Covid: 'Complete anti-vaxxer' mum calls on the unvaccinated to get jabbed after contracting virus twice

Covid: 'Complete anti-vaxxer' mum calls on the unvaccinated to get jabbed after contracting virus twice
Live stream 1069
Max Parry

By Max Parry


Published: 02/01/2022

- 09:33

Saja Ali, 31, said she wanted to speak out to raise awareness - and encourage people who haven't had a vaccine jab to get one

A mother-of-three who conceded she was a 'complete anti-vaxxer' but has now u-turned after catching Covid twice.

Saja Ali, 31, says she now wants to help encourage those that are yet to be jabbed to get vaccinated.


When Ms Ali first contracted the virus in February, she became very ill. At that point she was unjabbed and said she felt anxious about the vaccine from what she had read about it.

Ms Ali was unwell for a month and her father, who also contracted the virus, was hospitalised for nearly two weeks.

Ms Ali got vaccinated after she recovered. She caught Covid again just before Christmas but believes the vaccine prevented her from becoming seriously ill.

'A lot of people are still claiming the vaccine doesn't work.

'I think those who have caught Covid more than once should speak out to raise awareness. The vaccine does work and does prevent worse symptoms.

'I was a complete anti-vaxxer until I got Covid-19 really, really badly back in February.

'I had it again and I honestly felt normal and fine. I am 100 per cent and I believe it's due to the double vaccine I got.'

'From my perspective, the vaccine has definitely worked.

'I can only speak for my own perspective,' she told the Manchester Evening News.

Ms Ali also discussed how she contracted the virus.

'I had not been jabbed... I was proper against it back then.

'For me, it was all because it was new. It was a new vaccine and I was hearing a lot of conspiracy theories.

'At the time my husband was also really against it. I did not think twice about not having a jab.

'Then I got it really, really bad.

'It was awful... it was really really bad.

'Luckily I did not need hospital treatment because there was nothing wrong with my lungs and breathing.

'It totally changed my mind. A week later my dad caught Covid and needed hospital treatment.

'We were prepared for the worst with him. He was in hospital for 11 days and needed help.

'It made me think. I have three kids and it just made me realise. I believed what people were saying but I felt regret at not having the jab."

Ms Ali got vaccinated after recovering from the virus and is now awaiting to be called for her booster.

Despite testing positive for Covid just prior to Christmas, Ms Ali did not fall as ill.

'I did not feel as ill this time. I believe that it was purely down to the vaccine.

'I felt a bit tired but nothing to stop me doing what I would normally do in a day. It was nothing like it was back in February.

'I don't want it to come across as being offensive, but I do not want people to take a chance.

'I believe the vaccine won't stop people from being poorly, but it will help prevent you from falling really ill and needing hospital treatment.'

You may like