Norm Fraser, 100, receiving his first Covid-19 vaccination from Lakes District Health Board vaccinator Nancy Stratford. Photo / Laurilee McMichael
When the Covid-19 vaccinators came to St John's Wood rest home in Taupō, Norm Fraser was not keen.
It wasn't a fear of needles. Norm already has monthly vitamin B12 injections, which he always asks for in his right arm.
Instead, the retired art teacher, who served in Egypt and Italy in World War 2, was vaccine hesitant for medical reasons - Norm receives his nutrition through a stomach feeding tube.
"I was worried about whether I would have adverse effects from not having anything to eat," he says.
But Norm, who turned 100 on March 4 this year, had his two daughters Pauline and Kathryn urging him to get vaccinated to protect himself against the disease. And last weekend, he decided he was ready.
Why did he change his mind? "I don't know really."
After deciding to go ahead with the jab, Norm also wanted to surprise his daughters by having them read it in the newspaper.
So St John's Wood clinical manager Sini Paul arranged for a Lakes District Health Board vaccinator to come along to the rest home to give Norm his vaccination on the quiet so as not to spoil the surprise.
"We [vaccinated] all our residents in June," Sini says, "and at the time we asked Norm and he said he was 100 and didn't want it, but his daughters had it and they've been pushing him and he decided to."
The date arrived, along with a reporter and Lakes DHB vaccinator Nancy Stratford who checked Norm was well, gained his consent to be vaccinated and talked him through the list of possible side effects, including a sore arm and possible flu-like symptoms.
Then she rolled up Norm's sleeve, popped in the needle and it was all over in just a few seconds.
"I didn't feel a thing," Norm remarked. "It was very good and at the moment I've got no reaction, I'm feeling good and happy to get the next one."
Despite Covid-19 keeping Kathryn in Auckland, Norm talks to both his daughters every day and Pauline and her husband Norman, who live in Taupō take him out shopping when it's a fine day.
Norm grew up in St Heliers, Auckland and was a photo engraver at the Auckland Star where he met his future wife Olga. They married after the war and Norm trained as a teacher, retiring at 60.
Olga died in 2008 after 62 years of marriage and Norm lived with daughter Pauline until two years ago, when he had to move to rest home care after badly breaking his femur in a fall two years ago.
Despite being in a wheelchair, he keeps active with five laps of the rest home halls every day for his physical workout and enjoys watching television, doing crosswords and keeping in touch with family.
His comfortable, homely room is decorated with some of the beautiful paintings and artworks the talented artist has created over the years, including a pencil sketch of the bombardment of Monte Cassino by American bombers in February 1944, the original of which is held in the Waiouru Army Museum art collection.
After half an hour Norm was still feeling good but it was time for a rest and a chance to reflect on the surprise Pauline and Kathryn would get when they read about his vaccination escapade.
And, he hoped it would be Nancy who would be back again in six weeks or so to give him his second dose to bring him up to fully-vaccinated.
"I'll be happy to get the next one."
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