To find a replacement for my cleaner...

[Newbie408]

... after finding out that she isn't vaccinated against COVID?

Just that really.

She mentioned this in passing when she was here today - this is not due to being vulnerable or anything, just that she "doesn't believe" in the vaccine. Her unvaccinated secondary school age children also live with her which makes me feel more uncomfortable.

To be clear, this isn't a choice based on discriminating against her for her beliefs, it's about a genuine fear of being more at risk from catching COVID from her and I don't know if I'm BU for feeling like this.

I know that looking for a replacement starts a slippery slope of discrimination against those who chose not to be vaccinated but I feel uncomfortable as I am home when she is here and I am quite heavily pregnant - this final factor being what is swaying me towards finding a replacement.

Am I being over the top? Do I just need to accept that COVID is part of our lives now and so is inevitably mixing with people that have chosen not to get the vaccine?

Sorry this is a bit stream of consciousness. Really appreciate any thoughts.

YABU

Why does the reason she is not vaccinated matter? If she had not had it due to allergies, would you still sack her?
Do you not trust the vaccines that you have had yourself?

Do you not trust the vaccines that you have had yourself?

The vaccine doesn’t necessarily stop you getting COVID, as everyone who hasn’t been living under a rock knows.

It just lessens the symptoms and impact.

Most of the people in hospital / ICU / dying are the unvaccinated.

It would possibly be difficult to establish that any replacement is vaccinated but I wouldn't employ anyone in my house who had told me they were unvaccinated through choice, especially if they had unvaccinated school aged children.

I don't have time for anti vaxxers and I wouldn't want to give one any of my money or let them into my home to touch my stuff.

Oh well this is exactly what the anti vaxers said would happen. Discriminated for not having the vaccine..... A vaccine that doesn't stop transmission, only affecting the symptoms.

This then makes no sense to the preachers saying they have no time for selfish people putting others at risk. The only people they are putting at risk is themselves.

Are you going to ask all future cleaners for their covid and MMR proof seeings how we lost our measles free status 2years ago but Noone seems bothered about that!?

YABU are you going to ask all the medical staff delivering your baby if they’ve had the vaccine too? It should be pretty easy to social distance from your cleaner (which would be sensible regardless of their vaccination status) and she’s cleaning the place so it’s unlikely she’s leaving germs on all the surfaces. You could struggle to replace her with a vaccinated cleaner, or you could hire a vaccinated cleaner that takes no other precautions and is more likely to catch covid as a result anyway. If you’ve other concerns about her work then I’d understand this being the final straw, but if she’s otherwise good I wouldn’t sack her.

This then makes no sense to the preachers saying they have no time for selfish people putting others at risk. The only people they are putting at risk is themselves.

Wrong

Some genuinely can't have the vaccine for medical reasons. I have 2 friends in this category who for the time being at least have to rely on others to protect them & still basically shielding. These people put those at risk

Our friend is double vaccinated, got Covid & was still very ill & is now going through heart tests as a result. Looking like he now has POTs to live with, which is a known complication of COVID. No vaccine he would have died for sure. With the vaccine he survived, but now with extra debilitating health issues

We also know someone who was vaccinated, caught it & died.

The vaccine improves chances & reduces transmission for sure, but it does not stop it spreading completely. The Unvaccinated deniers are the super spreaders & who the hell wants that in their own home

@XenoBitch

YABU

Why does the reason she is not vaccinated matter? If she had not had it due to allergies, would you still sack her?
Do you not trust the vaccines that you have had yourself?

I genuinely do not understand why my OP would lead to the question "Do you not trust the vaccines that you have had yourself?"

Of course I do. Which is why I am more wary around those who have not had it!

Thank you for all the responses so far (both telling me I'm BU and that I'm not). They've given me some good food for thought. As my first ever post on MN, I really appreciate this community!

@WorriedGiraffe

YABU are you going to ask all the medical staff delivering your baby if they’ve had the vaccine too? It should be pretty easy to social distance from your cleaner (which would be sensible regardless of their vaccination status) and she’s cleaning the place so it’s unlikely she’s leaving germs on all the surfaces. You could struggle to replace her with a vaccinated cleaner, or you could hire a vaccinated cleaner that takes no other precautions and is more likely to catch covid as a result anyway. If you’ve other concerns about her work then I’d understand this being the final straw, but if she’s otherwise good I wouldn’t sack her.

No but I don't have a choice in who delivers my baby and it wouldn't be my place to ask them. I do have a choice in who cleans my house and comes into my home. Thank you for the other points, all very valid and helpful in making me see both sides.

I've changed hairdresser for the same reason.

@Newbie408

It can be a great place, but it can also be bike, but don't ever be out off by that because there simply isn't no place like it when the chips are down. I hope you stay

As for your cleaner. Pregnant women & newborns are more susceptible to Covid and it's great you're double jabbed, but it's still wise to take as many precautions as you can.

There's no need to have an unvaccinated cleaner (with unvaccinated teens) when you could have a vaccinated one, so why take the extra risk. If she chooses 'not to believe' in the vaccine, that's her (stupid) choice, it's your choice to tell her you don't require her services any longer. You don't have to be honest about why if that makes you uncomfortable! (You can blame your DH saying he think we need to cut back now with the baby coming 🤣)

Best wishes with the birth!

@CombatBarbie

Oh well this is exactly what the anti vaxers said would happen. Discriminated for not having the vaccine..... A vaccine that doesn't stop transmission, only affecting the symptoms.

This then makes no sense to the preachers saying they have no time for selfish people putting others at risk. The only people they are putting at risk is themselves.

Are you going to ask all future cleaners for their covid and MMR proof seeings how we lost our measles free status 2years ago but Noone seems bothered about that!?

I already said it might be difficult to establish someone's vaccination status as one can't ask.

I said I wouldn't want someone in my house who said they were unvaccinated by choice. No amount of unpleasant sniping such as this is going to alter my position.

Doesn't alter my position either. But I'd judge any of my friends who sacked someone for not being vaccinated.

[quote SpookyPumpkinPants]@Newbie408

It can be a great place, but it can also be bike, but don't ever be out off by that because there simply isn't no place like it when the chips are down. I hope you stay

As for your cleaner. Pregnant women & newborns are more susceptible to Covid and it's great you're double jabbed, but it's still wise to take as many precautions as you can.

There's no need to have an unvaccinated cleaner (with unvaccinated teens) when you could have a vaccinated one, so why take the extra risk. If she chooses 'not to believe' in the vaccine, that's her (stupid) choice, it's your choice to tell her you don't require her services any longer. You don't have to be honest about why if that makes you uncomfortable! (You can blame your DH saying he think we need to cut back now with the baby coming 🤣)

Best wishes with the birth![/quote]
Thank you! So excited :-)

Ha, I was totally already thinking about blaming DH, what else is here there for!

*he there for (typo kind of ruined that, didn't it)

@CombatBarbie

Doesn't alter my position either. But I'd judge any of my friends who sacked someone for not being vaccinated.

I said I'd not employ someone who stated that they were unvaccinated by choice - and started saying that they "didn't believe" in it. That's slightly different in my opinion.

My cleaner I assume is vaccinated unless she starts telling me otherwise . I haven't asked. I do know she's had Covid anyway - just before she came to me.

So do you not think your vaccine works? Why should she get the same vaccine to protect you if this vaccine doesn’t work anyway?!

A vaccine that doesn't stop transmission, only affecting the symptoms.

This misinformation has already been corrected upthread. It’s a lie.

No. This argument is void. It simply does not matter. The OP requires a vaccinated against covid cleaner and her cleaner isn't. Game over. There is no debate on it

That's your opinion, even though you've stated it as though it's fact.
I'm simply questioning that if the OP is so worried about this vaccine (which doesn't even prevent transmission!) then surely she should be worried about others? Especially with a newborn.

It just lessens the symptoms and impact.

It also reduces the likelihood you will become infected, as mentioned upthread.

I'm simply questioning that if the OP is so worried about this vaccine (which doesn't even prevent transmission!) then surely she should be worried about others? Especially with a newborn.

What are the current rates of pertussis, measles, rubella, diphtheria, meningitis b, etc, circulating in the community?

There were fewer than 1000 cases of pertussis in the whole of last year. 3700 in 2019.

So one tenth, across the year, of the current daily rate of confirmed Covid cases.

I sympathise but are you honestly going to ring up cleaners and ask if they're vaccinated (and if they say yes have any certainty they're telling the truth)? You can sack the one you've got but how are you going to make sure the new one is vaxxed?

@Shitfuckcommaetc

No. This argument is void. It simply does not matter. The OP requires a vaccinated against covid cleaner and her cleaner isn't. Game over. There is no debate on it

That's your opinion, even though you've stated it as though it's fact.
I'm simply questioning that if the OP is so worried about this vaccine (which doesn't even prevent transmission!) then surely she should be worried about others? Especially with a newborn.

@Shitfuckcommaetc Actually, she's right - it's not her opinion, it is fact. I did ask about a vaccinated against Covid cleaner and your argument is void because your response had nothing to do with my concerns, it was just going to derail from the conversation and other people's valid responses. I'm perfectly happy to hear from people that think I am BU but not to engage in debate about other vaccines when that's not what I asked.

This exact thread came up a few weeks ago and I'm sure the poster was told very definitely they were unreasonable. Amazing what a few nudges can do.
If she couldn't be vaccinated for health reasons you wouldn't mind catching it off her though? Is that right?