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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that all NHS staff must be Covid vaccinated?

126 replies

Justecelaoui · 02/06/2021 13:38

Just that really.

OP posts:
gmailconfusion2 · 02/06/2021 15:16

I had nearly every side effect mentioned with jab 3 of my hep b so I've not continued it. If I was forced I would leave. I also have a medical condition where I wouldnt be able to have some jabs. Would you expect all NHS staff with similar medical conditions to quit the NHS? Could cause a major shortage.
There was a girl who had the jab when pregnant and then at 19 weeks had to have an abortion as the fetus developed abnormalities. She is forever going to wonder if the jab caused that, and in future I don't think she would take it again, just in case, there will be many women and men TTC who may think the same way.

I think it should be part of the jabs offered as a new starter, but like the others, optional.

GettingAwayWithIt · 02/06/2021 15:22

Should the NHS refuse to admit patients to hospital if they are eligible for, but have refused the vaccine?

DeathByWalkies · 02/06/2021 15:22

It should be compulsory for anyone in a patient-facing role.

Anyone whining about it should also, logically, have been whining for years about NHS workers requiring a hepatitis vaccine, for instance.

SnuffleSnaffle · 02/06/2021 15:34

TheTeenageYears

I think that if staff refuse the vaccine their contracts need to be amended to exclude the likes of long term sick benefit if covid related.

Why impose this re coronavirus vaccine and not any other self inflicted long term health issues, such as type 2 diabetes due to obesity etc? There are many reasons people don’t want or can’t have certain vaccines, and large number of people have already had covid, me being one. So should I, as a person who hasn’t had the vaccine, had the illness for two weeks but didn’t resort to using any medical care, be refused long term dick benefits if I catch covid again and am unwell? What about those people who ARE vaccinated but catch it again and have few symptoms but continue working because they have a false sense of protection from being vaxxed, and pass it on to patients? Pat them in the back?!

SnuffleSnaffle · 02/06/2021 15:35

*sick, not dick. What a typo!

Carycy · 02/06/2021 15:36

If nhs are forced to have it then patients needing care need to be forced to have it too. It is a two way thing. We either have compulsory vaccines for the entire adult population or not at all.
While we are one the subject maybe I should start being allowed to refuse to attend patients that refuse to wear masks.

MaxNormal · 02/06/2021 15:41

Hep C vaccine is to protect medical staff moreso than patients.
And as a PP has mentioned, you don't get sacked if you decline it.

NHS staff have always been free to refuse the flu vaccine as well, and that is a very dangerous illness to the frail and elderly.

SultanOfSwing · 02/06/2021 15:42

It’s obviously a human right to choose not to have an invasive medical procedure (as a vaccine certainly is).

It is not a human right to work with sick, elderly and medically vulnerable people. It’s absolutely fine to take up your right to refuse the vaccine, but then your employer ought also to have the option not to renew your contract, based on that refusal if you are a frontline healthcare worker or care home worker.

sundaylunday · 02/06/2021 15:44

Surely it has to be mandatory vaccines for all or not at all - you can't cherry pick some sectors...why NHS staff but not NHS patients? That's ridiculous.

Loads of public sectors come in regular and close contact with the public. My son specialist School staff get much closer to the children than I do in my NHS role for example. Police, transport, childcare and teaching, shop workers.....it'll have to be mandatory for them too.

As an NHS worker I do believe in the vaccines and hope everyone has the good sense to make the choice to be vaccinated but if that choice is taken away from just NHS workers (as if we're somehow responsible for spreading / killing etc) then I would be very displeased.

Getyourarseofffthequattro · 02/06/2021 15:45

Yes. I don’t know how you can see these things, be traumatised by them and still not want to prevent others from suffering like those patients and their families did

you do realise that not all NHS staff work on a covid ward, don't you?

sundaylunday · 02/06/2021 15:46

@SultanOfSwing

It’s obviously a human right to choose not to have an invasive medical procedure (as a vaccine certainly is).

It is not a human right to work with sick, elderly and medically vulnerable people. It’s absolutely fine to take up your right to refuse the vaccine, but then your employer ought also to have the option not to renew your contract, based on that refusal if you are a frontline healthcare worker or care home worker.

You know that a huge amount of nhs staff don't work directly with these groups don't you?
whymewhyme · 02/06/2021 15:47

No way! Everybody should have the right to choose what goes into their body regardless of occupation.

user1497207191 · 02/06/2021 15:52

Not "all" NHS workers. But certainly the ones who come into close contact with vulnerable patients should be vaccinated. The unvaccinated staff need to be moved to roles that don't involve close contact with vulnerable patients.

MyCatDribbles · 02/06/2021 16:02

I’m a HCP
I’ve had a stillbirth, a miscarriage and a cvst all in the last 8 months.
I’m also 10 weeks pregnant so I’m going to wait until I’m way into my second trimester before I have my jab.
So all the people I scan and diagnose cancer in will unfortunately have to deal with me being unvaccinated until I decide what to do with my body

speakout · 02/06/2021 16:05

Pity student have not been fully vaccinated.
My DD was assigned two Covid patients to care for and in now ill with Covid.
She would have loved the vaccine.

Tippytaps · 03/06/2021 19:27

This was years ago now, but I am certain I had to prove my vaccination status for some diseases when working in the NHS.

loulouljh · 03/06/2021 19:30

No. Just no.

Shadedog · 03/06/2021 19:38

My trust is the highest in the country at 92%. I’m surprised it’s not higher tbh.

CharlotteRose90 · 03/06/2021 19:46

Nope you’d be surprised how many have refused the vaccine. My next door neighbours are a heart surgeon and a nurse and they have refused. They had the nerve to be put out when we keep saying no to invites for house parties or bbqs. I’m all for people having a choice but I won’t be associating with anyone that’s not had it.

RedcurrantPuff · 03/06/2021 19:48

Well let’s see what the government say when the results of their consultation on mandatory vax are produced.

BonnieDundee · 03/06/2021 20:06

I’m all for people having a choice but I won’t be associating with anyone that’s not had it.

Hmm

How will you know who's had it? Are you going to go around grilling everyone? In which case be prepared for people not to want to associate with you

CharlotteRose90 · 03/06/2021 20:11

@BonnieDundee

I’m all for people having a choice but I won’t be associating with anyone that’s not had it. Hmm

How will you know who's had it? Are you going to go around grilling everyone? In which case be prepared for people not to want to associate with you

Because luckily in my friends and family and work we’re very open over it. So no I won’t be grilling someone but with my health if they told me they hadn’t had it I won’t see them . Same as if they don’t want to see me as I’ve had the vaccine. Pure choice
FightingFiles · 03/06/2021 20:15

Seems reasonable. You have to have a Hep B vaccine to work in my lab. I'm not signing you off without it, nor will anyone else.

No difference really?

thenightsky · 03/06/2021 20:23

@CharlotteRose90

Nope you’d be surprised how many have refused the vaccine. My next door neighbours are a heart surgeon and a nurse and they have refused. They had the nerve to be put out when we keep saying no to invites for house parties or bbqs. I’m all for people having a choice but I won’t be associating with anyone that’s not had it.
Have you asked them why they refused. I would have. And I'd be listening to their answers, given they are educated medical people.
Laiste · 03/06/2021 20:26

@Carycy

If nhs are forced to have it then patients needing care need to be forced to have it too. It is a two way thing. We either have compulsory vaccines for the entire adult population or not at all. While we are one the subject maybe I should start being allowed to refuse to attend patients that refuse to wear masks.
Yep.