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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Nhs worker friend refusing vaccine - future children

195 replies

Trying2611 · 05/01/2021 13:06

I feel like I am NBU but talking to my friend today who’s the same age as me 25, she works in a front facing NHS role and will soon be offered the vaccine, however she is saying she is going to refuse on the grounds that it may make her infertile Hmm not sure where she has heard this?

I said oh well you should think about getting pregnant now before your vaccine (joking ofcourse) and she said very angrily why do you think this is a joke it’s serious do you not care if you can’t have kids then she stormed off and won’t answer my calls AIBU or was she being ridiculous

OP posts:
KatieB55 · 05/01/2021 14:02

I read in the manufacturer's info for healthcare professionals and it says to avoid conception for at least 2 months after the 2and vaccination.
Please read up about Sodium Valproate, an epilepsy drug, that women were told they could take in pregnancy and subsequently hundreds of babies have been affected. Pregnant women are excluded from clinical trials for good reason and I don't think it is okay for the government to say pregnant women can choose to take this vaccine after a chat with their GP.
Also remember the MHRA repeatedly said the swine flu was safe & effective and hundreds of children across Europe are growing up dealing with debilitating narcolepsy.
People have every right to be cautious and make their own decisions.

JimmyTheBrave · 05/01/2021 14:03

By all means share your scientific evidence that counters the above

Pukkatea · 05/01/2021 14:07

Hmm, my friend is an NHS consultant and is pregnant and getting the vaccine today, as the guidance has been changed (apparently).

CakeRequired · 05/01/2021 14:07

Btw the comments about fertility is because they found some RNA in the sperm from the vaccine.

If that's the case, wouldn't it make men infertile not women? I mean obviously we couldn't get pregnant from those men who get it.

I thought the vaccine sounded like it worked basically the same as a flu vaccine, and they don't make us infertile. Possibly wrong though or misremembering something.

Pukkatea · 05/01/2021 14:08

Also, if there were issues with autoimmunity, that would happen whether you got the vaccine or were naturally infected...

YouBoughtMeAWall · 05/01/2021 14:08

While the impact of the virus is know I presume? Must have missed that announcement.

False comparison. Unless you think people who are refusing the vaccine are actively trying to contract the virus? Confused

LAgeDeRaisin · 05/01/2021 14:08

I'm a doctor and I had it yesterday. My whole ward has either had it or are booked to have it tomorrow or this evening.

I haven't heard any doctors raise concerns about it. I don't believe the posters on here saying they know lots of medics with concerns. I think it's utter tosh from non medics who want to give their own non medical views legitimacy. If there were serious concerns from doctors I'd have seen an article or tweet from a doctor with concerns.

Do link if such things exist.

Get the vaccine people- it wasn't even sore. Not like the yellow fever one. That one was a bitch.

JimmyTheBrave · 05/01/2021 14:09

@KatieB55

I read in the manufacturer's info for healthcare professionals and it says to avoid conception for at least 2 months after the 2and vaccination. Please read up about Sodium Valproate, an epilepsy drug, that women were told they could take in pregnancy and subsequently hundreds of babies have been affected. Pregnant women are excluded from clinical trials for good reason and I don't think it is okay for the government to say pregnant women can choose to take this vaccine after a chat with their GP. Also remember the MHRA repeatedly said the swine flu was safe & effective and hundreds of children across Europe are growing up dealing with debilitating narcolepsy. People have every right to be cautious and make their own decisions.
Of course pregnant women should be excluded from trials, the OP mentioned her friend who isn't pregnant.

The swine flu narcolepsy was never proven to be caused by the vaccination. And 'hundreds across Europe' (although awful that they are suffering with that condition) really isn't many.

YouBoughtMeAWall · 05/01/2021 14:10

For example, taking that vaccine is forbidden for pregnant women in English version, but it's acceptable for pregnant women in Poland.

Maybe because Poland doesn’t have any regard for female bodily autonomy regarding their own fertility.

Pukkatea · 05/01/2021 14:11

Just confirmed with doctor friend - guidance changed from not advised, to at your discretion, and has now changed to actively recommended for pregnant women.

Emerald99 · 05/01/2021 14:11

Yabu I've been told not to accept the vaccine if considering pregnancy in the next 2 years. Your comments are also pretty rude I think you owe her an apology. You don't know if she's struggled with pregnancy.

JimmyTheBrave · 05/01/2021 14:11

@dollymoo "Im not taking the chance until more is understood they have not stated that it definitely will not impact."

They have said this. See link to USA article above.

LAgeDeRaisin · 05/01/2021 14:12

I didn't get a sticker but did get a quality street. A toffee penny. Controversial I know, but I love a toffee penny.

Pukkatea · 05/01/2021 14:13

@Emerald99 that advice is now out of date.

LAgeDeRaisin · 05/01/2021 14:16

I had a chat with the consultant pharmacist yesterday regarding pregnancy and they said it was a balance of risks. They said the risk to a pregnant women was very low and understood my reasoning that it was important for me to get it because I treat covid patients on a daily basis.

The only difference was that my vaccine had to be formally prescribed.

They said they normally advised a discussion with GP and midwife but were happy that I as a doctor was able to make an informed decision. Which I did.

Covid vaccine plus a sweetie. Yesterday was a good day.

dollymoo · 05/01/2021 14:17

@Pukkatea

Hmm, my friend is an NHS consultant and is pregnant and getting the vaccine today, as the guidance has been changed (apparently).
Just because she is a consultant does not mean that she will be in the clear if it does cause any issues or that she knows exactly how it will or will not impact fertility.

It has not been tested on pregnant women.

LunaMuffinTop · 05/01/2021 14:17

I wanted to get the vaccine but because we are trying for a baby I won’t be able to get it just yet but I will be getting it when I’m able to but until then I’ve been taking every precaution I can since all this started I don’t go out unless I absolutely have to and I wear a mask to go out and I have stayed away from all my family and friends and I will continue to keep myself safe until all of this over.

crystaltips98 · 05/01/2021 14:19

Maybe she is already pregnant or ttc and trying to keep it quiet or struggling to conceive.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 05/01/2021 14:19

@mummy2oli

There is a lot of uncertainty with the vaccine. It’s an unknown vaccine. Those who are of child baring age should consider this. If you have finished having children then go for it. But there is nothing wrong with being cautious.
No, no and no!

@MNHQ preserve us from such stupidities!

Pukkatea · 05/01/2021 14:20

@dollymoo I meant that her employer, the NHS, has deemed based on whatever method they use that it is not just allowed but advised for pregnant women. She wasn't going to get it because the advice said not to, and that has now changed and she has a needle in her arm as we speak.

jessstan1 · 05/01/2021 14:20

@Quail15

I'm frontline NHS and 24 weeks pregnant. We have been told not to get the vaccine if we are pregnant or trying to conceive as there haven't been any studies in this area yet. They can't yet say if the vaccine will cause any complications. I'm sure further studies will show that the vaccine is fine but until then the advice is not to have it yet.
That's interesting, I didn't know that about trying to become pregnant (I did know you shouldn't have the vaccine if you are pregnant).

However nobody is compelled to have the vaccine, it is purely voluntary at the moment.

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 05/01/2021 14:21

The JCVI have advised that pregnant women or women planning on becoming pregnant in the next 3 months don't get the vaccination. Not because they even remotely think that it affects fertility but because the vaccine hasn't been tested on pregnant women or women who will become pregnant shortly after getting the vaccination. Which is the norm with any new medications or vaccinations. I wish people would do their research.

Buddytheelf85 · 05/01/2021 14:22

I said YABU. Not because I think it'll impact on fertility (has any vaccine ever had that side effect?) but because your friend is entitled to make her own decisions about her own body and you don't get to call her ridiculous for doing so, even if you don't agree with her.

Agreed. People are allowed to decline vaccines and any other medical treatment. Whatever their reasons. You may not like their reasons, you might think their reasons are batshit. And maybe they are, but they’re entitled to have them.

Emerald99 · 05/01/2021 14:24

@Pukkatea when did this change? Can you share a link please. I will be accepting should get it soon as I am a frontline health care worker and already have 2 dc.

Carolofthebellies · 05/01/2021 14:24

If she doesn't want to have then it's her right not to have it. The vaccine is rushed and many people don't want to have it. They shouldn't be judged. In France not that many people have had it in comparison to the UK.

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