Karin

Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Swedish
Background: Karin is 53 years old and is Swedish. She lives with her partner and son, and works as a designer. Karin wasn’t particularly worried about Covid when she first heard about it. She contracted Covid soon after receiving the Astra Zeneca vaccine. Recovering took about ten days, though she still feels her taste and smell are not the same.

Karin first heard about Covid in January 2020. She knew some people who had contracted Covid, but they had rather mild symptoms so sheassumed it was like the flu. When it hit the UK, she did not feel that panicked, though she did begin to feel that the television coverage was overwhelmin. Karin felt like she could manage the pandemic more because it was sunny outside. She was not too worried about catching Covid because she did not have any underlying health conditions. However, she was worried about her mum, who is in her 80s and lives in another country.

Karin received the Astra Zeneca vaccine. She says that she was puzzled by people who would not receive the vaccine because of fears of blood clots. Karin reflected on her experience with the contraceptive pill, which has a much of higher risk of blood clots.

After her vaccine doses, Karin felt invincibl and went away on holiday. She contracted Covid from her partner while doing mandatory post-travel isolation in her home. When Karin caught Covid, it felt like a bad flu with high fever. She lost her sense of smell and taste, but did not develop a cough. Karin recovered after about ten days, though she still doesn’t feel like her taste and smell are back to normal.

Karin felt she’d be fine if she got Covid.

Age at interview 53

Karin emailed her neighbours to let them know that she had Covid.

Age at interview 53

Karin stopped looking at the news when it became too overwhelming and time-consuming.

Age at interview 53

Karin feels less judgmental than she was at the beginning of the pandemic.

Age at interview 53

Karin was not impressed with the way the British media covered the news during this period and called it ‘fear-mongering’.

Age at interview 53