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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not know where to turn about vaccine fears?

280 replies

WaxedNotVaxed · 21/07/2021 20:41

I've started a new job in the NHS, I'm patient facing and there is pressure being put on for me to get the covid vaccine as soon as possible.

My fears are that I have PCOS and have always struggled with my periods and my cycles used to be 100+ days. Since having a baby a few years ago I have a 29 day cycle and I don't want to mess with this?

I'm scared about the vaccine making me infertile? Or having long term impacts on my reproductive health? It's scary enough with PCOS and I definitely want another child.

I'm overall just a bit skeptical as a 26 year old woman who wants more kids and has PCOS to get a vaccine without long term studies for a virus id likely only be mildly ill from?

I can't say this at work but I feel really anxious over it

OP posts:
sammysnake · 21/07/2021 21:45

@TokenGinger There will be many other jobs open to her.

TokenGinger · 21/07/2021 21:47

[quote sammysnake]@TokenGinger There will be many other jobs open to her.[/quote]
Likely not in the field she's studied in if she's patient-facing.

AnnaSW1 · 21/07/2021 21:48

Turn to science! There is zero basis for your concerns

samwitwicky · 21/07/2021 21:48

[quote sammysnake]@samwitwicky Unless there are legitimate health reasons why not then client facing health workers should have the jab. Why shouldn't they? If it's safe and effective then it's no different to having any other vaccine, except not having this vaccine can have devastating consequences for the exact people you're working to help.[/quote]

You just said it yourself. IF it's safe.

The long-term effects of it are not yet known.

Therefore it has not been proven as safe.

It doesn't matter what health organisations / the government / other organisational body tells us. There is no way of them knowing it is safe until more time has passed.

Therefore...

If you removed every single non-vaccinated NHS colleague from their post, you would have very limited healthcare and even longer wait times.

In this situation, surely, as a patient, you would choose being seen by a non-vaccinated staff member over not being seen at all.

Kittyswhiskers · 21/07/2021 21:48

This thread is getting ridiculous. There is NO evidence that the vaccine causes fertility problems. Don’t even know where this rumour started tbh!!

SycamoreGap · 21/07/2021 21:49

@standupsitdownturnaround

The vulnerable people would have had the vaccine though?
The vaccine isn't as effective in immunocompromised patients.
sammysnake · 21/07/2021 21:49

@TokenGinger Again, that's the OP's choice. In principle the needs of the patient should come first. I think the OP just needs a good discussion with someone at the vaccine centre to allay her fears.

DismantledKing · 21/07/2021 21:50

The antivaxxers have well and truly found this thread now. Here to spread their bullshit and plant doubts.

TheVeryHungryTortoise · 21/07/2021 21:50

I'm a 26 year old medical student student with pcos and I would like children in the near future.

As well as hospital placements I work as a covid vaccinator, so I knew it was important that I get vaccinated as soon as possible for the protection of not only myself, but my colleagues and patients too. I think that I would support mandatory vaccinations for certain patient facing roles. We have mandatory vaccines anyway, so how is the covid vaccine different really?

A GP up thread linked you to the royal college of obstetricians and gynaecologists, this is the information that I would be trusting, not whatever negative voices that you are hunting for on mumsnet.

Kittyswhiskers · 21/07/2021 21:50

There’s also zero evidence that you won’t suddenly sprout a third arm in 5 years post the vaccine but funny how that daft rumour isn’t going around 🙄 the vaccine type has been researched for YEARS. There is zero evidence that it will affect reproductive health or any other bodily systems!!! Where did this rumour even start?

titchy · 21/07/2021 21:53

@WaxedNotVaxed

So I should quit the career that I've studied years for because I, as a young women, have fears over the long term fertility impacts of a still very new vaccine?

Worlds gone mad.

That's just it though - they're fears. They're not real.

Do you really think no one that had the vaccine has since got pregnant?

sammysnake · 21/07/2021 21:54

@samwitwicky It IS safe. It has been through rigorous testing and is based on technology that has been tested and trialled for decades. It has been rolled out worldwide! I would seriously question the ethics of someone who worked in healthcare and chose not to have a safe vaccine. As a patient it would be my right to do so.

Youdiditanyway · 21/07/2021 21:55

Honestly didn’t know there even was a link between the vaccine and infertility. I’ve heard some women mention the fact their periods went out of whack afterwards but mine came as normal and has continued to ever since…

It’s ultimately your choice, they can’t force you to have it. I’d have it in your shoes though but then I can’t quite understand why anyone is rejecting it.

CaramelWaferAndTea · 21/07/2021 21:56

Just to add to this - covid in pregnancy is dangerous. Lots of information on the rcog website.

I’m a HCP and I’m double vaccinated and 8 weeks pregnant. I have four friends
/ colleagues who waited until after second jab to try to get pregnant (when the advice was different in pregnancy). All of us are now pregnant.

samwitwicky · 21/07/2021 21:56

@Kittyswhiskers

This thread is getting ridiculous. There is NO evidence that the vaccine causes fertility problems. Don’t even know where this rumour started tbh!!

The vaccine can cause delayed / irregular periods.

Delayed / irregular periods can affect fertility (less chances of getting pregnant, for example).

It really isn't difficult.

littledrummergirl · 21/07/2021 21:57

You do not have to have the vaccine unless you fully understand and are happy to accept the risks that go with it. If you tell your hcp that you feel coerced into a procedure and they go ahead then they can be prosecuted.

Your medical status is nobody's business except yours and those you choose to share it with. There are treaties (which one specifically escapes me) that our government has agreed to where the state societies interests don't outstrip those of the individual.
It is your choice.

Kittyswhiskers · 21/07/2021 21:58

Contact the chief medical officer for the trust OP or the lead for the staff vaccination programme and ask to discuss your fears. They ARE just fears though, there is zero evidence to say you will have any infertility issues post the vaccine. It’s funny how no one worries about getting the flu jab and their fertility isn’t it?! I’m a vaccinator and am
up to date with the very latest info. In the early days it was changing constantly but there’s never been a whiff of anything about reproductive health being negatively affected. Please don’t listen to a load of opinions on mumsnet on such an important matter. Listen to the experts, contact who I’ve said above and make an informed decision based on the latest evidence and guidance, not the opinions of strangers online.

tttigress · 21/07/2021 21:58

Why don't you just tell them you can't have it for medical reasons, due to medical confidentiality you can't tell them what those reasons are.

Kittyswhiskers · 21/07/2021 21:58

Having a period be a few days late isn’t a sign of long term reproductive issues Hmm

HowManyToes · 21/07/2021 22:00

I would’ve thought that with all your years of studying you’d know where/how to access reliable medical research to inform your decisions rather than listening to random people on the internet 🙄

And I actually agree with PP upthread suggesting that Katie the care may not be the right choice for you at this time.

WeatheringStorms22 · 21/07/2021 22:00

It’s funny how no one worries about getting the flu jab and their fertility isn’t it?!

Not really, seeing as there aren't usually hoardes of young adult women experiencing worrying changes to their cycle after having the flu jab Hmm

samwitwicky · 21/07/2021 22:02

[quote sammysnake]@samwitwicky It IS safe. It has been through rigorous testing and is based on technology that has been tested and trialled for decades. It has been rolled out worldwide! I would seriously question the ethics of someone who worked in healthcare and chose not to have a safe vaccine. As a patient it would be my right to do so.[/quote]

A patient does not have the right to question the medical background etc of the person treating them.

You may ask the question. We may decline to give you an answer. If you decide you'd rather be seen by a vaccinated member of staff that's entirely your prerogative, but you may have to wait longer to be seen / treated.

A doctor may smoke cigarettes, but will still advise patients to quit smoking and offer support for this. Would you question these ethics?

EVERYONE has a choice, healthcare worker or not, and that choice does not have to be justified to anyone.

standupsitdownturnaround · 21/07/2021 22:02

Yeah I know @SycamoreGap I was replying to another post which said patients know vulnerable staff wouldn't have been vaccinated.

I didn't make myself clear.

samwitwicky · 21/07/2021 22:02

@WeatheringStorms22

It’s funny how no one worries about getting the flu jab and their fertility isn’t it?!

Not really, seeing as there aren't usually hoardes of young adult women experiencing worrying changes to their cycle after having the flu jab Hmm

🗣 One more time for them peoples in the back!

HowManyToes · 21/07/2021 22:04

*patient facing care

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