By Conall Hirsch-
A student at Leeds University has contracted Covid-19 and lost her sense of taste and smell, despite being double vaccinated, and lost her taste and sense of smell.
Pretty 20 year old second year social work student, Ellie Holmes, ( pictured) became infected with Covid-19 despite receiving both doses of the vaccine. She received her vaccine early in April after her course designating her as a key worker. Two of her flat mates also caught the virus, believed to have been contracted from a party they attended.
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Ellie is one of at least six students at Leeds University, who have been vaccinated twice yet became ill after contracting the virus. Five others tracked down for this article declined to tell their story for private reasons. However, Ellie felt it was important to share her story with the world , for the sake of public interest.
The fact a number of students who have been vaccinated twice have suffered symptoms from the covid variant has sparked has sparked a debate among bright students at the illustrious university, who are questioning the point of being vaccinated twice if one can fall so seriously ill despite a double vaccination. The well known redbrick university recorded high Covid-19 positive tests in 2020 affecting over 900 students and staff.
However, only a small fraction of students at the time suffered symptoms, most were asymptomatic. The emergence of vaccines had offered a glimmer of hope to students, but Boris Johnson’s emphasis that the vaccine do not provide hundred percent guarantee was always viewed as a get away clause that raised questions as to the fuss around vaccination requirements for travelling.
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The symptoms suffered by Lees students has led to skepticism about the efficacy of the vaccines, and contradicts claims that the vaccine is predominantly successful against the variants. A study published by PHE last week claimed that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is 96% effective against the Delta variant, and the Moderna jab 92% effective at preventing hospitalizations in regard to the Delta variant which is now the dominant strain in the UK.
The catch is that the Uk government never said the vaccines were 100% successful, but the general push for double vaccinations does indicate that it generally increases the chances of success. However, revelation from Dominic Cummings that Hancock is a liar in addition to news he endorsed a company that donated to the tory party without declaring this, has added to views among students that he may be motivated by financial gains.
As has been said by other writers of The Eye Of Media, it is difficult to trust a minister said to be a liar and described as hopeless by the prime minister.
Only last week, Hancock allegedly withheld data from Boris Johnson, Rushi Sunak, and Michael Gove showing evidence that the vaccines are effective against the new Delta variant from senior ministers, including the PM himself, ahead of a meeting where it was decided to extend restrictions. Hancock is believed to have received the data on Thursday the 17th, but withheld the information until 3pm Sunday the 20th.
Critics believe Hancock delayed disclosing the full information because of a vested interest he may have in the overall sale of vaccines. The news didn’t go well with messages exposed by Dominic Cummings in which the PM called
Hancock ‘hopeless’, and considered reducing his responsibilities. Hancock stated earlier in the week that ‘We are seeing the growth rate in cases slowing.’ While this is factually accurate, it does little to disguise the fact that cases have jumped rapidly since last week.
Since then, the UK has recorded over 10,000 new cases every day since Wednesday, almost double the new case count of the 5,000 average from a week before.
Ellie told The Eye Of Media.Com: ‘ I tested positive last Monday as well as three of my other housemates [who were not vaccinated].
I began experiencing symptoms the weekend before she tested positive, and lost my sense of taste and smell, a continuous cough, fatigue and a sore throat. Most of my symptoms lasted about 7 days, but she is still slowly regaining her sense of taste and smell over a week later.
Ellie, who aspires to one day work for CAMS and help children with metal health difficulties, has no idea how she contracted the virus.
‘I believe I could have gotten it at work because I work in a pub where there has been positive cases. The identity of the pub where Ellie was working when she contracted the virus has been withheld at her request. Ellie, who aspires to one day work for CAMS and help children with metal health difficulties, has no idea how she contracted the virus. Ellie, who aspires to one day work for CAMS and help children with metal health difficulties, has no idea how she contracted the virus. Most of her symptoms lasted about 7 days, but she is still slowly regaining her sense of taste and smell.
Asked about her experience in isolation with her housemates, Ellie described how difficult it has been on both their physical and mental health.
‘It’s been bloody awful. I study Social Work which includes mental health topics, and I can say that being stuck inside for myself and my housemates has been very challenging to our mental health.
Losing my sense of taste was triggering because food was one of the only things I was going to be able to enjoy in isolation. Covid already took away most of the things I could do that I enjoy by forcing me to isolate, but losing my sense of taste was especially frustrating
Outgoing Ellie is normally the bubbly life and soul of her environment Image: Facebook
Upset
Ellie said she was upset because she had previously believed that being vaccinated would have
made it virtually impossible to pick up the virus, which has been implied by PHE and the Secretary
of Health since the beginning of the vaccine rollout.
‘I thought that being vaccinated was supposed to make it 25 times less likely to become infected,
but I’ve not only contracted it but also have developed symptoms.’
Not only did Ellie contract the virus after being vaccinated, but she said two of her course mates
did as well. Both were vaccinated early due to their course, and one has experienced similar
symptoms including a fever.
Despite her infection, Ellie said she did not regret becoming vaccinated and would like to
encourage others to get their doses.
‘I am frustrated that I still became infected, but I am still grateful for being vaccinated. If I hadn’t
been immunized, I think my symptoms would have been three times as bad as they currently are.’ Despite my experience, I still encourage students to take the vaccine to maximize their chances of avoiding the virus, but should be double aware that vaccines offer no guarantees”. 
Students float around at Leeds University Image: University Of Leeds Student Education Service
Students asked about their reaction to the news of those falling ill after taking the vaccine said: had mixed thoughts
PHE as well as Health Secretary MP Matt Hancock have touted the effectiveness of the vaccines since the beginning of the rollout in December. However the messaging has been vague, claiming only that the vaccines have significant efficacy against hospitalizations.
Daniel Apted a 20 year old English and sociology student ,said : I’ll get the vaccine because it is the smart thing to do. I don’t think it would be necessary to pursue a second vaccine given the evidence that they don’t necessary work. Percentages reflecting their likelihood of success are obviously unreliable as we can see here at the university. I’m not really worried about the new variant because the death rates are still low ”.
A female student who didn’t want to be named said: We have been getting mixed messages from the government, and their credibility is simply cracking with each negative news we here. I don’t think a lot of students think it is necessary to get a double jab, we know a lot of the vaccine drive is money orientated. but this doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its advantages. I think the government needs to urgently improve its credibility with the public, and not think we are all stupid”.
Isolation Requirement
Matt Hancock recently confirmed that the government is considering removing the isolation requirement for travellers if they have had two vaccinations.
News today that Hancock broke his own social distancing rules also questions how much he really believes what he is telling the public, or whether it is a game of chess and money.
PHE Northern England was contacted to confirm whether this report was based on data
suggesting that double vaccinated travellers are not at risk to bring the virus into the country, but
they were unable to comment.
While the data released by PHE does show evidence of doubly vaccinated people being extremely
unlikely to be hospitalized due to Covid-19, Ellie’s account proves that being vaccinated does not
make one immune to the new Delta variant.
Ellie’s account proves that while the vaccines are effective, vaccinated people are still susceptible
to becoming infected, albeit much less so than if they were not vaccinated.
About 70% of students are still in the university, with some students planning to leave this weekend and next weekend. Many students are making the most of summer, socializing in pubs and restaurants, where both social and political conversations thrive. Most tenancies for students end on June 30, with new tenancies beginning on the first of July, when the university becomes more populated.
An influx of new students often begins in July for fresher students and second and final year students.
The topic of vaccinations and Matt Hancock will remain high among students, whose intellectual power of reasoning and analysis must never be underestimated.
Conall Hirsch is a second year English and Philosophy student at Leeds University
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