Leeds frontline workers who previously contracted Covid-19 share their vaccination experiences

As one of the four priority groups that are the focus of the first phase of the Government's vaccination programme, these frontline workers are among the more than 40,000 people in Leeds to have received at least one dose of a vaccine so far.

Kylie Griffin, a healthcare assistant at a Leeds hospital, said: "I had Covid in October and I actually brought it home to my family. I was starting to feel quite anxious worrying about getting it again.

"I've got colleagues who have actually had it twice and one of them has passed away."

She is among a number of vaccine recipients to have shared their experience with the YEP in recent days as our Shot In The Arm campaign continues.

Run alongside sister titles across JPIMedia, it urges Prime Minister Boris Johnson to deploy the country’s network of 11,000 pharmacies to ensure that every citizen is only a short walk away from a vaccination centre.

Our campaign also requests further reassurance for local communities from the Government and more easy-to-access information on the vaccine programme and its progress.

Daniel Cave, 33, lives in Bramley and had been working in hospitality but took up a new job as care worker at a residential home in Leeds back in November.

"I felt quite privileged that I had the chance to get the vaccine," he said. "It wasn't pushed upon us. It was very much our choice."

After reading up on the vaccines approved for use in the UK, he felt getting a jab represented a step towards going back to normal and the day when he can once again spend time with his family.

But he stressed: "If I come into contact with people with Covid, I've still got to isolate."

His jabs were administered by the team at Priory View Medical Centre in Armley - one of 17 vaccinations centres across the city that are now up and running, with more to follow.

"I expected it to hurt a lot more than it actually did," he said. "It didn't hurt on my arm at first. It was the following day that I couldn't lift my arm.

"I did struggle a bit at work and halfway through the day I felt a bit lousy. I've had Covid before and I did feel like I had it again."

Daniel said he experienced similar side effects after his second jab on Saturday as those from his first dose, including a fluctuating temperature and disrupted sleep.

He remains confident that it was the right choice though, saying: "If we want to go back to how things were before Covid, ultimately something has got to change. I'm longing for that.

"I would tell people to make up their own mind. Don't let your friends or family do it for you."

Kylie, 32, who received her first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on Monday, experienced side effects including diarrhoea but was starting to feel better within a few days.

"Apparently because I had Covid not long ago, it can affect you a bit more," she said, adding that her husband would be getting vaccinated as soon as he was offered the chance.

For home carer Andrew Robson, the most difficult aspect of the whole process was booking in for the appointment itself after he received an invitation through his employer.

Problems with the booking system crashing - around the time that it was announced second doses would now be delivered within three months rather than three weeks - meant that it took three days of trying to log in and then re-registering before he could fix an appointment for Monday this week.

He said: "I just happened to test positive the day I got the vaccine - the irony. I had started to feel a little bit unwell on the Saturday and Sunday. I didn't have any Covid symptoms in particular, no cough.

"We have to do weekly tests at work. I went in Monday morning and had my vaccine. I was just waiting to go into a customer's house when I got a message saying I'm positive."

Describing himself as "hugely needle-phobic", the 35-year-old from Middleton said he had appreciated how well things were set up at the vaccination centre in the Thackray Museum of Medicine and how friendly the staff had been.

He added: "I think it's really important that people like me are vaccinated because we put ourselves at risk every single day. It's protecting me, I feel confident and I'm happy to have done my bit."

Also in news: The different Covid vaccines explained - and why you can't choose which one you receive

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