My pandemic

"I had a very strong calling to return to nursing to help New Zealand manage Covid. I administer about 70 vaccinations each day and every vaccination I administer means so much to me and all of us that work on the front line as well as those who cannot be vaccinated – the under 12 year olds and the immunocompromised. I will not forget the first day I held the vial to reconstitute the vaccines – I quite simply realised this was a miracle, those in 1918 did not have.

"It frightens me to think what would happen to the system if an uncontrolled outbreak occurred. I felt confident prior to Covid that anyone who had an acute or chronic health care need in New Zealand would get the care they needed.  If a Covid outbreak happens, I am not sure that will happen. There were nine people in ICU in Auckland recently and there was a call for nurses outside of Auckland to help care for them. My colleagues are tired, their goodwill is always extended but this is another level.

"This is my way to help them and to do what I can do, so that every one of us can get on with our new normal."

‍