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

[BearEastie]

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.

The patients themselves aren't being treated differently. It is the staff that are treated differently in terms of vaccination requirements. As for sharing information regarding vaccination, staff are encouraged to wear stickers showing that they have been vaccinated.
I get that.
What I was confused about is the difference in treatment from the risk assessments.
For example patients A could be immunosuppressed and go to Clinic 1. Because Covid is deemed a risk to the patient given their immunosuppression then all the staff in Clinic 1 would be vaccinated or deployed elsewhere. Patient A might also need to go to Clinic 2, but in Clinic 2 staff don't have vaccination as a requirement even though they are still treating immunosuppressed patients. Patient A's risk hasn't changed walking from Clinic 1 to Clinic 2, so how come the risk assessment would vary so much?
That's what I'm not getting my head around. I'm sure it's because it's not my line of work, but I don't understand how a vaccine would be compulsory for some, but not for others when the immunosuppressed status of A hasn't changed.

@LolaSmiles

The patients themselves aren't being treated differently. It is the staff that are treated differently in terms of vaccination requirements. As for sharing information regarding vaccination, staff are encouraged to wear stickers showing that they have been vaccinated. I get that. What I was confused about is the difference in treatment from the risk assessments. For example patients A could be immunosuppressed and go to Clinic 1. Because Covid is deemed a risk to the patient given their immunosuppression then all the staff in Clinic 1 would be vaccinated or deployed elsewhere. Patient A might also need to go to Clinic 2, but in Clinic 2 staff don't have vaccination as a requirement even though they are still treating immunosuppressed patients. Patient A's risk hasn't changed walking from Clinic 1 to Clinic 2, so how come the risk assessment would vary so much? That's what I'm not getting my head around. I'm sure it's because it's not my line of work, but I don't understand how a vaccine would be compulsory for some, but not for others when the immunosuppressed status of A hasn't changed.

Most clinics aren't treating many if any significantly immunosuppressed patients though. Someone who is significantly immunosuppressed is in a different position to most people in that even if they are vaccinated it probably won't work that well. If everybody in clinic one is immunosuppressed you would expect the clinic to take steps to make sure everyone working there is vaccinated. If you are the only person visiting a clinic who is .immunosuppressed and every other patient visiting that week has a fully functioning immune system it may be that the staff aren't all vaccinated

Hmmmm this is interesting, let me put this scenario to you. When you're admitted to hospital, it's a full ward with 24 patients but instead of 4 nurses on shift, there are only 2 nurses. Both of these nurses disclose that they haven't had the vaccine, what are you going to do?

@NurseButtercup already answered previously

@Sootess the hospital involved had a round a third of staff who've declined the vaccine

Thanks for all the helpful advice - I have contacted the hospital and a Service Manager (I think that was it) is going to call me tomorrow.

I’ve been asked and I’m happy to say yes, some are quite negative or worried towards the vaccine so it’s important they know people are having it. For others it may be reassuring. We’ve had a much higher take up in my trust than the flu vaccine. We only get stickers at my trust no badges or lanyards and mine fell off my badge ages ago.

On the other hand it’s not something that should be mandatory or you should be required to answer if you don’t want to. Not sure you can ask for only vaccinated staff though. But I’m sure if you are immunosuppressed then the correct IC precautions are taken.

As you say, if people assume they can't pass it on they may not be careful enough with infection control. However, if they think it has no effect on transmission they may not see any reason to get vaccinated if they are young and healthy.

Well I think you hit the nail on the head their belladonna

And this is why clear information is so important.

Everyone shouting at for me for my original statement calling it lies and misinformation is insanity. It is true by everyones own admission that this vaccine does not stop people getting it or transmitting it.

Yes it may reduce transmission it but that is not the same as the above statement. Its important the general public are given the truth rather than a version formulated in response to how we think they will react. Otherwise its a fucked up version of game theory playing with peoples lives and we will have another mask gate.

For me, how you say it makes a difference. If you say ‘I’m feeling anxious, would you be willing to tell me, have you had your vaccine?’ I would merrily tell you I have and carry on cheerfully. If you screech or shout ‘have you been vaccinated’ at me (some patients do speak so awfully to us), I would still tell you, but it would bring me down and once again remind me of how awfully HCP are treated at times, and just have to put up with it. You would still get your care though, just as everyone does from me regardless of who they are and how they treat me. People forget we are people too sometimes.

@LemonSwan

As you say, if people assume they can't pass it on they may not be careful enough with infection control. However, if they think it has no effect on transmission they may not see any reason to get vaccinated if they are young and healthy.

Well I think you hit the nail on the head their belladonna

And this is why clear information is so important.

Everyone shouting at for me for my original statement calling it lies and misinformation is insanity. It is true by everyones own admission that this vaccine does not stop people getting it or transmitting it.

Yes it may reduce transmission it but that is not the same as the above statement. Its important the general public are given the truth rather than a version formulated in response to how we think they will react. Otherwise its a fucked up version of game theory playing with peoples lives and we will have another mask gate.

I think you have misunderstood. When people say it may reduce transmission, they mean it will probably stop some people transmitting it but not everybody. We have to wait the evidence to confirm though.

I have not misunderstood bella

they mean it will probably stop some people transmitting it but not everybody

So which is truer:
The vaccine stops people getting covid and transmitting it.
The vaccine does not stop people getting covid and transmitting it.

In the absence of a crystal ball for each individual - its obvious which absolute statement should be put out to the public to ensure people remain vigilant.

Anyway I am off. No point arguing about this on here anymore. Its up to Hancock at the end of the day to sort his public messaging.

Sorry, I'm a bit puzzled by some posters saying the vaccine doesn't reduce transmission? I thought it had been proven to do so, beyond doubt? That's my entire reason for having the vaccine at some point (I haven't yet - probably April or May) I'm low risk, and have a good immune system, so Covid would be unlikely to affect me badly. So I was initially not planning to have the vaccine (I'm a vegan and am upset about the animal testing etc) But the moment it was announced that it reduces transmission, I changed my mind. I began to see it as my moral duty to have it. To me, the reduction in transmission is a total game changer, and the reason it does make a difference to the OP if those treating her are vaccinated or not. I don't think the OP is being unreasonable at all, if she asks politely, which I'm sure she would (obviously conscientious or she wouldn't be asking for advice) I understand her being nervous

It absolutely does reduce transmission

Both AZ and Pfizer have been shown to cut transmission by 2/3

There's a study from Brazil (67% reduction in vaccinated people) and one from Addenbrookes Hospital where vaccinated staff rates reduced to 1/4 that of unvaccinated staff

People should not be saying it doesn't reduce transmission in their opinion when real scientific studies say it does. A quick Google will bring the studies up.

I had my vaccine largely for the sake of others and not myself
I've already had COVID and it was unpleasant but not a huge deal for me but I would not want to live with the guilt of passing it to others who are more vulnerable.

YANBU. You need to put your health first.

I personally think it's ludicrous that those who work in the healthcare professional, who CAN have it, are allowed not to. They are allowed to knowingly put their patients at risk (shame on them).

Is your hospital treatment/stay essential? If not, I would delay until cases are down and immunity in the wider population is higher

@CovoidOfAllHumanity, what benefit does the vax give you if you already had covid? I already had covid. I asked Pfizer if I would benefit from also having the jab (out of interest) and they replied that their jab provoked a “natural immune response” . I have already had a natural immune response, and I had a pretty bad case too, and still have altered sense of smell a year on.

It will provide longer lasting immunity as your natural immunity will wane quicker. The vaccine is like having a booster.

I'm a nurse, no patient has ever asked me this but I wouldn't be offended if someone did. Where I work every single staff member on my ward is vaccinated and I would be proud to say so.