“It was actually very cool”: the first 13-year-old in Wales to have the COVID-19 vaccine encourages others to take part in research
Isabel Hodgson is a 13-year-old student at St John’s College, Cardiff, who enjoys seeing her friends, riding her horse, and watching videos on TikTok. She has just made the tough decision of what the subjects to study for her GCSEs: history, business, Latin and Welsh. But taking part in COVID-19 vaccine research last year was an easy decision.
She volunteered for the COMCOV Adolescent study at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales in Cardiff, which looked at how different doses of COVID-19 vaccines affected children between 12 and 16 years old. Through this study, Isabel was the first person under 16 to be vaccinated in Wales. All COVID-19 research delivered in Wales is set up and delivered by Health and Care Research Wales. She lives in Penarth with her parents and has a horse called Bolt.
Isabel said: “I didn’t know much about health research before I took part in the COVID-19 vaccine trial. I knew that research helps doctors and scientists to find new cures for illnesses but I didn’t know that people like me can volunteer to take part.”
A great opportunity
“Mum told me that they were doing a vaccine trial for people my age and said it could be a great opportunity to learn more about research. I liked the idea of doing something to help the researchers and getting my vaccine sooner than others but I didn’t realise that I was going to be the first!
“I’ve only been to a hospital once before, so it was a bit strange going there for the trial but everyone was so friendly. I watched a video which told me what the trial would involve and why it was important. It gave me a good understanding of what was going to happen and made me feel quite proud that I was taking part. First, they had to check that I was healthy so they asked me questions about my medical history and they did a blood test. It was really quick and easy.
“Getting the vaccine was exciting because I knew from then on that I was going to be a lot safer. I wasn’t nervous about being vaccinated and I don’t mind needles. I was more nervous about catching the virus or passing it on to someone. I didn’t expect it when the nurse told me that I was the first person my age to be vaccinated. It was a big surprise and I thought it was actually very cool.”
Doing something important
Isabel received the Pfizer vaccine in the Children and Young Adults Research Unit, the only dedicated research unit for under 18s in Wales. Health and Care Research Wales continues to support the delivery of COVID-19 research and funds a paediatric specialty lead to champion studies which involve children in the NHS in Wales.
Isabel continued: “I’m really glad that I took part in the vaccine trial. If I had the opportunity to take part in research I’d definitely do it again. It was amazing to be the first person my age to get the vaccine but I was also happy to be able to do my bit to help the researchers to find out more about how the vaccine works.
“It felt like I was doing something important. I even convinced one of my friends to take part in the trial as well. I told all my friends how great it was and that they should take part in research if they have the opportunity.”
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