Vaccine...I've been told not to by my Drs but rethinking.

[YarnOver]

I am the most pro vaccine person around. My husband has had the covid vaccine because I'm immunosuppressed and he was offered it a while back because of that.
I was first offered the vaccine in January because I was in group 4 and I'm also an SEN teacher so I've been eligible all year.
I've not had it though. I've been advised not to have it by my drs but my husband mentioned last night...maybe you should have it ...the delta varient affects young people. Until that comment he has been 100% of the opinion, along with my drs that I shouldn't have it and now I'm confused about what I should do.
The reasons I have been told I cannot have it are as follows :

• I have a blood clotting disorder which is listed on the reasons not to have the AZ (although as I'm under 40 then I don't think I'd be offered that one anyway and my area now do pfizer)

• I have consistent severe drug allergies and reactions to most things that I have to take. This is a lot of things as I have multiple serious chronic illnesses. The reactions often mean I'm hospitalized and for a good chunk of them I've been told if I ever took them or a linked drug again it would likely be fatal.
• I react to most toiletries and all makeup I've ever tried but one but I have no idea what ingredients ever cause this
• with drug reactions it isn't always the active drug itself that causes the reaction but the carrier solution, therefore it's very feasible that it would be a non active ingredient in a covid vaccination that could cause a massive problem
• I've had covid (but not the delta varient that I know of) and it was milder than a cold.

Reasons to have it :

• delta varient is new / worse / more transmissible
• I'm technically immunosuppressed due to drugs ... However all along my drs have said I'm not actually as my blood tests always show that my immune system is functioning fine. I am about to up one drug that does make it a bit wonky for a while though...

And my main reason ;

• i work in an SEN school with medically vulnerable children and so for them, I would like to be vaccinated to protect them, not so much for me

I don't know what to do. All along I've been told not to by medical professionals ....and honestly I have alwsys thought that I would like to be because of my job (and also I don't want to die of covid but I do think that's highly unlikely - I was on a hospital ward for a month where everyone eventually ended up getting covid (and being moved to a covid ward) and I never did so I think Im pretty unlikely to???)
And now my husband said this because he is worried id get the new varient.

Opinions are so welcome (but I never thought I'd start a "should I vaccinate " thread!!)

[PotteringAlong]

Honestly? With a massively complicated medical history I would do exactly what the medical professionals say and if they are saying don’t have it then don’t have it.

[scatteredglitter]

what about getting a second medical opinion ?
k

[Missillusioned]

If the doctor has told you not to, don't do it. For you it sounds like the vaccine is higher risk than Covid. You have a duty to protect your own health before you think about the health of others.

[Quartz2208]

I think in your case actually there is a higher risk from taking it AZ/Janssen is out due to clotting and Pfizer/Moderna due to allergy risk (and both do carry a risk and given your drug allergies)

And you have had Covid

[Clarkey86]

I’m also hugely pro vaccine but I’d be far more worried about a reaction to an ingredient than I would about a reaction to covid - especially given your age and prior reaction to infection.

When did you have covid? Could you request an antibody test to see if you still have antibodies to at least give you a little while longer of “reassurance”? The gov website are now taking registrations for antibody tests - I’m also a teacher and have one being posted this week.

[YarnOver]

@scatteredglitter

what about getting a second medical opinion ?
k

Well I have had a few. Mostly when I was in hospital for that month, because that's when the vaccination programme was really kicking off. At that time I was given huge doses of IV steroids so the Drs treating me there said ... We really recommend you get vaccinated. But then when I explained this then even the ones who said they thought I should said 'we'd have to advise you to speak to your own drs then"... Who had agreed on no. Most people don't want to give an opinion though ..which I understand as it would have the possibility of going very wrong!

[YarnOver]

@Clarkey86

I’m also hugely pro vaccine but I’d be far more worried about a reaction to an ingredient than I would about a reaction to covid - especially given your age and prior reaction to infection.

When did you have covid? Could you request an antibody test to see if you still have antibodies to at least give you a little while longer of “reassurance”? The gov website are now taking registrations for antibody tests - I’m also a teacher and have one being posted this week.

Ok so I had it at the very beginning. I caught it from someone who had got it skiing in one of those resorts where it was rife.
So two issues here
It was absolutely ages ago and so when I did an antibody test about 9 months on it was likely too late and it was negative. I had it super mildly as well so...

But that may not be the only thing - it's since been proven (as is the case with all vaccines and antibodies) that there are two things that can happen when you take immunosuppressants and have autoimmune diseases - your body fights the illness but doesn't mount an immune response / get antibodies as it's fighting it yes but too busy fighting its own immune system so doesn't respond properly.
It has even been proven (proper research from the BMJ and such like ) that people with covid and autoimmune diseases never test positive and only get diagnosed via the chest x-rays which show the broken glass images etc

So long story short.... Antibody tests aren't very helpful in my case !

[whatswithtodaytoday]

I would listen to your own doctors. You could go back and request a second opinion in light of the delta varient, perhaps that changes the risk for you? But no-one here can or should advise given your complicated medical history.

[YarnOver]

@whatswithtodaytoday

I would listen to your own doctors. You could go back and request a second opinion in light of the delta varient, perhaps that changes the risk for you? But no-one here can or should advise given your complicated medical history.

I know no one can and really the issue is that Drs are very reluctant to either other than the ones who have just said no.

But then I wonder are they just saying no because its difficult and complex and it's easier to just say no and not be the one that told me to do it and then it goes wrong..... I mean I have the flu jab and I'm fine ... And I recently had a Hep B booster for work and I was fine.... But then the huge number of things I have reacted to severely is a much longer list than that!!!

But I feel SO bad - I want to have it and I want to protect others. I don't want to be the one to go into school and give it to someone I could harm! Or just in every day life.

But then I suppose I also can't pass it on if I had the vaccine and died so ... That wouldn't be great either !

[MindyStClaire]

I am extremely pro vaccine, but there's no way I'd get one that a doctor who was aware of my full medical history had told me not to.

This thread is exactly the reason that all of us who can get vaccinated should get vaccinated, so that people like OP can be protected.

[Missillusioned]

No one on mumsnet has to advise you. Your doctor has advised you. They have said no.

From my experience most doctors are more likely to push the Covid vaccine than not, so if your doctor (the one who knows your history well, not the one in the hospital who has barely seen you) says no, then follow their advice.

Children, even SEN children are not likely to be severely affected by Covid. It might be different if you worked in a care home for the elderly, but even then you have a duty to protect your own health.

[YarnOver]

Well I guess if MN is saying no.... It's a no.... As I generally read threads where people tell people to definitely do it !!!,

[romdowa]

I'm very similar to you , I have weird reactions to drugs , usually the compounding agents , foods , make up , toiletries , I can only drink water, the heat and the cold and I've also reacted to three vaccines in the past. My doctors have told me not to have the vaccine and definitely not while pregnant as a reaction could be a risk to the baby. That was made quite clear. But I know a few people who have the same condition as me that causes these reactions and they've had the vaccine with no issues. Others have had massive reactions and it has caused a huge flare. So it seems that everyone is individual.

[Sirzy]

I think you need to follow your doctors advice.

As the mum of a CEV child I think it’s commendable that you are considering the children you care for but you need to put yourself first when you have such clear medical reasons why it isn’t deemed safe you you

[Nappyvalley15]

Difficult decision but in your shoes I would listen to the doctor who knows your medical history.

One thing I didn't understand - your partner says the delta variant effects younger people more. Is that just because they are least likely to be vaccinated so they represent a higher proportion of the cases? I didn't think this variant targeted young people more.

[YarnOver]

@Nappyvalley15

Difficult decision but in your shoes I would listen to the doctor who knows your medical history.

One thing I didn't understand - your partner says the delta variant effects younger people more. Is that just because they are least likely to be vaccinated so they represent a higher proportion of the cases? I didn't think this variant targeted young people more.

Yeah I think he meant because it was young people who aren't vaccinated currently who are getting it.

[YarnOver]

@romdowa

I'm very similar to you , I have weird reactions to drugs , usually the compounding agents , foods , make up , toiletries , I can only drink water, the heat and the cold and I've also reacted to three vaccines in the past. My doctors have told me not to have the vaccine and definitely not while pregnant as a reaction could be a risk to the baby. That was made quite clear. But I know a few people who have the same condition as me that causes these reactions and they've had the vaccine with no issues. Others have had massive reactions and it has caused a huge flare. So it seems that everyone is individual.

I don't have a condition that causes the reactions that anyone can find.... I just react ridiculously to things!

[AnnaMagnani]

Are you are allergies to anything specifically listed in the reasons not to have Pfizer?

My DM was told she could have Pfizer way back due to allergies and had AZ. However that advice has now changed as there is more known about Pfizer - she would have been totally fine with it.

Also Moderna is now available. No complex worries about allergies.

Realistically you need advice from a doctor who is actually vaccinating as the advice is updated as more knowledge accumulates.

I'd ask again if I were you, especially as you are fine with other vaccinations. Or book at a large hub and see what they say.

[romdowa]

I'm wondering if you have what I have. Most doctors have never heard of it but have a look at mast cell activation syndrome. Took me my whole life to be diagnosed and only because I became so unwell I could barely eat without reacting.

[ilovesooty]

@MindyStClaire

I am extremely pro vaccine, but there's no way I'd get one that a doctor who was aware of my full medical history had told me not to.

This thread is exactly the reason that all of us who can get vaccinated should get vaccinated, so that people like OP can be protected.

Absolutely agree.

[Sandsnake]

@MindyStClaire

I am extremely pro vaccine, but there's no way I'd get one that a doctor who was aware of my full medical history had told me not to.

This thread is exactly the reason that all of us who can get vaccinated should get vaccinated, so that people like OP can be protected.

Exactly this. Although I’m not a doctor I’d agree with others that it just sounds too risky for you to have the vaccination. I can tell how hard it is for you though and (at the risk of sounding like a patronising git) I wish everyone had your attitude!

I know it’s controversial and not the point of this thread but people in your position are part of the reason I back vaccination passports. When everyone has had the opportunity to have two doses then I think it’s reasonable to have vaccination requirements to enter certain events and venues. Obviously people like OP would be medically exempt and have the passport without the jab. She could then go to these places safely. I think that it’s fair that people like OP (who in reality have no choice to be jabbed) get priority to go places over people who do have a choice and decline.

[QueenOfThorns]

If as you say your condition might prevent your body from producing antibodies in response to infection, then might that not also be the case with a vaccine? So you’d be taking the risk of having the vaccine, with potentially no benefit.

Listen to your doctors OP!

[mocktail]

It's not a difficult decision from what you've said - follow the doctor's advice. Which is exactly what everyone should do. For most people that means having the vaccine, for you it means not having it.

I wouldn't take it as a given that you've had Covid though, as by the sounds of it you had very mild symptoms, weren't tested, and later had a negative antibody test. You might have had it but it's far from certain.

[YarnOver]

@QueenOfThorns

If as you say your condition might prevent your body from producing antibodies in response to infection, then might that not also be the case with a vaccine? So you’d be taking the risk of having the vaccine, with potentially no benefit.

Listen to your doctors OP!

Yes : when I had the Hep B vaccine (which I need for work) I was told I would need an antibody test to check it has worked because with autoimmune stuff I might not have mounted an immune response. As it goes I did but it was a booster and not the first one.

@romdowa I was tested for some of it and I do have it to an extent but the specialist told me that it was not likely to cause drug reactions just the skin reactions.

@mocktail my consultants diagnosed me with covid so I did have it. But the first ever varient and certainly not the ones around now so I would say I'm not protected !!

[mocktail]

So you were tested? Sorry I got the impression you weren't.