NSW Health has put out a new TikTok featuring real-life COVID patients who talk about their experience with the virus, and it’s essential viewing for anyone who still thinks they don’t have to worry about COVID because they’re young.
It’s pretty chilling, and not necessarily the most pleasant thing to pop up on your FYP, but it’s helping spread a really important message during a time of crisis.
“It shouldn’t have to get to that stage where our community wakes up and realises that this is real,” said Ramona, a 30-year-old who worked at a pharmacy in Lakemba before catching the virus.
“I’ve never had to recover – or push myself to try to recover mentally – this much.”
@nswhealth “it’s not a game.” Sydney COVID patients tell their story. #covid19 #nswhealth #foryoupage #covidー19 #vaccination #sydneylockdown
Osama, a 35-year-old tradie from Lakemba, said he felt “close to death” after catching COVID-19.
He, his wife and kids also have COVID, and they’ve been split up across different hospitals.
But perhaps the saddest anecdote came from Fawaz, a 50-year-old constriction worker from Putney who could barely speak.
“I was admitted to the hospital for the past three days,” he said.
“I was very careful of where I went and what I did. I don’t know how I caught this virus.”
He said that the rest of his family now has the virus, including his wife and six kids.
“Please, take care of yourselves. It’s not a game, it’s for real,” Fawaz added.
“Please get vaccinated. I wish I did it beforehand.”
All adult Aussies (yep, even if those of us under 40) are currently able to get the safe and effective AstraZeneca vaccine through a GP. Click here to see which clinics are offering it, and talk to a doctor to see if it’s right for you.
Alternatively, you can triple-check to see if you’re eligible for the Pfizer vaccine here.
The best vaccine is the first one you can get, and that’ll be our ticket out of this mess.
