Hospital worker Olivia gives positive vaccine message to breastfeeding mums

Health and care workers across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin have been taking the opportunity to get their covid vaccinations over recent weeks.

For most it has been a straight-forward decision to protect themselves, their families and their patients.

But for some, there have been doubts. One of those was Olivia Evans, a health worker at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital – who was anxious about booking an appointment because she is still breastfeeding her nine-month-old son Raymond.

RJAH member of staff Olivia Evans with baby Raymond, who is nine months old.

It took Olivia a couple of weeks – and a lot of research – to take the plunge, and she is now keen to encourage other mothers in her position to get vaccinated when offered the chance.

“I booked a slot as soon as I was offered one, but then I cancelled it,” admitted Olivia, who lives in Oswestry and has worked at RJAH for more than four years.

“I couldn’t find much information online about whether it would be safe for me as a breastfeeding mum or safe for Raymond, so I decided not to go ahead.

“But I kept looking into it. I was looking for hashtags on twitter and came across some breastfeeding mums working in an A&E Department somewhere. They were saying they’d had the vaccine, that it was safe and that we should trust the scientists.

“That was very reassuring, but I still wanted to know more, so I went and spoke to Karin Evans. Karin is one of the senior nurses at RJAH. She usually leads the hospital’s flu vaccination campaign and she’s involved with the covid vaccination team.

“She gave me a lot of confidence. She told me that the advice was to get the vaccine and encouraged me to do it. I’m glad I have.”

Olivia, who only returned to work from maternity leave in late January, said the whole experience ended up being a very positive one. She ended up being vaccinated by Karin in the Hospital Hub at RJAH.

“I didn’t really feel a thing,” said Olivia, who is also mum to Violet, aged eight.

“All I had was a slightly sore arm and a bout of achiness that came on a couple of hours after I had the jab, but that didn’t last long.

“It was all good and Raymond has been fine too, so I’m glad I went ahead. I’m working in a hospital, so it feels good that I have that protection and I am doing everything I can to keep my family safe.”