'It's not anti-vaxx celebs who are getting cancelled. It's the doctors and nurses still fighting COVID.'

A popular magazine recently published an article about a celebrity who was "cancelled" during the pandemic. 

The article was about a beautiful, rich, white woman who - despite their supposed cancellation - has managed to continue carving out her lucrative career over the past couple of years. 

This celebrity is someone who has repeatedly spoken out against mandatory COVID immunisations and public health measures and claims they were cancelled because they 'dared to speak up'. 

When asked if they believed their choices might have hurt others, they said they wouldn't have been able to work, perhaps, for years, for being so 'brave'. They've equated their lack of work to someone else getting COVID. They have turned a public health crisis into a personal employment issue. It's about as privileged as you can get.

Meanwhile, the still very real COVID pandemic is rampant in our healthcare system. Personal choices have very, very real consequences for others.

I think the most frustrating thing is that, after all this time, as a nurse, I am still wearing an N95 mask all day.

I am battling people who want fifth immunisations, but we can't give it to them yet. We have seen a rise in cases - and supply issues with anti-virals are evident. I've got parents desperate for their children to have boosters and elderly who remain isolated. I see patients in the car park who can't come into the clinic because they are petrified of COVID, even with our measures in place. 

We also have people abusing staff because they are asked to wear masks, even though it is the guideline. Patients who are throwing masks at staff, throwing up their middle fingers and screaming at us for doing our best. We are still consistently being told we are evil and not fair. We are forcing people. But I have seen people who refuse immunisation because they don't trust the government and yet are heavy smokers. I've seen people decline masks because they can't breathe after I've spent all day in a plastic gown, mask, shield, and gloves – my whole body unable to breathe.

No celebrity is getting cancelled.

These same 'cancelled', privileged people claim you can avoid illness by being healthy and looking after your wellbeing. The amount of incredibly healthy people I have nursed over the years who do everything right and end up palliative mustn't have been trying hard enough. I say this in jest and heartbreak for the utter nonsense and victim-blaming claim that 'living a healthy lifestyle will prevent all illness' is. 

Meanwhile, nursing staff, GPs, doctors, allied health, and reception staff are getting micro cancelled. Every single day. The elderly, immunocompromised, vulnerable, and disabled people are getting cancelled daily by people's callous attitudes. The pandemic isn't over for us. We were cancelled at the start, and we are being cancelled now. It's relentless. 

In the clinic, we are seeing things getting worse every day. We hope summer will bring a break, but we are also prepared for that not to come. Spots are filling for bivalent immunisations. Cancellation lists for people to nab an appointment with a GP because they are COVID-positive are increasing daily.

Could we really see a return to some of our most hated restrictions including widespread mask wearing and lockdowns? Listen to The Quicky below to find out more. Story continues after podcast.

COVID is still raging, and we are fighting the wave. We are in the clinics, accepting deliveries of immunisations, triaging COVID patients, and doing COVID pathways now that this has become a GP job. We are calling patients and checking on them. We are sending people to the hospital, and we are giving guidance for RATs over the phone, we are immunising; we are swabbing. We are trying to care for patients who need everyday things attended to, plus the vast load of COVID-related issues. We are swimming in wounds, burns, regular immunisations, care plans, minor procedures and monitoring. We are drowning in all the extra work that a pandemic has landed in our laps. 

I'm daring to speak up because I don't want my choices to hurt others. I'm daring to speak up because I've already been cancelled. I'm daring to speak up because even with some people's incredibly selfish, self-centred choices not to vaccinate or swab – I'll still be there to look after you, laugh with you and care for you, if you become ill.

Feature Image: Supplied.