ABC Tropical North: Tobi Loftus
)For Mackay nurse Sonia Davids, who has lost four family members and friends to COVID-19, the rollout of the vaccine signals the beginning of a "healing journey".
Ms Davids got caught up in the early chaos of the pandemic when she returned to South Africa, where she was born, in February 2020.
But getting stuck there and being separated from her family was only the beginning.
"I lost my aunt, who was really close to us all as she was the adult in the family," Ms Davids said.
"She got really sick.
"She passed away a few weeks after being found positive.
"My cousin also passed away, and two of my family friends… and they were very young, 43 and 45."
Supplied: Sonia Davids
)Ms Davids was stranded in South Africa for three months, but she managed to secure a ticket home on one of Australia's first repatriation flights.
"It was really hard for me, as I had left my kids [in Australia]," she said.
"My daughter was 14 [at the time] and my son was 20…. They were my biggest concern.
"Luckily, I had family support and thank God for FaceTime, we could still see each other and chat to each other."
Supplied: Sonia Davids
)'Humbled to be doing this'
Ms Davids' loved ones were among the 51,261 COVID-19 deaths and 1.53 million cases recorded in South Africa since the start of the pandemic.
A year later, Ms Davids is working as the nurse manager of Mackay Hospital's vaccination program.
"For me it's a healing journey," she said.
"Losing some family along the way, I know I can now prevent someone from losing a loved one.
"But doing this kind of [thing] gives me that healing in a way, and I'm just really honestly humbled that I'm doing this."
ABC Tropical North: Tobi Loftus
)Ms Davids urged everyone who could to get the vaccine.
"I've got the vaccination — it's safe," she said.
She said she had not experienced effects from the vaccine, but encouraged anyone who had received it to keep practising social distancing and sticking to the other COVID-19 guidelines.
The Mackay Hospital and Health Service began its rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine to frontline health workers on Monday.
The hospital was also coordinating the vaccination of other priority group members, including emergency service workers.
A hospital spokesperson said the broader community would be vaccinated in line with the national rollout and would be notified when it was time for them to book their vaccine.
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