New lease of life for 91-year-old couple Tommy and May
By Aimee Walsh
A COUPLE said they have been given a “new lease of life” as they received their second dose of the Covid-19 vaccination.
Tommy and May Hardiman, both 91, from St Dominic’s Avenue in Tallaght received their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine at Centric Health clinic in Old Bawn on Thursday, April 1.
Tommy and May Hardiman after getting the second vaccine
Ahead of receiving his second dose, Tommy told The Echo that getting the vaccine means the world to him and his wife May, after being “confined for so long”.
“It will be a new lease of life for us and for the family - that’s the way I would explain it. The last year was just terrible, but I have to be honest we have been very lucky because we have a big garden out the back and we have been able to talk through the window and we have never been short of company.
“It is a terrible thing for elderly people to go through, both physically and mentally, it’s quite isolating at times.
“Really and truly, it is a terrible thing to be confined, there are people getting depressed and everything and we were lucky we did not reach that stage.
“When you reach a certain age, your activities are limited anyway, but to know that we can go for a walk if we want now without fear is great.”
When asked what he hopes to do after he has been fully protected from the virus, Tommy said he hopes to be able to interact with his family and go for walks without the fear of contracting Covid-19.
“I hope to be able to be with my family more, instead of standing six feet away at all times, but we still have to be cautious, that caution will always be there.
“To know that you are no longer confined is just a relief. I can do what I want and go where I want, within reason I understand.”
Tommy said that nerves or worry were not a factor, and he wants to show that if he can get the vaccine at the age of 91 it will hopefully encourage others not to be nervous.
“We had no after effects on the first one, so myself and May expect the same again this time,” explained Tommy.
“To get this double dose of vaccine now, we realise how lucky we are, and that’s the reason I want to let people know out there they don’t need to worry that much.
“Nerves doesn’t come into it, it’s just the relief. At least I can go out the door now, it became an obsession with me, I didn’t want to talk to anyone.
“Having the vaccine is what I have been looking forward to, because I need it so much. We are vulnerable at our age, and this vaccine is going to take that vulnerability away,” concluded Tommy.
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