Volunteer gets 'verbal' abuse serving at Chipping Norton Covid-19 vaccination centre

Joy Dansette reached out to the Banbury Guardian to report what had happened while she served as a volunteer and to raise awareness about the issue.

Joy told the Banbury Guardian the abuse she received did not come from everyone she interacted with while serving at the vaccination centre.

She said: "We all work very hard - everyone there. I'm so proud to play my small part, so that so many people have been vaccinated. But to have verbal abuse thrown at me for doing that is out of order.

"Fortunately there are delightful, grateful people around which make up for them. However, these others who feel that it is their god given right to be rude are unacceptable.

"We do 400 vaccines a day during the week and 1,000 vaccines a day. It was -4 degrees outside that day."

Joy added the following about her experience serving as a volunteer at the vaccination centre.

She said: "I am part of a devoted group of volunteers helping marshal the Covid-19 vaccines at the Chipping Norton Health Centre.

"I felt I had to write to you. We work all week and weekends, we aim to get through 1,000 patients at weekends and nearly 400 during the week, which is an amazing achievement, I feel.

"However, I am sorry to say that the verbal abuse, rudeness and insults we have been getting are really hurting and upsetting me. There is no need for it!

"I wish to say to those people the following:

"I am a volunteer – I am not paid, I and the rest of the team, are doing it for you.

"I am not to blame for the cold (we have to keep doors and windows open – you are there for a short time. We are there for hours (today we were standing at -4 degrees, all day.)

"It’s NOT MY FAULT that you have to fill in a form.

"It’s not MY FAULT you are not having the vaccine you want.

"It’s not MY FAULT you have to queue.

"It’s not MY FAULT you have the inconvenience to wait (with the Pfizer vaccine) for 15 minutes to see if you are OK after the vaccine.

"I would like to remind those people that if it wasn’t for us volunteers there is no way you would be having your vaccine as soon as you are (not soon enough I understand from some).

"Please be grateful you are getting your vaccine – saying thank you instead of swearing etc. It would make such a difference.

"I would like to say a HUGE thank you to the people who did. Thank you."