As the Bay of Plenty Covid vaccination programme gets underway in Tauranga, a former resident who now lives in England is sharing her experience from the other side of the world.

Weekly Covid tests have become the norm for Shannon Hoskin, who is balancing home schooling her two children and working while living in Ealing, West London.

She says it's 'exceptionally difficult” living through a pandemic in the United Kingdom.

'It is a very worrying time. It's also incredibly emotional for many reasons some obviously very sad, with so many lives lost, and the impact on people living alone.”

She says many families find home-schooling and working at the same time challenging.

'The daily pressure is real. The mood is varied from household to household. But it has brought people closer together. Many families have spent more time with one another.”

Ealing has been hit very hard, and often has multiple generations living under the same roof due to the high population and density of workers in and around Heathrow.

Shannon says there have been upsides to the lockdown as well, as people who previously spent an hour commuting are now able to spend more time with their children.

'There are happy outcomes in this climate as well.”

Shannon and her partner worked in two of the hardest hit industries - leisure and hospitality, with Shannon working as a self-employed swim instructor.

She says fortunately, she was able to get a full time job between lockdowns, which really helped her mental health.

Community groups have formed to share food delivery spots, just to know there is someone close by.

'Our street has been a source of joy and a true sign of community spirit during such trying times.”

Shannon says the hardest part for many is not being able to see their friends and family.

'I hear constantly ‘I haven't seen my mum for months'.”

But she feels the outlook is bright.

Being a volunteer, frontline worker Shannon received the Covid-19 vaccine.

However, it had side effects lasting 72 hours.

'I had as expected a sore arm on needle impact, gone within 24 hours however I was very tired. I kept falling asleep. Felt wiped out.

'I feel fortunate to have had a vaccine, but it hasn't changed the way I behave during the lockdown. I still adhere to the rules set out by the government.”

A recent press release from the UK government says secondary and college students will receive three tests a week before testing themselves twice a week at home using rapid lateral flow tests.

These tests are able to give positive results in 30 minutes, meaning people can isolate at home immediately.

'We know that 1 in 3 people with Covid-19 don't have any symptoms, so targeted, regular testing will mean more positive cases are kept out of schools and colleges,” says UK government Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock.

While thousands of people in the UK have already been vaccinated, 28 received the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at the Port of Tauranga on Monday.

Nationally, border and managed isolation and quarantine workers have been receiving their vaccines, and now it will be extended to other people in their households.

It's expected about 50,000 people in New Zealand will start to be vaccinated from later this week.

The next group after border workers and their households to be vaccinated will be front-line non-border health workers, says Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

They include GPs, nurses, GP clinic receptionists and ambulance officers. About 57,000 people fall into this category and they will start to be vaccinated later this month.

Back in England, Shannon says the vaccine stats show the rollout is working.

'Deaths are significantly reduced, transmission rates have started to drop as well. Schools are opening on March 8 and gyms and non-essential shops open on April 12, so many will get to go back to work again,” she says.

'Until then I'll be in Ealing, avoiding the playgrounds, and enjoying what time I have with my family, before 'normality' arrives.”