When the coronavirus pandemic broke out and the Bolesławiec county hospital was transformed by decision of the voivode into a single-profile facility, the professional life of physiotherapist Judyta Mikołajczak changed radically. The staff, including Ms Judyta, went to war with a new invisible enemy.

The physiotherapist began by answering calls and scheduling patients for vaccination. Then she took advantage of the opportunity to retrain professionally. She now qualifies patients for vaccination and administers COVID-19 vaccines herself.

As she admits, the beginning was the most difficult. Patients were afraid and had a great many questions and doubts. Notably, younger people had the most concerns. Seniors, on the other hand, were often very determined—even fighting to receive the vaccine.

This fearful attitude changed over time. “Now patients know exactly what they want,” says Ms Judyta. Some come for vaccination prepared, with their latest test results.

Asked whether aggressive patients ever turn up, Ms Judyta answers in the affirmative. Back when she was answering calls, there were people who berated hospital staff over the phone, saying that medical workers were a privileged caste because they had already received the vaccine while everyone else had to wait. Later, some complained that they had to fill out the questionnaire again before vaccination, which seemed pointless to them because “nothing has changed.”

What Ms Judyta remembers most, however, is an anti-vaxxer from a small town in a neighboring county who, despite his views, very much wanted to be vaccinated—except that his health did not allow it. He was so persistent that the whole process lasted an hour and a half. During that time, the COVID skeptic managed, among other things, to ask why the vaccine was even available and why it was being given to children. And also whether Ms Judyta… counted her victims.

She now admits that patients are no longer able to surprise her with anything.

And she adds:

I invite you all and recommend it: get vaccinated. Then we will be able to return to normal.