Alumni in the News: Ciara Brady

Former Worth student Ciara Brady (St Anne’s, 2017) has used a planned gap year after leaving university to good effect by working at vaccination centres. Read our latest Alumni in the News feature to find out more about the valuable work she has been doing.

Ciara told us: “Last July I graduated with a degree in Law with Politics from Queens University, Belfast. The plan was to take a gap year to travel and work abroad but unfortunately due to COVID this was unable to happen. Instead, I was introduced to the idea of working in the administrative part of vaccination centres from my mum who is a nurse and also administers the vaccine. She encouraged me to get involved.

“For the last six months, I have done everything from inputting data to ensure patients’ NHS records are kept up to date with their vaccines, to taking photos of patients having the vaccine “to show the grandkids”. I’ve been out in the community, and also across our nine vaccination sites and mobile buses throughout Sussex and Surrey. No day is the same; it has been intense but incredibly rewarding to help get so many people vaccinated and see the daily progress we are making. At the start of the rollout, it was many people’s first trip leaving their home to get vaccinated since the start of the pandemic. We have come a long way since then, and witnessing the relief and gratitude from patients and family members is something I will never forget. It has shown how incredibly difficult this year has been for everyone. 

“Each centre is very different, with its own unique way of navigating the unprecedented vaccine rollout. The manpower and sheer logistics behind every single day is an operation unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before and highlights the enormous team effort involved. I’ve also had the pleasure of working alongside a couple of Worth School infirmary staff. 

“Coming from a background in law, and never having worked for the NHS previously, I didn’t imagine my gap year looking like this but I have thoroughly enjoyed it! I love the buzz and positivity that surrounds working with such a diverse group of people. There is no doubt this is one for the history books!”

Worth Society is the School’s thriving alumni association that enables former pupils and staff to stay in touch with one another for business and social networking purposes, providing careers advice, support and lifelong guidance. The Society has become increasingly involved in supporting recent leavers. This year’s Year 13 leavers will become members of the Society this summer.