To those not having the vaccine

[Potager]

Your choice. But before you reject it. Read the proper science behind its rapid roll out, do not listen to uneducated twats/trolls/morons on social media.

The end is in sight. Masks and social distancing will go when the rate of new infections has fallen enough and there is no risk to the NHS anymore.

Are you going to continue to wear masks and avoid people while the rest of us get back to normal?

So if we are not sure having had CV19 you are immune and if you have the jab you will still have to follow all the rules but will take the small risk of probably minor side effects - high temp, fatigue etc and run the risk still of losing loads of pay if ordered to isolate it is not a very brave new world following the vaccine.....

However the social distancing measures have led to a massive reduction in people catching flu this winter - so every cloud....

Not having it because TTC and that is what the government guidance says re pregnant women or those ttc. At 38.5 I don’t have time to wait and I don’t want to take any risks that affect my fertility.

I also have an autoimmune disease and have reason based on previous experience to think this could impact my health.

I will follow the advice of my doctor and the NHS. I have already had covid, I was hospitalised and am still not fully recovered some 8 months on. As soon as I am offered a vaccine I will be there like a rat up a drainpipe.

I understand that some people have concerns. I can't do anything for the fervent anti vaxxers or conspiracy theorists who are too far down the rabbit hole to be pulled back. For more rational people though, let me share my thoughts.

First off, the vaccine has not been rushed. It has been expedited or accelerated. To understand the difference think of this analogy. Rushing is an average driver jumping into their car and driving at full pelt like a maniac. Expediting is putting an expert driver in a fully prepped high spec car with blues and twos and having teams of people clearing the road ahead of any hazards or obstacles. The vaccines we are seeing coming down the pipe now have been given every resource to aid their delivery by the scientists, researchers, pharmaceutical companies and regulators. Everything else has been de-prioritised to give absolute focus to development, testing and approval of the vaccines.

I have had the benefit of working in the pharmaceutical industry for over 20 years and have witnessed the dedication, professionalism and integrity of both industry professionals and the regulators. I trust them to do their jobs and if there were corners being cut, nefarious political influence, corruption or any other factors that might present unacceptable risks to patient safety enough of them would be blowing whistles that we'd need to wear ear protectors.

Nothing is 100% risk free and anyone who tells you otherwise doesn't understand risk. Risk is a 2-sided equation though. You cannot just focus on the risks that might materialise if you do something. You also have to consider the risks or lost opportunities of not doing that something. We have all seen what the risks of Covid without vaccines look like - the deaths, the long term impacts that many survivors are experiencing and the social/economic devastation of lockdown. Those risks are known and proven. Any risks associated with taking the vaccines have been assessed and mitigated as much as is scientifically possible. Not taking the vaccine because you are not 100% sure it is safe would be like passengers on the Titanic refusing to use the lifeboats in case those might sink too.

TooTrueToBeGood - great post , your analogies are on the level of Jonathan Van Tam’s

Thanks for the explanation @TheCountessofFitzdotterel. That makes sense

Just got a text from my NHS Trust inviting me to book a vaccine appt. So undecided tho as I am TTC and dont want to really delay it as I'm 35 and have been trying forever and have had a MC. But would be so good to be vaccinated and it is a great opportunity to have it so early!

Trials are starting using Plasma for those who have had confirmed CV or symptoms. I'm not able to donate as I'm a regular recipient so do my bit by sharing.

www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/covid-19-research/plasma-donors/who-can-donate-plasma/

@gypsywater

Just got a text from my NHS Trust inviting me to book a vaccine appt. So undecided tho as I am TTC and dont want to really delay it as I'm 35 and have been trying forever and have had a MC. But would be so good to be vaccinated and it is a great opportunity to have it so early!

It must be extremely hard for you and others in the same situation. Think it through, talk in rl about your situation with those you are close to. It's hard because you want to do your bit but your circumstances, regardless of what they are, make that choice incredibly difficult.

Out of interest, and ignore if you want - does the gp know you are currently TTC?

@canigooutyet
Yep GP knows as I got pregnant in July so was in the midwife system etc then had a MC late Sept.

@canigooutyet
Ah by NHS Trust I meant my employer btw, i am an NHS clinician! Should have mentioned that in my post!

I just looked at the donate plasma link and as I am 5 foot 4 and female and under 12 stone I cannot donate! That is weird. it is not as if I am 4 foot 7 and weighing 6 stone. There are 2 weight choices over or under about 12 stone only. So they only want plasma from very fat women?

"Sorry, you don't have enough blood to donate plasma."
It says below that they particularly want Asian men

@Xenia

I understand weight plays a major part. In some places you have to be over 7 stone to be allowed to donate blood

7 stone 12 lb I mean

I am between 10 and 11 stone so pretty normal I would have thought for 5 foot 4 although a bit on the plumper side.

@Xenia

I just looked at the donate plasma link and as I am 5 foot 4 and female and under 12 stone I cannot donate! That is weird. it is not as if I am 4 foot 7 and weighing 6 stone. There are 2 weight choices over or under about 12 stone only. So they only want plasma from very fat women?

"Sorry, you don't have enough blood to donate plasma."
It says below that they particularly want Asian men

I was called about donating plasma for the Covid research last week but was told I was ineligible. I'm too short. You need to be at least 5ft2 and I'm an inch and a bit out. Again, something to do with not having enough blood to do it.

The rules for giving blood and giving plasma appear to be slightly different regarding height and weight, and some other medical factors vary between the two as well.

It is disheartening when the screen says no especially when we are willing.

I'm hoping as testing goes on, more will become eligible.

@Blobby10

This!!
My immune system will do! So I can save the vaccine for someone who is more in need!

[quote XmasLockdown]@tootyfruitypickle There was narcolepsy from swine flue vaccination.[/quote]
If you read about this in depth you will see that this has pretty much been debunked. It was a case of one person coincidentally developing it after being vaccinated so then doctors were on the look out for it. Narcolepsy typically takes years to diagnose so a lot of people ended up being diagnosed a lot earlier than they usually would as doctors were looking forward. There is a name for it but I can’t remember it.