A double-jabbed Nottingham dad-of-two who was hospitalised by coronavirus says he may not be alive today if it wasn't for the vaccine, his wife has said.
Steve Vaccarini, of West Bridgford, was admitted to hospital last Sunday, November 21 after developing pneumonia and blood clots in his lungs as a result of covid.
"I just felt like I couldn't breathe, it was just absolutely horrific," said the 50-year-old, who is a placements manager at the University of Nottingham.
Mr Vaccarini, who has no underlying health issues, had been diagnosed with the virus four weeks earlier, which caused him to "be on his back" for almost a week.
"He only got up to go to the toilet," said his wife, Katharine Adeney, a professor at the University of Nottingham.
Mr Vaccarini said he was experiencing chest pains whilst visiting his parents in London last weekend.
"I thought was a pulled muscle but it turned out it was pneumonia developing," he said.
He was then taken to Memorial Hospital, in Shooters Hill, where he received treatment, with doctors telling him he had suffered damage to his lungs as a result of covid.
After being discharged, Steve and Katharine returned to Nottingham, however, he continued to suffer and was taken to Queen's Medical Centre's A&E department on Monday, November 22
"I phoned the GP and she said to call 999," recalled Katharine.
"I was really scared. You hear that people come out of it okay but I thought things would start getting better, not worse. I really wasn't sure he was coming out, I thought they'd keep him in."
She added that she was thankful Steve had been jabbed.
"He got Covid that bad I really don't know how he would have been [without the jab]. If he hadn't been vaccinated genuinely I'm scared he wouldn't be here now."
Mr Vaccarini said he still feels "as weak as a newborn baby", however hopes he is over the worst of it.
