Jacqui Bradshaw has been scared of needles since she was a toddler. Just going into a doctor’s surgery was enough to make her faint.

But the 61-year-old knew she really wanted to have the Covid vaccine so she felt something had to be done to help herself get through her needle phobia.

Seeking the help of a hypnotherapist in Sutton Coldfield, Jacqui learnt a series of techniques to prepare herself for the jab.

Then, she discovered that staff at Millennium Point were geared up to help those worried about going for the vaccine so she decided to brave it on Sunday June 13.

Read more - 61,000 at-risk older Brummies shun Covid vaccine despite pleas - what has gone wrong?

Today, Jacqui is sharing her story in a bid to help others who are worried about the vaccine too so that they know it’s best to book into the city centre treatment centre too.

Jacqui Bradshaw shares how she got over her needle phobia to have the Covid vaccine - and which medical centre is geared up to support nervous patients
Jacqui Bradshaw shares how she got over her needle phobia to have the Covid vaccine

“In 61 years I’ve never had an injection and not fainted,” said Jacqui, a grandmother of two from Yardley.

“It’s got to be a really bad white coat phobia where I’ve even fainted when my husband has gone for an appointment. It’s an extreme case.

“I did want the vaccine so I asked my doctor if there was anything to help me but he said he couldn’t help. When my partner went for his vaccine, I went to the medical centre and asked again but they couldn’t help either so I had to find and fund help for myself.”

Jacqui went on a five week hypnotherapy course, where she also learnt about meditation, positive thinking and ‘havening’, where you touch your body to distract or comfort yourself.

Under hypnosis, she realised that her phobia probably started when she was aged three and her brother was born. He was very ill and spent a lot of time in hospital.

“I found it quite stressful and that’s when my phobia started so I think that’s probably the crux of it,” explained Jacqui, who works as a building manager.

“But instead of getting better as I’ve got older, it’s just got worse.

“I would avoid going on holiday anywhere where I’d need an injection. I wouldn’t go to the doctors if I was poorly. One time I fractured my ankle and I hid it for a week. So it’s not about the pain because obviously the fractured ankle was more painful than any treatment.”

Having the vaccine was something that Jacqui felt was so important she realised she needed to come to terms with her phobia.

“It was really important to me that I did have the vaccine so I thought how can I do this," she said.

“I’d had some hypnotherapy 40 years ago and it had helped a bit then worn off.

"I found a lady in Sutton Coldfield and did a five week course where she told me about all sorts of coping strategies, including meditation, positive thinking, how to ‘unhook yourself’ from negative thoughts so they don’t become overwhelming.

"She also told me about ‘havening’ which I’d seen Paul McKenna do, which is where you touch your arm or face to comfort yourself. It changes something chemically within you.

“When I woke up on Sunday I felt really positive about it.”

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A friend had mentioned that measures were in place at Millennium Point to help nervous patients so Jacqui decided to book in there.

“They were so helpful at Millennium Point, I’m so glad I went there,” she said.

“I went up to the registration desk and said I have fainted in the past when having injections and they told me not worry and that they were going to do everything they could to support me and make it a positive experience for me.

"The minute I said there was a problem, they were really supportive and reassuring without any drama. Sometimes if people panic, it makes it worse. They just said we can deal with this, you can do it. It was all very calm."

She added: “Instead of making me go through the usual process, they arranged for a nurse to come and take me somewhere where I could lie down. Then a senior paramedic sat and held my hand all through the injection and for 20 minutes afterwards to make sure I was OK.

“Once it was done, I felt really chuffed that I’d been able to do it. The admin lady came and found me and said I should be so proud of what I’d done.

"The paramedic said it had been a privilege to be part of my journey. It was all so lovely. I did joke that he’d have to let go of my hand so I could go and have a coffee in a coffee shop! He said he’d see me again when I went back for my second.”

“Whilst I’m not relishing going for my second vaccine, I’m not completely daunted by it now.”

Having had such a positive experience, Jacqui got in touch with BirminghamLive to encourage others to go and get their vaccines done and to book into Millennium Point if they were feeling nervous.

“There’s not much information out there that they can help at Millennium Point, it would have been good if my medical centre could have advised me to go there,” she said.

“Apparently needle phobia can affect up to 10 per cent of the population.

“I’ve read that there are people pretending that a vaccine’s ‘bad press’ is causing them to not go when actually it’s because they’re worried about the needle. Even if people don’t have such an extreme needle phobia as me, even if they’re just a bit nervous, I’d say it’s worth going to Millennium Point rather than elsewhere.”