Vaccination Heroes

Mr. Negut was born in 1929. We met when I was photographing the Covid-19 vaccination drive at a centre where the vaccine was being given in Bucharest.

He was there to receive his second dose of the Pfizer made vaccine. He’s seen a lot through his life, and the former economist still has a spring in his step and a sparkle in his eye. He doesn’t care about side effects, he laughs off the popular conspiracy theory that the vaccination is being used to implant micro-chips into us all. “I get a flu-jab every year,” He says, “and haven’t had a cold for more than 30 years.”

As he is no stranger to vaccines he weighed the potential risks of the vaccine against those of becoming infected and for him it was as simple as rolling up his sleeve. But this act of self preservation is not a selfish one as it protects not only him, it enables the younger ones who are at lower risk of serious illness or dying from the virus, to get out and live again. He is a hero, an elderly warrior thinking nothing of the risk to himself as he acts to save the younger ones, to give them the chance to experience a life of quality which he himself has enjoyed.

As people read and worry over the negative reports, and others will swallow the theories of Facebook “experts”, some will do what needs to be done in the face of this pandemic. Those who walk through the fire to save others are the heroes, those who act while others deliberate and find excuses. In the face of Covid-19 and the devastating effect it has had on all our lives, there is no question for me who are the ones walking through the fire, the heroes of this crisis. So Mr. Negut and those like you, I salute you as you roll up your sleeves, I recognise your bravery and am grateful for you fulfilling your role in reigning in this pandemic.