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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To find a replacement for my cleaner...

116 replies

Newbie408 · 03/11/2021 15:29

... 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.

OP posts:
RockinHorseShit · 05/11/2021 16:31

@LittleGwyneth

Not according to this science rag & many more sources. Are you sure you didn't misunderstand something in the article Confused

www.newscientist.com/article/2294250-how-much-less-likely-are-you-to-spread-covid-19-if-youre-vaccinated/

Fangdango · 05/11/2021 16:56

@LittleGwyneth

She's your cleaner so it's your choice, but the Guardian front page this week said that being vaccinated doesn't make you less likely to transmit the virus.
Not exactly.

It said that if you were infected with Covid (which is already less likely if you are vaccinated) it is still just as likely your close household contacts will be infected too as if you weren't vaccinated.

Vaccinated people can transmit the virus but they are strongly infectious for a shorter time. So close household contacts are the ones at risk from them - they're with them day to day.

In short - she's more likely to catch the virus

She's more likely to give you the virus if she catches it because she'll be highly infectious for longer

If she was vaccinated and unlucky enough to catch the virus, your risk would still be lower because was vaccinated.

www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/28/covid-vaccinated-likely-unjabbed-infect-cohabiters-study-suggests

Tryingtryingandtrying · 05/11/2021 20:24

Or you could look at it that the unvaccinated person is more likely to be symptomatic and therefore she and you will know, whereas your vaccinated cleaner could easily be asymptomatic, or think it's a cold and transmit it that way, as she believes she's safe like you do. The latest rates comparing rates of infection in vaccinated with non vaccinated are interesting.

JassyRadlett · 05/11/2021 21:04

@Tryingtryingandtrying

Or you could look at it that the unvaccinated person is more likely to be symptomatic and therefore she and you will know, whereas your vaccinated cleaner could easily be asymptomatic, or think it's a cold and transmit it that way, as she believes she's safe like you do. The latest rates comparing rates of infection in vaccinated with non vaccinated are interesting.
Can I ask which figures you are using for this comparison?

I assume that it’s not the PHE/UKHSA figures using the NIMS denominator which state very clearly that the figures can’t be used for accurate comparison of case rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated because of the known issues with NIMS - and for which they’ve been reprimanded by the statistics watchdog.

50ShadesOfCatholic · 05/11/2021 21:13

People get so bogged down in being right about this. It really isn't that complicated. If you don't want an unvaxxed person in your home, you're entitled to act on that. You don't need to justify yourself to anyone in here.
Frankly I wouldn't have an unvaxxed person (excluding those who are exempt) in my home simply because I think it's incredibly selfish and irresponsible. It's not just the vax I care about, it's the ethic.

Tryingtryingandtrying · 05/11/2021 21:22

What's so selfless about having a vaccine that reduces your own risk of being hospitalised? It's to your own benefit.

50ShadesOfCatholic · 05/11/2021 21:37

@Tryingtryingandtrying

What's so selfless about having a vaccine that reduces your own risk of being hospitalised? It's to your own benefit.
Do you really not know after all this time? It reduces risk of transmission and reduces risk of serious illness. It is for the benefit of all.

Posters who feign ignorance about the purpose of the vaccine sound very foolish indeed.

Tryingtryingandtrying · 05/11/2021 21:41

But ultimately it mostly benefits the recipient. So it's hardly selfless.

milkyaqua · 05/11/2021 21:42

@Tryingtryingandtrying

But ultimately it mostly benefits the recipient. So it's hardly selfless.
Have you heard of society?

It protects the recipient, those about them by decreasing the burden of disease and the risk of transmission, and greater society.

Tryingtryingandtrying · 05/11/2021 21:47

But it's not a selfless action. That would be if you did something that didnt benefit you and only benefitted others.

JassyRadlett · 05/11/2021 21:48

@Tryingtryingandtrying could you share what stats comparing vaccinated and unvaccinated you were referring to earlier? I’m genuinely interested to see them so I can update what I’m saying online if I need to.

milkyaqua · 05/11/2021 21:54

You said But ultimately it mostly benefits the recipient. No, it benefits others and the whole fucking world, if you look at the big picture of us getting on top of or over this pandemic. It's not necessarily 'selfless', but a lot of people are having the vaccine for others as in their minds (possibly quite wrongly) they are in no need of it themselves, being young and healthy.

Fangdango · 05/11/2021 22:12

@milkyaqua

You said But ultimately it mostly benefits the recipient. No, it benefits others and the whole fucking world, if you look at the big picture of us getting on top of or over this pandemic. It's not necessarily 'selfless', but a lot of people are having the vaccine for others as in their minds (possibly quite wrongly) they are in no need of it themselves, being young and healthy.
Depending how you perceive your personal risk, having the vaccine can be a selfless action.

Not having it, without medical cause for exemption, can be quite a self-centred action.

milkyaqua · 05/11/2021 22:44

Depending how you perceive your personal risk, having the vaccine can be a selfless action.

Yes, that's what I just said!

Tryingtryingandtrying · 06/11/2021 08:21

There's also the people who may see it as no personal risk but want to keep their freedoms. Or want to keep their job. Nothing wrong with that, but don't make out most people are having vaccines because they are selfless. Donating blood is selfless and only for others benefit. Although maybe that could be added to the vaccine pass, so that people can like 50 shades can be sure that they are only allowing truly socially responsible people onto their house.

Tryingtryingandtrying · 06/11/2021 08:22

Although of course then people won't be donating blood for altruistic reasons.

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