Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To refuse to have a corona vaccine?

384 replies

EasyPleasey · 13/05/2020 13:35

A lot of people seem to be waiting for a corona vaccine. However I just dont trust any vaccine 'rushed' out, especially after all the mistakes made so far in this crisis. I would rather catch the actual virus and take my chances, as for most people it is a mild illness but who knows what the vaccine may do.

I know quite a few other people who say they will refuse any vaccine for this. I have had all the other vaccines, as have my children.

AIBU?

OP posts:
backinthebox · 13/05/2020 14:16

I think it is pointless to refuse to have something that hasn't even been developed yet.

Nurseynurse2007 · 13/05/2020 14:17

@Wolfgirrl giving people no choice over medical procedures is unethical and dangerous and I hope to god you’re not a HCP

CovidCrofter · 13/05/2020 14:18

AndMyHairWillShineLikeTheSea I wouldn't want to start a thread because I'm not an expert! Therre isn't actually much I could say Smile

There is a good interview here with Prof. Sarah Gibert who is heading up the trial if anyone is interested: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p089xqrl

Baseline2815 · 13/05/2020 14:19

It's unreasonable to make that decision at the moment, when you know little about the disease and less about the non-existent vaccine. We don't know the death reate, or the longterm effects of CV19 on survivors (there is growing evidence of permanent organ damage), or your personal likelihood of becoming very ill. Essentially, you have no idea what risk is involved in either choice.

Rubywhox · 13/05/2020 14:19

Covid affects everyone
It has potential to but the mortality rate is tiny for a lot of groups. I’m assuming if you’re so worried about catching it that you won’t be sending your children to school and you won’t be working until there’s a vaccine?

Wolfgirrl · 13/05/2020 14:20

If you went to the doctor tomorrow for a stomach ache, and he or she gave you a diagnosis and gave you some medication to take, you would take it.

You wouldn't start obsessing over when it was released, how long the trial process was, etc.

Think of all the medication/drugs you have taken in your life without this neurosis. And you're absolutely fine.

There are one or two high profile cases where medicine has given people long term effects (thalidomide, mesh implants spring to mind). But what proportion are they of medical treatments overall?

As far as vaccines are concerned, there is always a risk of adverse reaction, however small. This is the case with virtually everything you do in life. But the only reason vaccines get so much attention is because of the debunked MMR myths.

Wolfgirrl · 13/05/2020 14:21

@Rubywhox

There not being a vaccine, and refusing one are two entirely separate things and you know it.

Proppedupinbed · 13/05/2020 14:21

MitziK are you a chemist as Welland thinks chirality as soon as thalidomide is mentioned? It is always the story I tell kids when teaching it.

Wolfgirrl · 13/05/2020 14:22

@Nurseynurse2007 I'm not. Which is why I listen to the experts unlike others on this thread.

Rubywhox · 13/05/2020 14:23

If you went to the doctor tomorrow for a stomach ache, and he or she gave you a diagnosis and gave you some medication to take, you would take it
You wouldn't start obsessing over when it was released, how long the trial process was, etc
I wouldn’t be obsessing over it but I would certainly do my research on the likelihood of side effects, how long it’s been available etc. I wouldn’t take any treatment that was brand new without years of research behind it.
I’d take the vaccine if after a few years, more extensive research has been undertaken on the safety of the vaccine. Same as I would any other treatment.

Potionqueen · 13/05/2020 14:23

They probably will rush the vaccine out. Which means other work will have been sidelined as this jumps the queue.
Me? I’ll be first in line to have mine.

needanewusernameplz · 13/05/2020 14:23

There won't be a proven and well trialled one for a very long time OP, it'll be a while before you have to worry about it.

There isn't a vaccine for SARS and that outbreak happened what, 18 years or so ago? Wouldn't worry about it if I were you.

Rubywhox · 13/05/2020 14:24

There not being a vaccine, and refusing one are two entirely separate things and you know it
But if you’re that concerned, you’ll be happy living without your freedom until there is a vaccine which means no work, no school etc.

Nurseynurse2007 · 13/05/2020 14:27

I'm not. Which is why I listen to the experts unlike others on this thread
Many of the people I work with (NHS if the name didn’t give it away) would refuse a new vaccine. Doctors, surgeons, even respiratory and ENT consultants I know would refuse it. They’re very much experts

DeeCeeCherry · 13/05/2020 14:27

Same here OP. & I'm in no way anti-vaccine. I don't trust government Corona advice and I won't sign up for a rushed through vaccine. I see talk about vaccine but nothing about how it actually relates to immunity against Covid-19. I respect the views of others who want a vaccine however but it's not for me. Moot point anyway though as there is no vaccine is there? We don't even know when and if one will be developed. So we're all taking our chances now.

Boogieshoesss · 13/05/2020 14:31

100% yanbu. Crack on all you ‘sensible’ people. I’d rather be well informed

Bluebellpainting · 13/05/2020 14:33

Some of the reasons the vaccine, if we end up developing a successful one, can be developed more rapidly than usual is

  1. They are building on work already done- Coronavirus itself is not new- this is a new strain so they are using some previously completed research as a basis
  2. There is a large amount of funding for it. Normally with trials you have to have results before applying for the next set of funding, which then may or may not be turned down. At the moment this is being fast tracked. So the processes are not been shortened just the time between stages.
TeenPlusTwenties · 13/05/2020 14:34

I was half listening on R4 the other day re 'rushing through/speeding up' the vaccine testing process.

The main point I took from it is they will take a monetary risk by producing doses for the next stage before the previous one is complete. That way there aren't production delays. They run the risk of having to throw away vaccines that are then rejected, but if they pass the tests they can be ready for the next tests / distribution.

Littlemissdaredevil · 13/05/2020 14:34

I’m assuming you are under 70 and healthy therefore you would be at the back of the queue for any vaccine. The extremely vunerable, vunerable, elderly and nhs would be vaccinated first.

There is risk associated with everything in life. The risk of an over 70 with a pre-existing condition catching COVID 19 v having the vaccination will be quite different from a healthy 20 year old

Whatnametomorrow10 · 13/05/2020 14:39

I have no problem for me or my older daughter to have it. I’m unsure about my youngest - she’s 10. This is because she has had reaction to her other jabs - she has had them all though now & she had the yearly flu one... Seems daft but I’m still undecided for her.

FourTeaFallOut · 13/05/2020 14:42

I’m assuming you are under 70 and healthy therefore you would be at the back of the queue for any vaccine.

That's a pretty bi assumption.

The extremely vunerable, vunerable, elderly and nhs would be vaccinated first.

Yep, extremely vulnerable here.

LockedInMadness · 13/05/2020 14:46

If I was on the list of people at risk of covid-19 then yes I probably would risk the rushed through vaccine but as a healthy person, no I just won't. It needs to be tested long term.

AndMyHairWillShineLikeTheSea · 13/05/2020 14:48

@Whatnametomorrow10
Any covid 19 vaccine is highly unlikely to be licensed for children at first anyway according to gov.

AndMyHairWillShineLikeTheSea · 13/05/2020 14:49

There isn't a vaccine for SARS and that outbreak happened what, 18 years or so ago? Wouldn't worry about it if I were you.

I thought one was created but just not widely produced? Maybe I'm wrong.

TerrapinStation · 13/05/2020 14:50

Do what you like, as an adult you don't need permission from the rest of us.