'Worst Sickness Ever': Anti-Vaxxer Believed Vaccine Mandate Causes 'Segregation' Until He Caught COVID-19

A drummer in Australia who was a staunch anti-vaxxer said he has changed his view about COVID-19 vaccination after battling the virus.

Damien Campbell, from Queensland, in northeast Australia, previously believed that the government's strict vaccination mandate caused "segregation" among people. He also felt the vaccine mandate was “unfair” as it restricted him from playing in certain venues as he was unvaccinated, ABC.Net.au reported.

"I felt like that was a forced decision, being forced on us...I guess a little bit of resentment and anger came up towards the system and towards just the unfairness of the whole thing," Campbell said.

However, Campbell changed his mind after contracting the virus and going through the ordeal which he described as "the worst sickness ever."

Campbell tested positive for the virus on the day of Christmas after developing symptoms, including a loss of taste and smell. After battling the illness for around 10 days at home, he was taken to a hospital where the doctors found him to be severely dehydrated.

"I thought, 'Is this ever going to end? It's never going to get any better,'" he recollected. Campbell was eventually discharged from the hospital after recovery.

Campbell said the experience made him realize the reality of the illness. He felt it was easy for him to make an opinion about it when it was not affecting him.

"After going through COVID, I realized I couldn't go through anything worse again in my life. That was the worst sickness I've ever been through. I went and got vaccinated pretty much like a week after recovering," Campbell said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Maria Boulton, director of the Australian Medical Association of Queensland said they have been witnessing such stories of transformation among anti-vaxxers recently.

"We're seeing a lot of people who were sitting on the fence with regards to vaccination now come and have a chat and get a vaccine," Boulton said.

"It's because COVID is everywhere. I don't know anyone who doesn't have either a family member or a friend who hasn't been touched by COVID at the moment — it makes things way more real," she added.