From Barbados to BHRUT: How Sharon is helping us with the vaccine rollout
Sharon Wright is used to much warmer weather than we’re experiencing at the moment.
The Ophthalmology specialist lives in Barbados but, having travelled to Dagenham to visit her mum at Christmas, has been unable to return home due to the lockdown.
However, she’s making the best out of the situation and is now one of our vaccinators at our hubs.
She said: “I went out to Barbados to set up a practice in 2003 and split my time between working there and at a private clinic in the UK.
“My father sadly passed away last year due to Covid-19 and I decided to come back over Christmas to spend some time with my mum.”
But just four days after arriving, the lockdown was announced and Sharon realised she wouldn’t be able to return to Barbados any time soon.
That’s why she decided to play her part in the effort to roll out the vaccine in the area where she started her career more than 40 years ago.
Having trained at the Oldchurch Hospital in 1979, Sharon went on to work at several local sites including Harold Wood Hospital, Brentwood Community Hospital, and the Fanshawe Clinic in Dagenham, before heading off to manage a private clinic.
Her previous experience in the local area has helped her settle into the team at our vaccination hubs.
“It’s been really lovely,” Sharon said. “My colleagues have been great to work with and it makes me feel like I’m doing something for the country.”
Sharon joined the team at Queen’s Hospital in early January and was also at the launch of the King George Hospital Vaccination Hub last week.
“They’ve done incredibly well to set it all up so quickly,” she said. “We can all be proud to be a part of it.
“Everyone who comes in to receive their vaccine is very grateful. A lot of people who come in are very nervous, but I have a chat with them and try to put them at ease.
“The more people that have the vaccine, the safer we’ll all be.
“I’m missing the sunshine and the warm weather of Barbados, but I’ve decided that I will stay here and carry on with the vaccinating until the rollout is complete.”