To not challenge my anti-vax boss?

[wildraisins]

On a phone call with my boss yesterday. We have a good relationship after years of working together. We were talking about the Covid vaccine and my boss casually mentioned that they are an anti-vaxer (using that actual phrase), are glad their children won't be getting the vaccine as kids aren't being offered it, and are also glad that they will be at the bottom of the priority list as young-ish with no underlying conditions.

Some of my family are vulnerable and NHS workers and are getting the vaccine soon and my boss said they were glad about that because once enough people are vaccinated we can go back to normal.

I quietly seethed! I think people like this are quite selfish to rely on others to be vaccinated (not just for Covid but generally - my boss' kids have had NO vaccinations and rely on the immunity of others).

But I didn't say anything to challenge it. AIBU? What would you have done?

I challenged someone at work about it. Well I just pointed out the selfishness of their stance. I couldn't help myself. They just went quite quiet I seem to remember. They're also a flat earther But I probably wouldn't do it with someone more senior.

Your boss has access to all the same information about the vaccine as everyone else. This is the conclusion they have reached and you disagree. I don't think you can take it further in the workplace really.

I think you find you live in a country where you are offer the vaccine. It is a choice. You can tell him the reasons why you would have it but that is it.

@Lonecatwithkitten

Unfortunately I can understand why you are seething - their logic is all mixed up they are anti-vax, but believe the vaccine will get us back to normal. They are looking forward to gaining from a herd immunity created by others taking the vaccine. Sadly these are exactly the kind of people you can not reason with.

Yes, exactly this!

What really irritated me is that my boss is looking forward to other people having the vaccine, but refusing to have it themselves. So obviously thinks it's going to be beneficial but wants everyone else to go first.

So that makes them hypocritical and selfish in my view.

I wish they hadn't said anything because I have now definitely lost some respect.

The problem is that vaccine effectiveness relies on a large number of people taking it.

If enough people decide not to have the vaccine, then the virus will continue to circulate amongst those people, and potentially mutate again.

Once it mutates again it will go back to the people who have been vaccinated and this will start all over again.

So, I think that healthy people who choose not to have the vaccine DO have something to answer for.

Like religion and politics, I’ve added vaccinations to my NSFW chats.

@amymel2016

Say nothing. I’m yet to meet an anti-vaxer with even an ounce of intelligence, it’s like arguing with a pigeon. My main issue would be that I would have now lost all respect for them.

Ha- I'm having a crappy morning wfh and this made me chuckle. Thanks xx

Antivaxxers I know love attention and to feel special they are.best ignored. And subject changed although your boss might ramp it up for the reaction, hold firm and keep quiet.

I would ignore it.

You can't make headway with stupid

'Arguing with a pigeon" 😄

Maybe your boss will change their mind when the consequences become clear: businesses may well decide that no vax = no access. Everyone has a right to make choices, everyone should continue to have access to the essentials of food and healthcare, but for the rest of it, people will have to live with the consequences of their choices.