Young Covid sufferers urge peer to get vaccinated in powerful video

SEVERAL young Britons have shared stories of the debilitating effects of long Covid in a new video released by the UK's National Health Services (NHS) on Monday (23), urging everyone to get their Covid jabs- amid a sharp rise in hospitalisation among young unvaccinated Britons.

Featuring several young Britons who experienced serious symptoms of Covid-19 or developed long Covid, as well as the doctors and frontline staff, NHS' new video warns of the dangers of the virus for those who are still not vaccinated.

More than one in 20 people aged 16-29 (6.3 per cent) reported having had long Covid- which is higher than the national average- impacting their lives, especially the ability to exercise, work, and maintain relationships.

Describing her pre-Covid self as “young”, “fit, and “super-active with no health concerns”, London-based Ella Harwood, 23, said in the video that she now suffers from asthma along with a number of allergies. 

“It’s now been 8 months since I tested positive, and I can’t even walk around the shops without getting exhausted,” said Megan Higgins, a 25-year-old special needs tutor from London who is suffering from long Covid.

The video comes amid the UK government’s claim that it has met its target of offering Covid jabs to all 16 and 17-year-olds in England.

More than 360,000 people in this age group in England have now been given a first dose of the vaccine, the department of health and social care said on Monday (23) while letters and texts were sent last week to the remaining people inviting them to book an appointment with their GP or visit their nearest walk-in centre.

All at-risk people aged 12 to 15 in England have also been invited for vaccination and young people are encouraged to take up the offer as soon as possible to build vital protection before returning to school in September, the department said.

Meanwhile, hospitals are seeing a rise in unvaccinated young adults admitted with Covid-19. As per the latest figures, a fifth of current Covid-19 hospital admissions in the country are aged 18 to 34 - four times higher than the peak in the winter of 2020.

A total of 89,070,370 people have been vaccinated in the UK, including 47,573,794 people with a first dose (87.5 per cent) and 41,496,576 people with a second dose (76.3 per cent), the department said.

However, uptake amongst under 30s is lowest in London where the interviews for the video were filmed.   

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Regardless of whether you’re young, fit and healthy, these harrowing stories really show that Covid-19 can affect anyone.

“I encourage everyone to come forward for both their jabs as quickly as possible as vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from serious illness,” Javid said.