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.

I’m immunosuppressed and been vaccinated and to be honest I couldn’t give a crap if someone’s been done that’s treating me. Wear a mask etc .

@Donotfeedthebears like others have said other people are anxious about it - you would be too if you were in my shoes waiting for a potentially life changing / prolonging medical procedure which will be delayed yet again if you get covid.

A healthcare worker should not be lying about having the vaccine they can respond by saying I do not discuss my personal business

Op it won’t be long until it’s mandatory. As another has already posted those who have chosen not to be vaccinated or can’t at present have been deployed away from front line

This is not comparable to other vaccines

We had more resistance form staff than was expected but many have thankfully changed their mind. Knowing how it’s going to impact their future either work or travel I suspect had something to do with it

It seems negligent for a hospital to allow unvaccinated staff to work with immunosuppressed patients. I would contact them beforehand to ask their policy on this.
Asking individuals is intrusive though. I wouldn't do that. Currently vaccination isn't compulsory, there may be valid reasons why people haven't had it, and it's a management decision as to how to deploy unvaccinated staff.

@flippertygibbit hospitals don't always have access to your GP notes actually, hence why they usually ask you for your history (every bloody doctor treating you should ask for your history, it's one of the basics of med school!)

Thank you for all the advice (again!)

I actually don't know if I agree with it being mandatory but i am not sure what else they can do. If I was just going into hospital with a broken arm and no underlying conditions or potential upcoming procedures I don't think it would bother me at all. It's just the situation I am in now.

I am really thankful for those who have shared the redeployment for unvaccinated staff away from areas where immunocompromised patients are likely to be.

I've had my first dose ... but it isn't going to make any difference to my behaviour. I will still wear a mask indoors around other people, keep 2m apart and wash my hands frequently.

These are the actions that keep us safe.

I will not be relying on the vaccine reducing transmission or infection. The only reports I have read so far have not been independent. Even the most optimistic do not suggest that the vaccine is 100% effective.

This has the happy side effect that I do not have any use for information about peoples private medical records, never mind whether the vaccine has been successful in any individual case.

I will still wear a mask indoors around other people, keep 2m apart and wash my hands frequently.

Kind of hard to do some of that when you are being given drugs through a mask and there's a nurse right next to you - obviously when I can I will but this is the nature of going to hospital - hence my post. i am not talking about all the things I can control (and have been for the last year).

Medical staff cannot treat patients from two metres away in most cases that require hospital admission.

No, YABU. I am an HCP and haven't been vaccinated (yet) because i'm pregnant. If you were a patient of mine it would be none of your business. You would not be at any greater risk of catching covid from me in my PPE, than I have been of catching it from all the patients I've seen in all the time before the vaccine was available. In fact you'd probably be at less risk because I can use a mask properly.

Though I appreciate your immunosuppression puts you at greater risk of severe illness with covid, you've had a dose of vaccine which has excellent evidence in all groups for preventing serious disease. There is far, far better evidence for this than for reduction in transmission.

If I ask a patient if they've had their vaccine, it is solely out of concern for their own health. You aren't entitled to ask for the medical history of people treating you. Please apply some common courtesy to the professionals around you.

To all the people saying you can't have it when pregnant/breastfeeding, this isn't true.

I have friends who are pregnant and breastfeeding HCPs and all have had the vaccine.

(To clarify, it isnt routinely offered to pregnant people but high risk people, including those working in high risk areas, can be given it).

You would not be at any greater risk of catching covid from me in my PPE, than I have been of catching it from all the patients I've seen in all the time before the vaccine was available.

That's actually a really vile attitude.

Op I dont think you can ask individuals without invading people's privacy but I think you should mention the fact that you are immuosuppressed on being admitted and say if its possible for close contact treatment to be administered by vaccinated staff that is your preference.

*To all the people saying you can't have it when pregnant/breastfeeding, this isn't true.

I have friends who are pregnant and breastfeeding HCPs and all have had the vaccine.*

You are not correct. It is a matter of weighing up the risks and benefits to the individual. The MHRA have made it clear that it is an individual decision. Their original advice was to not have it during pregnancy or breastfeeding at all, and to wait 2 months after having the vaccination before TTC.

So yes, you can have it if you want to. But as there is no trial data and I am in the 1st trimester, I am delaying it. I know many pregnant and breastfeeding HCPs and all have thought long and hard about what to do.

That's actually a really vile attitude.

Only if you don't read the whole of my post.

Oh I did, it just got worse. You actually admitted that I was a greater risk after denying I was.

[quote BearEastie]@shouldistop some vaccines are already mandatory in some cases where there's risk of transmission (ie Hep B).[/quote]
I don't think these are mandatory.
Staff may have to sign a waiver saying they were offered a vaccine, have understood the risks of not having it.

I agree with emailing and calling the hospital in advance. The reasons you gave for not doing that are weird. So what if you're in there for 2 days, 2 weeks, or 2 months? You are expressing your concerns formally and making a request that your caregivers will be vaccinated. How would tackling every individual who comes near your bed yourself be more efficient?

@imjackieweaver yeah, I was confused between here and another country - I have clarified that - but in some trusts, some positions Heb B is mandatory (and immunity is too). I posted a link up thread.

Like I also said upthread I am not sure if I agree with mandatory vaccinations across the board either. It's difficult.

[quote BearEastie]@Donotfeedthebears like others have said other people are anxious about it - you would be too if you were in my shoes waiting for a potentially life changing / prolonging medical procedure which will be delayed yet again if you get covid.[/quote]
I’m pregnant and asthmatic. So let’s not play the “I’m sicker than you” top trumps.

I think maybe the easiest thing would be to state your preference to the nurse doing your admission, and clearly explain to them why you are anxious. I'm sure they will do their best to accommodate you.

I don't think it is appropriate to question individual staff though, and I'm saying that as a nurse who has been vaccinated.

I am going to contact the hospital - I've said that. I actually was trying whilst responding to this thread but totally forgot it's Sunday [doh]

My comment re why I couldn't ring in advance was aimed at the poster who seemed to think it was just one member of staff I was seeing - obviously it's going to be multiple (which you've picked up on).

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland

To all the people saying you can't have it when pregnant/breastfeeding, this isn't true.

I have friends who are pregnant and breastfeeding HCPs and all have had the vaccine.

Official advice: www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-women-of-childbearing-age-currently-pregnant-planning-a-pregnancy-or-breastfeeding/covid-19-vaccination-a-guide-for-women-of-childbearing-age-pregnant-planning-a-pregnancy-or-breastfeeding

“if you are pregnant you should not be vaccinated unless you are at high risk – you can be vaccinated after your pregnancy is over
if you have had the first dose and then become pregnant you should delay the second dose until after the pregnancy is over (unless you are at high risk)”

“ If you are breastfeeding, you may decide to wait until you have finished breastfeeding and then have the vaccination.”

I won’t be having it whilst pregnant or when I’m breastfeeding.

I'm a bit worried about two things now:

1. I ask patients/carers if they've had their vaccination - it's because if they should be entitled to it if they want it, and I can advocate for them if they haven't been offered. Now I'm worried people might think I've been asking because of risk to myself.
2. Flu fighters stickers/badges/lanyards - when we (NHS) get our flu jab we're offered a sticker in the same way kids are offered a lolly for being good at the doctors - it's not an official marker of having been vaccinated! It's a bit of fun, and a bit of encouragement, and raises awareness of the vaccine.

@Donotfeedthebears I am not playing top trumps. I am hoping to get a SCT (depending on this admission), which will be postponed or written off completely if I get covid now.