Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
ImBoredAgain · 05/01/2021 14:26

Also frontline but off due to pregnancy.

Even if I was offered on my return, I will decline. She has her reasons and is entitled to make a choice just like everybody else

PerkingFaintly · 05/01/2021 14:27

From the FullFact link given above (my bolding).

No evidence Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine affects women’s fertility
fullfact.org/health/vaccine-covid-fertility/

^Where did this claim come from?
The origins of this claim stems from a protein on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (the virus which causes Covid-19), called a spike protein. This spike protein helps the virus enter cells and is also one of the ways the human body recognises a virus and knows to let its immune cells attack it.

The Pfizer vaccine works by giving the body the instructions on how to make this spike protein, so it can generate an immune response that attacks the virus via the spike protein faster and more effectively if it is later infected.

The building blocks of proteins are called amino acids, and it’s sequences of those that make up different proteins.

A small part of this spike protein resembles a part of another protein vital for the formation of the placenta, called syncytin-1. But the sequence of amino acids that are similar in syncytin-1 and the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is quite short.

But only two very small parts of these proteins look the same—it’s not the whole protein—and therefore realistically the body’s immune system is not likely to confuse the two, and attack syncytin-1 rather than the spike protein on SARS-CoV-2 and stop a placenta forming.

What do the experts say?
Virology professor Ian Jones at the University of Reading told Full Fact, via the Science Media Centre, that the spike protein and syncytin-1 don’t look similar enough for the same antibodies that the body would create as an immune response to the vaccine, to bind to and attack syncytin.

He said syncytin-1 is “completely unrelated to the SARS [spike] protein” and the risk of infertility is “therefore essentially fictitious.”

Carolofthebellies · 05/01/2021 14:27

If the NHS staff have been advised not to take the vaccine because they're pregnant or planning to TTC then what's the issue?
What's wrong with people that they want everyone to comply with everything?

CuriousaboutSamphire · 05/01/2021 14:28

@Carolofthebellies

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.
Yes it is her right

It was NOT rushed, really, it was not!

People will always be judged on their actions... it's kind of how the world works!

France didn't independently come up with a vaccine, did not buy into the earliest scheme that did and does not have the political will to rush through the infrastructure needed. It is not a good thing!

Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 05/01/2021 14:28

@PaddyF0dder

I also work in the NHS, and one of my colleagues is also making this decision - doesn’t want to be vaccinated as she’s worried about impact on fertility.

Never mind that she’s morbidly obese and smokes like a chimney, which are bad for fertility. Nope. Or the unknown risk of the virus upon fertility or neonatal health. Nope.

Life is an intelligence test, and I guess not all of us pass it.

Grin
CuriousaboutSamphire · 05/01/2021 14:29

He said syncytin-1 is “completely unrelated to the SARS [spike] protein” and the risk of infertility is “therefore essentially fictitious.” Crikey! That's strongly worded!

LAgeDeRaisin · 05/01/2021 14:29

It's not true that all pregnant women have been advised against it at all.

It's just that it's a less straightforward decision, and a balance of risks.

It is to be remembered that there are, of course, risks to NOT getting the vaccine if you are pregnant.

These risks include covid, a new disease with no long term studies which can cause long term complications which may or may not affect a pregnancy- the mother or baby. Which may in fact result in the death of the mother and/or baby.

The idea that not getting the vaccine avoids risk for a pregnant woman is painfully facile.

acrossthebrooklynbridge · 05/01/2021 14:30

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?

It may not be a popular opinion but my daughter who has had her fertility struggles has also been told this about the vaccine. And told not by a conspiracy theorist but professionals involved in her care.

I also echo that pregnancy is generally not a thing to make fun of, but perhaps I am biased as I know how upset I would have been if this had been said to me during my 15 year infertility treatment.

popNlock · 05/01/2021 14:32

Life is an intelligence test, and I guess not all of us pass it
It's really not.
It's about making choices for yourself and living how you want. But if it makes you feel more intelligent to think this, good for you Wink

anon2334 · 05/01/2021 14:33

It’s not a conspiracy theory if that’s in the insert but if mumsnet say it’s a conspiracy theory then God help.

Basically we all have our own rights to refuse and it’s none of your business. It’s part of our human rights. It’s a new vaccine and therefore some things are not known. It’s not anti vax to be cautious.

PerkingFaintly · 05/01/2021 14:33

Rough analogy is saying police might arrest Laurapink0 for being a rapist, because they have the same letters R-A-P in the name.

And it's even accurate that there's no evidence that Laurapink's not a rapist, so...

oakleaffy · 05/01/2021 14:35

@PaddyF0dder

I also work in the NHS, and one of my colleagues is also making this decision - doesn’t want to be vaccinated as she’s worried about impact on fertility.

Never mind that she’s morbidly obese and smokes like a chimney, which are bad for fertility. Nope. Or the unknown risk of the virus upon fertility or neonatal health. Nope.

Life is an intelligence test, and I guess not all of us pass it.

It is astounding how people can be so wantonly ''Blind''.

Worried about fertility , yet smokes like Something Fred Dibnah would put ladders up, and is morbidly obese...

Just beggars belief. Quit the fags. Quit the excess calories and then fertility might not be such an issue.

IS the vaccine proven to make men and women infertile?

Unlikely, as it hasn't been around for long enough to tell, surely.

Calmandmeasured1 · 05/01/2021 14:36

Life is an intelligence test, and I guess not all of us pass it.
So true.😂

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 05/01/2021 14:38

If I was childless or wanted more children I would wait until the fertility aspects were more fully tested (or I’d had kids) before deciding to get the vaccine. Given her circumstances (being a nurse) maybe having babies soon might help her get vaccinated sooner.

G5000 · 05/01/2021 14:39

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

A frontline NHS staff in the middle of pandemic - it's not quite 'actively trying' but certainly taking a risk by not vaccinating.

diddl · 05/01/2021 14:41

I have a couple of health conditions that make me fearful of catching covid & also wary of having the vaccination.

Probably irrational, but I'm not sure that laughing at /ridiculing people helps.

Nowstrong · 05/01/2021 14:43

@Carolofthebellies

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.
Because the flipping government here is making it mighty complicated to get it...but hopefully change is on its way.
LochDooner69 · 05/01/2021 14:44

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

lljkk · 05/01/2021 14:47

The reasons cited I believe are bad information.
But... it's her flipping body. She should get to choose what happens to it.
Bodily autonomy only applies when it comes to having an abortion, I guess.

changedmynameforChristmas · 05/01/2021 14:49

I love how those who choose to believe something simply because it is said to them call those who choose not to entirely believe it 'conspiracy theorists'.
We all have choices to make and nobody can take our opinions or worries from us. They can educate us but who is to say they are correct anyway?

YouBoughtMeAWall · 05/01/2021 14:49

A frontline NHS staff in the middle of pandemic - it's not quite 'actively trying' but certainly taking a risk by not vaccinating.

She isn’t just swanning about covid wards licking patients though, is she? She’ll be following all protocols and wearing full PPE. She’s probably also following all the other guidelines outside of work by SDing, avoiding mixing, etc She’ll be taking all steps that don’t potentially risk her fertility to avoid contracting the virus. The vaccine, is another step. Not the only one.

IceIceLazy · 05/01/2021 14:55

It would be more interesting to know what effects Long Covid has on fertility and the ability to be an active parent to one or more children.

The chances of ending up with long covid (10% regardless of age) are massively higher than potential risks of a vaccine. LC has been closely linked with autoimmune illness, many of which cause significant problems and complications with child-bearing. Not to mention that fact that some patients will simply be left too ill to ever have children.

But whatever, bodily autonomy and all...

GabsAlot · 05/01/2021 14:58

what if for intance covid affects fertility of course we dont about that either-risking getting ill over having children its a tough one

skodadoda · 05/01/2021 14:59

@PaddyF0dder

I also work in the NHS, and one of my colleagues is also making this decision - doesn’t want to be vaccinated as she’s worried about impact on fertility.

Never mind that she’s morbidly obese and smokes like a chimney, which are bad for fertility. Nope. Or the unknown risk of the virus upon fertility or neonatal health. Nope.

Life is an intelligence test, and I guess not all of us pass it.

Love your final line 😆👏
notalwaysalondoner · 05/01/2021 15:00

I mean, technically they can't be sure about the impact on fertility as they've only been able to observe patients for a few months, but this is true of any other long term side effects too - there is always a risk that it might also cause cancer in 10 years, or chronic headaches, digestive issues etc. that take years to emerge. But realistically the chances of any of this is tiny and any other new vaccine also has tiny risks of effects that only emerge outside the time window it was tested for.

I think this conspiracy theory has emerged because idiots interpreted the advice to not have it if you might get pregnant in the next 2 months as that it might reduce fertility.