What would be the consequences of refusing the coronavirus vaccine?

[Redolent]

So it’s being reported today that a sixth of all UK adults wouldn’t get vaccinated for coronavirus, and up to a third are unsure. I had a chat with my own sister-in-law few days ago and her family is also ‘worried about what they’re going to pump into us’...

I can’t see the vaccine being compulsory - it would just further fuel conspiracy theories - so what might be the consequences of turning down a vaccine? For instance, restrictions on international travel, countries refusing admittance? Employers requesting evidence of vaccination?

@Greysparkles Im not in any way an anti vaxxer but I question if it's the right thing to do, what happened to my body, my choice
What about the bodies and lives of people who are vulnerable due to age/medical reasons who a vaccine may not work for or may not be suitable for? They are relying on people like you getting the vaccine, should one become available, so that you don’t catch coronavirus and spread it to them.

I wouldn't have it. My sister works in pharma - bringing vaccines to the public - and she says vaccines typically take about eight years to come to market. This has been rushed through

I am not an anti-back soap.

Where did I say I wouldn't have it?
I don't have enough information to make that decision yet.
Taking away peoples choice about what they have injected into their bodies is worrying. I don't think the people advocating that truly understand the implications

@kaleishorrid Hi Kale, as your sister works in pharma I’m sure she will be able to explain to you how this vaccine is able to move to a faster timeline because the work being done isn’t new. It’s building on years of work on other coronaviruses such as SARS and MERS. She could probably also be able to explain about the different phases required for new drugs to pass through and how the vaccines currently being trialed are not skipping these phases, but rather running them concurrently.

"you can't deny education to a child because the parents refuse."

Some countries require other vaccinations before a child can enter school

Although COVID is almost no risk to children, it is to staff, family members etc

There will need to be enough takers for herd immunity
and estimates range from 60% to 85% as to what is required for that

Depends also whether cases stay down at current levels until a vaccination is available
or if there is a winter upsurge in cases,

or continual local lockdowns

I'd imagine a booming black market in fake "proof" you have had the vaccine.

@kaleishorrid

I wouldn't have it. My sister works in pharma - bringing vaccines to the public - and she says vaccines typically take about eight years to come to market. This has been rushed through

This is the type of misinformation that would need to be combated before any vaccination programme begins.

All vaccines currently in trial are different. The Oxford one is completely old school, based on a deactivated adenovirus that has been used for decades, but now with the protein we want our immune system to recognize. The US military was vaccinated against adenovirus for many years. It also got a head start because the researchers just pivoted off the MERS vaccine they were already working on.

The Moderna vaccine trial in the US is far more novel and therefore potentially risky.

@Greysparkles I actually think it’s more worrying to choose not to accept a vaccine when the implication could mean thousands of deaths of vulnerable people. You are unable to enter certain countries if you choose not to accept a yellow fever vaccination.

Sorry autocorrect fail. I meant to say I am not an antivaxxer- absolutely believe in vaccines.

Summerflowers - you obviously have a better knowledge of science than I do - and therefore I am very interested in what you have to say. I feel I have to listen to the experts - and i consider my sister to be one - and at the moment taking - what appears to be - a rushed through vaccine - makes me very uncomfortable. Obviously my opinion is coloured by my sister's views - she wouldn't have it - but I am open to more information. I am always happy to change my mind if presented with new information.

It could quite easily be made mandatory without physically holding you down. Want your kids to go to school?....get their jab. Want to board a plane?....get your jab. Want to shop in Waitrose?....have you had your jab? I don't think they will.....more likely another wave will mysteriously appear, and a hysterical media/government campaign will send every one flocking with their sleeves rolled up.
I'm not antivax at all, they've saved countless lives. But having seen the s**t show being made of this so far, will Bumbling Boris be sticking a needle in my arm?..... probably not!

Do people not have the right to choose?
You think people shouldn't have the right to choose?

That's a slippery slope right there

1. More likely to catch and spread covid-19, and Unless you have medical exemption:
2. Unable to work for NHS, care homes, schools and any other job where it's deemed there are vulnerable people you would it at risk (when policies are updated in this area, I expect they'll add MMR where it doesn't already exist). I don't think it's likely that visitors to care homes will be banned from visiting, but depends what immunity over-75s get, if it works on over 50% then there'll be no restrictions.
3. No medical coverage for covid-19 on health, life nor travel policies
4. Barred from entry to certain countries, maybe, you need a yellow fever certificate in some countries so it's possible.

I understand why people feel wary of vaccines, especially new ones. I hate them but I do it. I think most will take it in the end.

Compulsory vaccination is absolutely unacceptable.

Restrictions on schooling for not taking is a possibility, many have wanted to do this for MMR etc anyway. I don't agree with this approach myself.

Restrictions on health roles, international travel are probably justifiable.

It should be compulsory if it’s offered to you, unless medically advised otherwise (frankly all contagious disease vaccines should be). Plenty of other “rights” like education, family life and non COVID healthcare have been trampled on in the name of protecting the nhs and saving lives. At the very least if you won’t help get the economy, the nhs, schools, social care etc back on track by getting vaccinated you should be ineligible for nhs care, state education, welfare benefits, state provided care etc. Unvaccinated should also be banned from hospitals and care homes where there might be particularly vulnerable people and from public facing jobs as well.

In real life though the consequences will be pretty much nil.

@Triangularbubble

It should be compulsory if it’s offered to you, unless medically advised otherwise (frankly all contagious disease vaccines should be). Plenty of other “rights” like education, family life and non COVID healthcare have been trampled on in the name of protecting the nhs and saving lives. At the very least if you won’t help get the economy, the nhs, schools, social care etc back on track by getting vaccinated you should be ineligible for nhs care, state education, welfare benefits, state provided care etc. Unvaccinated should also be banned from hospitals and care homes where there might be particularly vulnerable people and from public facing jobs as well.

In real life though the consequences will be pretty much nil.

Would you forcibly administer it or do you mean you will apply criminal sanctions I'd people don't take it?

You might want to think it through a bit.

What PuzzledObserver said.

People may have a right to choose whether or not to have a vaccination. Others have a right to be as safe as possible and potentially refuse admission without vaccine.

You want the privelege to refuse the vaccination if offered (unless you have one of the rare medical reasons not to) you deal with the consequences of that choice.

@tilder unfortunately it’s not just them who will deal with that choice. It’s the millions of vulnerable people that could end up dying.

@tilder

You want the privelege to refuse the vaccination if offered (unless you have one of the rare medical reasons not to) you deal with the consequences of that choice.

This is ridiculous.

Compulsory vaccination only belongs in a totalitarian regime.

I suppose similar consequences to refusing any other vaccines. What are those?

Sorry @tilder think maybe you were not saying it had to be compulsory, just some consequences? By error if so

No its fine, luckily the rest of us poor suckers that do get the vaccine will reduce the spread for those of you who are too precious to have it.

@Iwalkinmyclothing

I suppose similar consequences to refusing any other vaccines. What are those?

Nothing for non-health staff AFAIK.

The worst way to encourage take up is to make it compulsory.

Get as many as possible, get celebs, get a big campaign, see where you are.

I'm not sure what actually has to happen before some people get their heads out of their arses and enter the real world.