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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask Health care staff treating me if they've had their covid vaccine?

366 replies

BearEastie · 28/02/2021 11:17

I am immunosuppressed. I've been vaccinated but they don't know how well it will work yet.

I would prefer to only be treated by staff who had been vaccinated, thus if they said no I would ask for limited contact or a swap in nursing etc.

Just read shocking statistics from the hospital I am due to go to next month for a two week stay and I am starting to freak out just a little bit.

OP posts:
bumblenbean · 28/02/2021 11:30

I don’t think it would be appropriate to ask people directly - it could seem a bit intrusive and confrontational and it would be rather awkward if they said no. AFAIK vaccination for HCPs isn’t (yet) mandatory although there’s talk of making it so.

But perhaps you could contact the hospital beforehand and ask if all staff have been vaccinated, and if not, explain your fears and ask for some reassurance?

ladywithnomanors · 28/02/2021 11:35

Not appropriate at all imo. Not everyone is able to be vaccinated eg. Those who have history of anaphylaxis etc. Those people shouldn’t be singled out.
Are you going to ask everybody you come into contact with whether they’ve been vaccinated?

Purplewithred · 28/02/2021 11:36

Interesting question.

Just because someone has been vaccinated doesn't mean they are 'safe' - we know the vaccines prevent serious illness but don't know if vaccines prevent you catching it. It's possible that vaccinated staff could have asymptomatic/undetected covid and pass it on to you.

On the other hand, I would worry about the credibility of someone working in healthcare who has refused the vaccination. If they don't believe in the vaccination then do they believe in infection control? or getting tested if they have symptoms? or isolating?

Reinventinganna · 28/02/2021 11:38

I think you can ask but they don’t have to tell you.
I’ve shared when asked.

trilbydoll · 28/02/2021 11:38

But then you're asking for their private medical history, perhaps they have had terrible reactions to vaccination in the past or they are pregnant, and you have no right to that information at all.

BeautyQueenIamNot · 28/02/2021 11:42

I’d tell you to piss off - you have no right to know my medical history!

Saying that I don’t work in healthcare...

notacooldad · 28/02/2021 11:45

*I’d tell you to piss off - you have no right to know my medical history!
*
I wouldn't be as confrontational as that but the message would be the same.
As others have suggested ring in advance rather than put someone on the spot!

Original poster
BearEastie · 28/02/2021 11:46

But perhaps you could contact the hospital beforehand and ask if all staff have been vaccinated,

I already know that all staff have not been vaccinated, several hundred of them have refused the vaccination - which is why I am now freaking out.

@ladywithnomanors those with a history of anaphylaxis are being vaccinated - it's the Oxford AZ vaccine that they must have but it is happening (and the process is slightly different). And I am not in contact with anyone at the moment due to shielding, I know the two medical staff I have been in contact with have been vaccinated as they told me themselves.

@Purplewithred those are my concerns too! I also understand that it doesn't mean they are safe, but it does massively reduce the risk of serious illness.

I am so stressed about it all.

OP posts:
lljkk · 28/02/2021 11:46

Did you always ask about flu jabs in the past -- not saying covid is flu, but flu was widely circulating in past, flu is bad for immuno-compromised, & flu jab levels among health care workers historically not very high. Is this news to you, or did you think flu wasn't a threat to you?

Original poster
BearEastie · 28/02/2021 11:46

As others have suggested ring in advance rather than put someone on the spot!

I cannot ring in advance - it's going to be over several days. Otherwise, yes i would do this but it's not like I am just popping in for a clinic appointment. It's an admission.

OP posts:
Original poster
BearEastie · 28/02/2021 11:48

@lljkk Flu jab where we are the staff get a badge - it was very visible to see who had it and who hadn't - I've never been in a position where I was treated by someone with no badge, but yes, if flu was at peak then I would have raised it.

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shouldistop · 28/02/2021 11:48

Of course you can't ask them for their private medical details. Would you consider asking them if they'd had other vaccinations?

MuddleMoo · 28/02/2021 11:48

No sorry I don't think it's reasonable to ask individuals. Does it actually reduce transmission?

Original poster
BearEastie · 28/02/2021 11:49

Analysis has shown that it does reduce transmission, yes.

I really wish they had a covid badge system in place like the flu fighter ones!

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Original poster
BearEastie · 28/02/2021 11:50

@shouldistop some vaccines are already mandatory in some cases where there's risk of transmission (ie Hep B).

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MissBaskinIfYoureNasty · 28/02/2021 11:50

They can just say yes anyway and you wouldn't know any different 🤷‍♀️ they don't have to provide proof to you.

AnyFucker · 28/02/2021 11:51

Yabu

OhWhyNot · 28/02/2021 11:51

You are not the only one asking op many are and this is a headache for out NHS trust

In theory everyones medical records are private but this is a completely different situation to one that has been faced before

To many people are asking for the question to be ignored

MuddleMoo · 28/02/2021 11:51

Ah cool, I never knew that that's good news.
But yeah, it would be like asking if someone had their measles vaccination. They should be geared up to deal with covid by now though in terms of reducing the spread.

Donotfeedthebears · 28/02/2021 11:52

As if a nurse in the early stages of pregnancy would tell you she was pregnant before she told her family!

CovoidOfAllHumanity · 28/02/2021 11:52

People refusing to be vaccinated have been redeployed away from frontline work with vulnerable people in my trust. I think that's fair enough. They don't lose any pay or anything and there's been loads of redeployment due to Covid for many reasons so it's not a big ask in my view. Don't know what will happen long term if people still refuse.

Everyone should still be using PPE vaccinated or not but it's not as good as vaccination plus PPE.

It's reasonable to ask the Trust what assurances they can give you but not reasonable to ask each individual member of staff. It's for the trust to manage risk not individuals.

Original poster
BearEastie · 28/02/2021 11:52

Hmm maybe that was actually not in the UK - I had to have mandatory vaccines when working in healthcare or a certificate to state why I couldn't have them (just realised that may have been on my training abroad though!)

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Original poster
BearEastie · 28/02/2021 11:53

OK, it's some cases in the UK too.

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lljkk · 28/02/2021 11:55

"Flu jab where we are the staff get a badge "

where does that happen in NHS?
I don't go to doctors much so not much chance to notice their badges.

Original poster
BearEastie · 28/02/2021 11:55

@CovoidOfAllHumanity Thank you so much - I am going to write again to the Trust.

I know if I get the SCT then everyone will be vaccinated on that ward, but that's not this time around.

It must absolutely suck for healthcare workers at the moment to have this pressure on them, but it also sucks for patients trying to work out to stay safe too.

OP posts: