Page 7 | Nhs worker friend refusing vaccine - future children

Trying2611 · 2021-01-05T13:06:43+00:00

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

chaosrabbitland · 05/01/2021 16:43

@YouBoughtMeAWall

The impact of the vaccine on fertility is unknown. She is wise, at 25, to wait until more is known. Personally I think the sheep mentality and anger towards people who don’t instantly take whatever they’re told to take is bizarre. Outrage at someone wanting to know how a vaccine will affect them? Bonkers.

this and the also attitude oh well if they refuse to have it then they wont be able to go anywhere , it would seem that a large amount of ppl in the uk are happy to be blackmailed into having a vaccine by force if it came to it under the guise of their freedoms will be curtailed if they dont and yet its the conspiracy theorists who are called nuts and stupid !!

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 05/01/2021 16:44

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

I believe that it is a sign of intelligence that someone learns all they can, makes the decision that is right for their life and their situation AND does not criticise anyone else who comes to a different decision.

Let's recap the whole post that quote comes from:

##########################
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.

##################################

I would not criticise anyone's decision to self-destruct (I don't criticise anyone who overdoses on pills either: I don't know what pressures may have been involved that made life not worth having) but I do regard doing things which are known to have a particular effect and then worrying because something else might possibly have the same effect even though there is no evidence that it does to be a little dimwitted, on the whole. In fact it's practically up to Darwin Award standards.

Ihatefish · 05/01/2021 16:47

@PerkingFaintly

(For anyone wondering: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asymptote )

Jesus Christ -despite spell check I think everyone knows what I meant. Better than your pointless use of brackets though. Mind you, that’s maths all over. Asymptomatically

toconclude · 05/01/2021 16:47

@YouBoughtMeAWall

The impact of the vaccine on fertility is unknown. She is wise, at 25, to wait until more is known. Personally I think the sheep mentality and anger towards people who don’t instantly take whatever they’re told to take is bizarre. Outrage at someone wanting to know how a vaccine will affect them? Bonkers.

The sheep mentality of 'ooh I read somewhere on the internet that there might be side effects no other vaccine has had so that makes me an original thinker' beats that hands down mate

lockeddownandcrazy · 05/01/2021 16:47

@ImBoredAgain

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

Some jobs should mandate it as part of the job. I bet if those people who dont want to have it were told they couldnt go on a plane if they dont have the jab they will soon take it. Same as some vaccines to go abroad are mandatory.

SycamoreGap · 05/01/2021 16:48

@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.

Sodium Valproate is not a vaccine and therefore has no relevance to this discussion.

waydownwego · 05/01/2021 16:50

@Al1langdownthecleghole

It's not so much the impact on fertility. it is not known (because not tested for ethical reasons - no conspiracy) if the vaccine will affect developing embryos.

Given that most young women who are considering pregnancy are not likely to suffer severed covid and are unlikely to die, it's not an unreasonable position to take.

It's a different risk stratification for those in vulnerable groups.

I absolutely believe NHS workers should be offered the vaccine first to protect them, and I think it's in their best interests.

What happens if none of them want it? Do we stop them from working? Well, we can't do that, or we wouldn't have an NHS and we need an NHS.

Do we force them to? No, I don't think that sits well with the values of this country.

We're back to letting them decide, as you say. And the thing is, if we trust someone to work in the NHS and look after people at their most vulnerable, we must trust they have a basic level of intelligence and can do their own risk analysis.

I mean, if we're saying NHS workers are too stupid to make decisions about their own health, we have a much bigger problem than Covid...

ktp100 · 05/01/2021 16:50

She needs to find a new job then.

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 05/01/2021 16:50

Yes but isn't it a wonderful deflection?

YouBoughtMeAWall · 05/01/2021 16:50

The sheep mentality of 'ooh I read somewhere on the internet that there might be side effects no other vaccine has had so that makes me an original thinker' beats that hands down mate

Except that’s not what I’m saying, Is it? I’ve said nothing about being an “original thinker.” I’ve said it’s wise to wait until more is known. I don’t think that’s a radical idea. No one does.

YouBoughtMeAWall · 05/01/2021 16:52

I bet if those people who dont want to have it were told they couldnt go on a plane if they dont have the jab they will soon take it. Same as some vaccines to go abroad are mandatory.

What a small world you must inhabit. Plenty of us never go abroad and have no plans to.

Seasaltyhair · 05/01/2021 16:53

@Trying2611

Upon reading my post I do feel abit guilty now because it's clearly something she has anxiety about, I maybe shouldn't have made the joke, but I feel like with her Job she can't be allowed to put others at risk

Well you don’t get to have any say on that. That’s down to her and her employers.

You should mind your own business

Notnt · 05/01/2021 16:54

I'd also like to wait longer, until more side effects are known. However I'm pregnant and planning on breastfeeding again (youngest looks like he might stop soon, at just over a year old), so I don't think I'll be eligible for it for a long time anyway.
I don't mind not being able to travel if it comes to that, I wouldn't want to holiday outside the UK with 2 very young kids anyway.

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 05/01/2021 16:54

There will be no choice for most people about waiting until more is known: I am not expecting to be offered an inoculation for months rather than weeks, and I am strongly tempted when I am to say that I would rather my first-jab-and-you-may-have-to-wait-three-months-for-the-second should be given to someone who has had the first and is in an at-risk category. I can continue to shield without seriously reducing my quality of life, which was crap anyway; they might find it more difficult.

Ihatefish · 05/01/2021 16:56

@LulaMay17

I am with your friend 100% and can not believe that so few people are questioning this vaccine!

By far the biggest regret I will ever have in my life is blindly accepting the swine flu vaccination whilst pregnant in 2009, As was strongly advised to all pregnant women during the swine flu epidemic.

Now, 11 years on, the son I was carrying at the time has narcolepsy- almost certainly due to me having the vaccine as it has been scientifically proven since that the vaccine caused narcolepsy in a significant number of children.

I can not voice strongly enough that this vaccine is hugely rushed and known side effects have already been swept under the table to get it rolled out quickly. Please- especially women of child bearing age- think long and hard before taking this!

Im so sorry you’re family experienced this. But thank you for posting. I do think people aren’t fully thinking this through in all cases and weighing up the potential risks. One thing we should have learned in this pandemic is science is not absolute, it changes all the time. Scientists are often initially wrong and change their minds with more available data. Unfortunately stories like this are often just written off as anecdotes as the scientists haven’t seen it replicated in their control environment.

Like all medicines this is going to be a matter of people weighing up risks and benefits.

Coyoacan · 05/01/2021 16:58

Well said @Ihatefish.

I am all for the vaccine and anything that will cut down on the risk of covid, but here in Mexico we've already had one person with very severe side-effects from the Pfizer vaccine. One out of 43,000, so far, so not a major risk, but imagine being her friend and having guilted her into getting it.

lockeddownandcrazy · 05/01/2021 16:58

@YouBoughtMeAWall

I bet if those people who dont want to have it were told they couldnt go on a plane if they dont have the jab they will soon take it. Same as some vaccines to go abroad are mandatory.

What a small world you must inhabit. Plenty of us never go abroad and have no plans to.

Is it not the inverse - those who get on a plane inhabit a much larger world than those who never do. Lifes too short not to explore the world - for me anyway.

But that is a different choice, fine if you dont want to go abroad.

But I still think those in frontline jobs should have the jab as part of their job terms.

Seasaltyhair · 05/01/2021 17:00

Except that’s not what I’m saying, Is it? hmm I’ve said nothing about being an “original thinker.” I’ve said it’s wise to wait until more is known. I don’t think that’s a radical idea. No one does

Which I agree with. I’m over the moon my grandmother has had her first jab, it’s been hell for her stuck in the house.

However I’m not in vulnerable category, I’m happy to let every one else go before me. It’s only in the very near past that they have just sorted out the compensation for the swine flu vaccines that had a life limiting effects of some people.

If I was in the vulnerable category I’d be chomping at the bit for it but as I’m not I’m waiting and watching.

wildraisins · 05/01/2021 17:07

@Doingitaloneandproud

Regardless of it being misinformation, if someone makes the choice not to have the vaccine that is their decision. If you want to have it yourself that is great, but it cannot be forced upon someone.

Yes... but if their choice is based on misinformation then surely they deserve to know the real facts before they decide.

I don't think that "regardless of it being misinformation" is a very sensible thing to say!

Everyone deserves to make their decision - based on the facts.

malificent7 · 05/01/2021 17:16

What i would like to see id evidende of covid effect on fertility versus vaccine effect on fertility then weigh them up so i can make an informed choice. Problem is , id have to wait till more information was available by which time i'd be too old!

Chel098 · 05/01/2021 17:17

@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.

The thing is. We can all have our own opinions. It’s not for you to decide for others though. Would you be saying the same if your friend had a reaction? I bet you wouldn’t.

I don’t know why people are so uptight about others choices at this current stage. Your friend may well change her mind later on.

YouBoughtMeAWall · 05/01/2021 17:19

Is it not the inverse - those who get on a plane inhabit a much larger world than those who never do.

It wasn’t the physical world I was referring to.

CakeRequired · 05/01/2021 18:59

Yes, I thought this. Just because you have a different opinion, you are not stupid.

That's not entirely true though. Flat earthers, for example. You can have a different opinion and be completely stupid.

That posters point is quite simple. She knows someone who refuses the vaccine for what it MIGHT do to her body. While doing things to her body that have been proven to reduce fertility. And she's a nurse, so you'd think she'd be more up to speed on these things.

CeibaTree · 05/01/2021 19:18

It's not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women - she may be ttc for all you know. Her body her choice and all that.

TheMawisbraw · 05/01/2021 19:44

My sister has also refused the vaccine due to planning to start a family in the near future, I think it’s the correct decision for her. She has also worked with covid positive patients since March and will have no doubt been exposed to the virus and remained well not had a single day off sick or isolating so theirs a good chance she has natural immunity or been asymptomatic at some point