people in the South East of England. Katrina Levett, director of operations at Rapport Housing & Care said: “The vaccine is without a doubt our best, and only, form of defence in beating Covid-19, so we are keen to encourage all eligible staff to take the opportunity to have theirs.

“We understand there are some mixed messages out there and some people have reservations, so I would urge those people to chat to their line manager so we can reassure them and alleviate their concerns.”