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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:
Toddlerteaplease · 01/03/2021 03:33

If they don't want to tell me, that's fine - but I still get to chose to be treated by someone else.

Hmm not really, the staff allocation is done, taking into account all
Patients needs. Not just yours. There may be A very good reason why that particular member of staff has been allocated.

VivaLeBeaver · 01/03/2021 06:50

Yes, you can decline to get treated by a specific person.....you may not be able to choose to be treated by someone else. Depending on availability, skill mix, other people’s needs, etc.

Inthevirtualwaitingroom · 01/03/2021 06:53

how do you know several hundred have not been vaccinated?
be careful of what you read

Inthevirtualwaitingroom · 01/03/2021 06:59

surely the staff could still transmit covid, even if they are all vaccinated against it,
they could catch it on the bus, in the supermarket, from a park bench.

VivaLeBeaver · 01/03/2021 07:15

@Inthevirtualwaitingroom

surely the staff could still transmit covid, even if they are all vaccinated against it, they could catch it on the bus, in the supermarket, from a park bench.
Yes they can. I know a few colleagues who have had covid after having the vaccine. Thankfully they’ve all had it mildly so even if they’re one of the unlucky ones who catch still the vaccine is hopefully doing it’s job of ensuring you only get it mildly if you catch it after being vaccinated. And hopefully that would be the same for the OP if she caught it.
AllFrightOnTheNight · 01/03/2021 07:33

How do you know staff have refuse the vaccination?
Where I work (social care related), some refused at first because they specifically wanted the Oxford Vaccine (some because of fertility concerns, some because of other reasons), so they've had to wait a while for it to become available to them.
It may not be an actual refusal as such.

ichifanny · 01/03/2021 08:02

I’m a nurse and I think patients should be able to request this to be honest . I’d go as far to say people who refuse the vaccination shouldn’t be allowed to work with vulnerable patients at all . I’d be happy to tell a patient that I’m vaccinated .

Helenluvsrob · 01/03/2021 08:06

You can ask. They don’t have to say.
All should proceed assuming Covid risk is unchanged anyway.

Belladonna12 · 01/03/2021 09:27

Of course you can ask and whilst they don't have to say whether they have had it you can refuse to be treated by anyone who doesn't confirm. Why should you risk your life? Ignore any knobs you think you should be grateful for medical treatment even if it will kill you because someone hasn't bothered have the Covid vaccine. Anyone treating immunosuppressed patients has a duty to have it and if they don't want to they are in the wrong job. Hopefully, the trust will redeploy them anyway so it won't be an issue. It is a shame that they don't have badges to say whether or not they've been vaccinated. I was given a few stickers but obviously they don't last long.

Belladonna12 · 01/03/2021 09:30

@Inthevirtualwaitingroom

surely the staff could still transmit covid, even if they are all vaccinated against it, they could catch it on the bus, in the supermarket, from a park bench.
They could but the risk is much lower.
Original poster
BearEastie · 01/03/2021 10:10

@AllFrightOnTheNight It's been a huge issue for weeks now - there's been a big drive (not only for the hospital trust but for the community too as unfortunately lots of people in the community are aware that staff have refused the vaccine and now they have refused theirs).

There have been press releases about it, hospital statements and senior staff talking about it.

OP posts:
Original poster
BearEastie · 01/03/2021 10:10

And hopefully that would be the same for the OP if she caught it.

There's no research into how it would affect me other than the vaccine does not offer me as much protection as it offers others - discussed in the middle of this thread.

OP posts:
BungleandGeorge · 01/03/2021 12:35

If you’re worried why don’t you contact the trust to ask their policy? If you’re worried about catching covid ask what their policy on masks is for immunosupressed patients? If they are wearing fp3 masks you will be well protected, if they’re not using them ask why not.
Personally I don’t think individual patients have any right to ask vaccination status, that is between employer and employee. I wouldn’t share this, I’ve never been given a flu badge. So you may find that you are refusing treatment from a lot of staff even if they’ve been vaccinated!
Don’t forget that staff can not be vaccinated for at least 28 days following covid infection, a lot of staff have had covid recently..

Belladonna12 · 01/03/2021 12:42

Personally I don’t think individual patients have any right to ask vaccination status, that is between employer and employee. I wouldn’t share this, I’ve never been given a flu badge. So you may find that you are refusing treatment from a lot of staff even if they’ve been vaccinated!

Would you seriously refuse to reassure a patient who was anxious about whether or not you are vaccinated because they were immunocompromised? It wouldn't cross my mind to do that. I think it's quite selfish be so precious about your own privacy when the patient doesn't get much privacy from you and when they have very good reason to be nervous.

Kokeshi123 · 01/03/2021 12:47

Really surprised at the reactions to the OP. She is immunosuppressed and does not want to die, everyone.

The problem with asking someone on the spot is that they may just lie to avoid an argument. I would talk to the organization instead.

lightand · 01/03/2021 13:05

[quote BearEastie]@AllFrightOnTheNight It's been a huge issue for weeks now - there's been a big drive (not only for the hospital trust but for the community too as unfortunately lots of people in the community are aware that staff have refused the vaccine and now they have refused theirs).

There have been press releases about it, hospital statements and senior staff talking about it.[/quote]
Do you yourself actually work for the NHS in some capacity?

Botanicals · 01/03/2021 13:13

I was asked by my dentist to fill in a form this week stating whether I had the vaccine or not. I don’t think yabu at all op. You don’t have to sit quietly in the corner and be ‘grateful’.

I know that some of the London hospitals have quite a large number of staff declining the vaccine.

LemonSwan · 01/03/2021 13:16

It doesnt stop someone getting it or passing it on so I think that would be unreasonable

WhitechapelLass · 01/03/2021 13:27

You mentioned the do no harm principle. That is always dodgy ground when talking about public health vaccination programmes. You are expecting a person who could at minimal risk from covid to have a vaccination (with some potential for harm - albeit limited) to protect you/the public. Shouldn’t the clinician jabbing them adhere to the do no harm ethos to the patient in front of them. On that basis many HCPs would not get vaccinated. Lots of medical ethic debates on this which generally get ignored in the pursuit of protection at a population level. I can reconcile that and am ok with it. But you can’t use the do no harm in this case selectively in favour of yourself.

You haven’t said what you will do if they cannot provide care solely by confirmed vaccinated staff

I understand your concerns, this must be a worrying time. I am sure your clinical team will understand and try and reassure you. However you have got the backs up of numerous HCPs on this thread. I think that shows that how you approach this is key and you might want to consider how you address this with the team in advance and at the time.

Belladonna12 · 01/03/2021 13:59

@LemonSwan

It doesnt stop someone getting it or passing it on so I think that would be unreasonable
It certainly reduces the risk of people getting it and if they don't get it they will be unlikely to transmit it as with other vaccines.
VinylDetective · 01/03/2021 14:00

@LemonSwan

It doesnt stop someone getting it or passing it on so I think that would be unreasonable
The vaccines have been proved to reduce transmission.
FinallyHere · 01/03/2021 14:25

The vaccines have been proved to reduce transmission

I've seen this assertion, especially by the organisations responsible for development and manufacturing. I appreciate that it is very early days for properly peer reviewed studies.

People might not be used to these differences but I really don't think it is possible to have this proof yet. There may very likely be studies which indicate that it may be the case.

I haven't yet seen the evidence for the assertion above. Would be happy for anyone to provide that proof.

Articles in tabloid newspapers really don't carry much weight. I would be sorry if people were adjusting their behaviour based on information gleaned from newspapers rather than medical and scientific publications.

LolaSmiles · 01/03/2021 14:28

like i said up thread (with the example by the poster) I would have to rely on them telling me - either through chit chat or if I asked.

If they don't want to tell me, that's fine - but I still get to chose to be treated by someone else.
I still can't believe that you plan to demand someone else treats you if someone declines to share their personal medical information with you.

For what it's worth, I do think you're reasonable for asking about the risk assessment for immunocompromised patients and to ask about infection control measures and then make your choice about your healthcare accordingly.

VinylDetective · 01/03/2021 14:29

@FinallyHere

The vaccines have been proved to reduce transmission

I've seen this assertion, especially by the organisations responsible for development and manufacturing. I appreciate that it is very early days for properly peer reviewed studies.

People might not be used to these differences but I really don't think it is possible to have this proof yet. There may very likely be studies which indicate that it may be the case.

I haven't yet seen the evidence for the assertion above. Would be happy for anyone to provide that proof.

Articles in tabloid newspapers really don't carry much weight. I would be sorry if people were adjusting their behaviour based on information gleaned from newspapers rather than medical and scientific publications.

Here you go.

www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/single-dose-of-pfizer-biontech-vaccine-reduces-asymptomatic-infections-and-potential-for-sars-cov-2