Retired newsagent asks for three quid in vaccine donation campaign

A retired newsagent is hoping to raise thousands of pounds for the NHS, after asking people to donate just £3 to cover the cost of a Covid vaccination.

Jagesh Chadda, from Chapel Park in Newcastle, has been inspired to do what he can to support the heroic doctors, nurses, and other healthcare staff on the frontlines of the pandemic.

After hearing that the reported cost of each Oxford/AstraZeneca jab to the Government was just £3, he is encouraging others to donate that small amount to the NHS as a thank you – and to support hospitals as they face a huge backlog of treatments and procedures that have had to be delayed because of the Covid crisis.

The 68-year-old, who ran a paper shop in Heaton’s Chillingham Road before his retirement, has already raised more than £2,000 after launching a Just Giving page and is hoping to reach £10,000.

While the vaccines are being administered for free, Jagesh is asking people to think about covering the cost themselves – considering that £3 is less than you might spend on a cup of coffee or a pint of beer.

He said: “We all need the vaccine to keep ourselves safe and £3 to save yourself is nothing at all.

“It is also something that has been affecting BAME people more. I see on the news that a lot of people say they don’t want to take the vaccine.

“They don’t understand how serious the consequences can be for everyone.

“We should be so grateful to all NHS staff for what they have done – doctors, nurses, porters, all of them.”

Jagesh and his wife, Harveen, came up with the idea for the fundraiser after the Oxford vaccine was approved for use in the UK on December 30.

As well as being easier to store than the previously approved Pfizer vaccine, the Oxford jab is said to have been far cheaper – costing only around £3 per dose, compared to a reported £15 for Pfizer’s or £25 for Moderna’s.

The couple say it has been “really difficult” to be away from their three grandchildren due to lockdown restrictions, but urged everyone to keep doing their bit to save lives by staying at home.

Harveen, aged 65, added: “£3 is really nothing. If someone buys a pack of cigarettes that will probably cost more than £10, and we are talking about £3 for a Covid vaccine.

“Over the years we have used the NHS and we don’t know how many times we might need it to be there again for us in the future, nobody does.”