Mary Yoelu is a long-time resident of Umagico in the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) region and is currently Acting Finance Manager of the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council. 

Mary’s journey to the jab was quite similar to a lot of people. At first she didn’t want to get a COVID-19 vaccination at all.  

But after giving it a lot of thought, Mary made the choice to get the vaccine so she could be a good role model for her seven children and five grandchildren. 

“A lot of them are scared out there because of all this media out there telling us what’s happening to people when they get vaccinated,” Ms Yoelu said. 

“So I had to be the one to take that step cause you know, it’s a really bad sickness,” she said. 

Mary’s jab was, like billions of others around the world, largely uneventful.  

However, Mary said there was a little anxiety just before she was going to get her first dose. 

“Three of us from my workplace just got in the car, drove down and I said, ‘okay, it’s all happening, come on we’re going to say a prayer,’” she said.  

“And that’s what we did because of all this negative ‘whatsitsname’ in the world.  

“We said a prayer together, went down and went in and got it done.  

“And the second one, the only side effects that I had was in the early hours of the morning I was feverish, had a headache and that was it.  

“So I had to stay home for a bit and just had a relax time!” 

And just like billions of people worldwide, Mary experienced no after-effects of the jab beyond her second dose.  

“One hundred per cent normal,” Mary said. 

“Whatever people are saying out there or the media or anyone, there’s nothing to be afraid of.  

“We better be safe because the borders are going to open in December, you got to be safe. 

“I want to encourage a lot of the young ones and my children as well still to come forward. 

“I would say, from my experience having the vaccine, there’s nothing to be worried about.” 

Mary also would like to see more influential people getting out and just talking about their experience with the COVID-19 jab, especially in areas like NPA. 

“For us here in NPA, door-to-door talk, going out with leaders, going around to each door to talk about our experience, what we went through, with the first and second dose.  

“And just encouraging them, the Elders and the young ones, anybody out on the street.  

“We just need to be promoting this out on the street.  

“A lot of people don’t have social media.  

“Some do, some watch the news, but it has to come from us because we’re the ones who are living here and have had the vaccine.  

“And we need to come out and talk to everyone.” 

For more information contact NPA Family and Community Services or to book a vaccination appointment visit the Vaccine Clinic Finder or phone 134 COVID (134 268).