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Original poster

Nurses not wanting the vaccine but doctors do??

155 replies

EachandEveryone · 07/12/2020 13:36

If you are a nurse is it the same at your place? We talk about it a lot. I personally cant wait. All the doctors cant wait one consultant told me yesterday that he was “dissappointed” in our nursing colleagues only about a third of them want it. Same aa the flu jab. Hes tried to talk to us about it casually in the tearoom but people just shrug their shoulders they really arent interested. Two of them have been working from home because they wont wear masks and they wont be having the vaccine, where does that leave their jobs then I wonder?

What’s the consensus at your place?

OP posts:
kateclarke · 07/12/2020 13:40

I'm a nurse and me and all my colleagues can't wait to get it. After what we have seen in critical care this year we have no hesitation.

Audreyseyebrows · 07/12/2020 13:41

Both eager to have it where I am.

WhatKatyDidNxt · 07/12/2020 13:42

Both myself and partner are nurses. We are both having it

FestiveChristmasLights · 07/12/2020 13:43

Bank ambulance here so not seeing many colleagues but all so far seem keen to go ahead. I’m having it.

tumtitum · 07/12/2020 13:45

I work in mental health and a few of my colleagues are iffy about it (as they also are about the flu vaccine!) but I will definitely be having it!

Original poster
EachandEveryone · 07/12/2020 13:48

I cant bloody wait. Its amazing how many of them read conspiracy theories.

OP posts:
3littlewords · 07/12/2020 13:49

Sorry but how does a nurse work from home??

Stellaris22 · 07/12/2020 13:55

Is that won't or can't wear masks? Also curious about how they work from home, are they doing check ups by phone?

Refusing to wear a mask or take the vaccine does seem odd, and in the nursing profession (underfunded as it is) I wonder how long their choices can be financially supported if they refuse to take the necessary precautions.

Denny53 · 07/12/2020 13:55

I work on primary care. Certainly will be having jab ASAP. As will my colleagues, it is going to written into our contract that we have to have jab same as the flu vaccine - we are expected to have 99% compliance

combatbarbie · 07/12/2020 13:59

I cant bloody wait. Its amazing how many of them read conspiracy theories.

Or maybe reading more that is thrust in our faces?? I'm not an anti vaxer by any means generally but I don't want the vaccine as it is, I want to know more about its potential side effects. They haven't, as far as I'm aware, clarified the danger of pregnant women having it.

I'm suspicious about how we're the first country because we know that Brexit would make getting them into the country problematic. The article I've just been reading says the European Medicines Agency says we could be setting ourselves up for problems.

Original poster
EachandEveryone · 07/12/2020 13:59

Well, the manager has gone out of their way to help them. Making phone calls from home checking up on peopke Im guessing. I dont want to ask too much as im still fuming about it. Its what we signed up for all those years ago we cant pick and choose who we look after. You cant get through the main entrance without wearing a mask.

OP posts:
cptartapp · 07/12/2020 14:14

I work in general practice and have tested positive for Covid antibodies. I will consider having the vaccine in 3-4 months, but I don't want to be one of the 'first'. Quite happy to continue seeing patients in the meantime.
In 30 years of nursing this is the first year I've had the flu vaccine. Simply because over the course of my lifetime if given it every eligible year, that would equate to me having approximately seventy flu vaccinations. Which doesn't sit right with me. I'll reconsider as I age.

PeppaPigOinkOinkOink · 07/12/2020 14:18

I'm a nurse, and absolutely 100% not a conspiracy theorist, nor am I an anti vaxxer. I am however sceptical, and I wont be having the vaccine to begin with. Thats not to say I won't have it eventually.

0.0030% - thats the approximate percentage of the worlds population that has had this vaccine. Its minute. I am of a child bearing age, and its not a risk I want to take when I'm not sure if I have finished my family. We only need to read the studies on thalidomide to see the devastating effects of a drug that didn't follow the usual steps to be put into circulation.

In respect to discussions amongst my colleagues, I've found both nurses and doctors saying they won't have it, the more senior management (consultants and nurse leads) have all been encouraging us to have it, and have said loudly they will be having the vaccine. Whether they actually do is a different matter, the sceptic in me thinks they are promoting the correct image.

PuzzledObserver · 07/12/2020 14:20

@combatbarbie They haven't, as far as I'm aware, clarified the danger of pregnant women having it.

That’s because pregnant women were excluded from the trial.

Jonathan Van Tam explained this really well on a call in the other day. Although pregnant women and women ttc were excluded from the trial, a few women did become pregnant during the trial. He said they were monitoring mothers and babies very carefully and as yet had seen nothing to cause alarm. But because the numbers are so small, no conclusions can be drawn.

Hence the advice given is that women who are pregnant or ttc should not have the vaccine. Not because it is unsafe, but because we don’t have the data to demonstrate it is safe.

Pinkroses87 · 07/12/2020 14:26

It’s completely normal for testing not to be done on pregnant women - out of an abundance of caution. But then gradually the number of people who end up pregnant having taken it (or accidentally have the vaccine while pregnant) build up and you accumulate the data that way. It’s why so many medicines etc are not recommended for pregnant women, it’s just because the data isn’t there.

PuzzledObserver · 07/12/2020 14:27

@PeppaPigOinkOinkOink

We only need to read the studies on thalidomide to see the devastating effects of a drug that didn't follow the usual steps to be put into circulation.

It is precisely because of thalidomide that we have the usual steps - they are a result of thalidomide.

The vaccines have followed the usual steps. It’s just that they were able to be done more quickly because in parallel.

MsAnnFrope · 07/12/2020 14:30

@cptartapp I’m not a medic so sorry if this is daft question but why would multiple vaccines over 30 years be a problem? I have flu jab every year due to moderate asthma and I’ve never read anything to suggest I can’t keep doing so?

LastTrainEast · 07/12/2020 14:31

PuzzledObserver I'm glad you spelt that one out. I've been seeing it doing the rounds on social media with people telling me "the doctors all said it did to pregnant women"

Heatherjayne1972 · 07/12/2020 14:40

Does the pp not feel uncomfortable about having it written into their contract that they must have the vaccine?
What about personal choice?
Does this make this mandatory for you? No jab no job

This doesn’t sit well with me

(I’m on a similar boat- fully expecting it to be mandatory in dentistry too )

lunar1 · 07/12/2020 14:45

When you train as a nurse you have to be fully vaccinated, there is no personal choice. I imagine Covid will be added to that list at some point soon.

LastTrainEast · 07/12/2020 14:45

"What about personal choice?" I expect there are surgeons who hate that they can't smoke or eat a sandwich during an operation and where's the personal choice when you're forced to wash your hands?

Dreamingofvenice · 07/12/2020 14:52

Not nurses but I work in a care home at least a third of the staff aren't having it, we've had to give are details in today so we can get appointments in the next few weeks. Just makes me sad as we are going to have to continue with lockdowns and restrictions if people aren't prepared to be vaccinated

Jent13c · 07/12/2020 14:59

Are you hospital based? Theres certainly no nurses on my ward who are working from home because they wont wear masks! Our vulnerable staff are just reassigned from covid patients if there are any on the ward.
There has been absolutely no conspiracy theories either, we are professionals trained in evidence based practice and the only anti vax nurse I've ever heard of in the UK is the head of the conspiracy movement (who has also been struck off by the NMC).

The vast majority of nurses that I work with are young females in child bearing age and are nervous that the effects of this haven't been tested and this may affect their future children. Obviously due to the priority list we will be the guinea pigs of the women in child bearing age and some want to wait to see some more evidence especially if planning kids in next year or so. I personally have to stop breastfeeding my 10 month old to have it and it has been a big decision but will have it.

ShopTattsyrup · 07/12/2020 15:03

Nurse here, not sure how the doctors are feeling, but as far as I'm aware essentially all of my nursing colleagues are up for getting the vaccination. A few who have had covid and have antibodies and so aren't that arsed about being first in line but still happy to get it.

PeigiSu · 07/12/2020 15:05

Our trust apparently doctors 60% uptake of the flu jab, the lowest of all staff groups.

General feeling of the doctors I work with - all keen except one vocally not but he’s quite contrary! Various people unsure re pregnancy/breastfeeding.

Re it being contractual we are already required to have Hep B immunisation, HIV and Hep C checks, antibodies checked against VZV (chicken pox) and MMR and offered vaccination if no immunity, Not sure if BCG is required but they certainly check scar and offer vaccination.