Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

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:
MadameTuffington · 07/12/2020 19:09

I work in a carehome - 80% of staff will have it, there’s a few that are suspicious and some anxious about the effect on their health - it’s the same deal with the flu vaccine every year. I have tested positive twice and will be sprinting to get it!

user1497207191 · 07/12/2020 19:11

@Stellaris22

There should be a point where when nurses refuse to have the vaccine, contributing to a safe working environment, they start to be laid off.

I know it's harsh, it if they refuse the vaccine, or even mask wearing, then they shouldn't be in that profession.

Nurses are so ridiculously over worked and stressed, this attitude is just horrible and shows the selfishness of people. Not caring that colleagues are really over worked because of them.

I agree. There has to be a point in time where all staff have to go back to work or be redeployed or laid off. That's not just NHS, but university lecturers, office workers, etc. I'd say that once someone is eligible for the vaccine, then give them a month to return to their normal workplaces. Normal life HAS to resume. The number of people actually able to work from home without negative effects on colleagues, customers, etc is relatively small. I think NHS and university staff should be the first groups to be "nudged" back to work asap as they're the areas where the patients/students are getting a pretty bad deal.
2bazookas · 07/12/2020 19:13

@lunar1

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.
and plenty of other jobs require staff to be vaccinated against hepatitis and other diseases
DumplingsAndStew · 07/12/2020 19:21

@PeppaPigOinkOinkOink

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.

As I assume you are privy to information that's not been made public, what 'usual steps' have been omitted or changed to put this vaccine into circulation, please?
B1rthis · 07/12/2020 19:23

It says in the instructions that women of child baring age should wait at least two months after having the vaccine to ttc.
It doesn't say why two and not three, four or five months etc. But it does say they haven't had much chance to test on pregnant women etc.
Maybe if you or your baby had an injury following the vaccine, they only take responsibility for this for up to eleven months post vaccine?

Sarahandco · 07/12/2020 19:25

I wonder if those nurses have already had covid? I am sure many have.

Msmcc1212 · 07/12/2020 19:31

I am neither anti-vax or a conspiracy theorist. I do think, however, being cautious about it and looking into it to make an informed choice is a good thing.

Large pharmaceutical companies have a proven track record in both bringing us excellent, safe and effective health supporting and life saving drugs and of hiding negative findings that could be detrimental to their profits and being creative with the ‘truth’ at the cost of some individuals (e.g. SSRIs).

I will be weighing up the individual and societal benefits/risks before I have it - when my time comes. That just seems sensible to me.

If you are working on the frontline, then may be the benefits to yourself and others are far more clear than if you are not. Some nurses work mostly in the community and can do remote consultations a lot of the time, whereas I think most doctors will always have some ward cover to do? Just guessing at a reason fir the difference if there is one.

Pinkroses87 · 07/12/2020 19:32

I do find the self-importance of people who won’t have it until x number of people have had it slightly ludicrous. A) 70,000 people have had it in the trials. B) what makes you the special little flower who can’t take the risks with the plebs? “Not for precious little moi!”

Original poster
EachandEveryone · 07/12/2020 19:34

What do you mean, officially had it? We would know if theyd been off with it as anyone they had been close to would be tested.

OP posts:
yummyyummymincepies · 07/12/2020 19:34

@Pinkroses87

I do find the self-importance of people who won’t have it until x number of people have had it slightly ludicrous. A) 70,000 people have had it in the trials. B) what makes you the special little flower who can’t take the risks with the plebs? “Not for precious little moi!”
This!
lunar1 · 07/12/2020 19:34

I've just been talking to my husband who is an NHS doctor. He doesn't know any colleges who will refuse. Said everyone he works with will be queuing up for it.

They have been talking today about if a patient can refuse to be treated by a none vaccinated member of staff, they don't know the answer to that yet, but it's going to be an interesting topic.

In 6 months time, I wouldn't allow him to be treated by someone without the vaccine, he's vulnerable and shouldn't have to take unnecessary risks.

justanotherone123 · 07/12/2020 19:39

I'll be having it very soon as will most of my colleagues.

I also have the flu vaccination through choice every year.

Fluffycloudland77 · 07/12/2020 19:54

When I was a student podiatrist you had to have your Hep A, Hep B, meningitis and tetanus vaccinations up to date and a blood test to prove hep B immunity before you were allowed on the course.

Human beings are just weird. They’ll reject a vaccine but go vegan to beat cancer rather than take chemotherapy or take collagen pills or turmeric shots 🙄. We’re just a bit messed up like that.

Sidge · 07/12/2020 19:55

I’m a nurse practitioner in primary care.

I want to find out a bit more about it before I have it as I’m on biologics for my RA, I know it’s not a live vaccine (I can’t have live vaccines) but I need to know if I’m ok to have it.

I’m very pro vaccine and will have this one if it’s safe for me to have.

As for working from home - I did when shielding, but find it astonishing that hospital staff are sent to WFH for refusing to wear masks. I can’t believe they’re being pandered to like that. Surely WFH should be for clinically vulnerable staff only?

GabsAlot · 07/12/2020 19:57

im surprised people in the field are bringing up thalidomide it wasnt a vaccine and theyve learnt from that

is it mandatory for nurses doctors to have all vaccine then how is that going to work with this one have it or youre fired-will be interesting at a tribunal

TonMoulin · 07/12/2020 19:58

I know quite a few doctors who don't want the vaccine (yet). Nit anti vaxxers just not convinced it's as safe as it's made out to be because we basicaly do not (and cannot) have all the information.

Latest poll I have seen said that about 40% of doctors dont want to get it, which is about the same than he number of doctors wh don't get the flu jab.

user1497207191 · 07/12/2020 20:01

Human beings are just weird.

Indeed, I've got an anti-vax colleague who's happy to take ecstacy tablets in nightclubs, smoke cannabis and sniff coke, none of which come with any form of providence as to what they contain, but he's vehemently against the covid vaccine as he doesn't trust it. Some people really are stupid.

Sidge · 07/12/2020 20:02

On a lighter note, this made me laugh.

Nurses not wanting the vaccine but doctors do??
user1497207191 · 07/12/2020 20:03

@TonMoulin

I know quite a few doctors who don't want the vaccine (yet). Nit anti vaxxers just not convinced it's as safe as it's made out to be because we basicaly do not (and cannot) have all the information.

Latest poll I have seen said that about 40% of doctors dont want to get it, which is about the same than he number of doctors wh don't get the flu jab.

Which is fine IF they take precautions to protect their patients and don't expect to continue to hide at home working via the phone only or doing admin. I'm sure they'll change their mind when they're forced back to the surgery for a full morning of 10/20 patients all coming in and sitting just a couple of feet away from them!
TonMoulin · 07/12/2020 20:19

@user1497207191 Oh they are not hidding. They are in hospital or in medical centres working with patients with minimal PPE like everyone else.

(The level of PPE, now THAT is something that is bothering them a hell of a lot. Esp those who have seen some colleagues dying from covid because the adequate PPE wasn't available....)

Pomegranatespompom · 07/12/2020 20:43

All of my team keen very keen.

NamechangeTTC · 07/12/2020 20:46

AHP here and keen to have it. It’s mostly our ancillary staff (kitchen etc) who are dead against it.

I’m keen but pregnant and work don’t know yet. It’s been really awkward when discussing.

missyB1 · 07/12/2020 20:53

Interesting how people presume that any healthcare professionals that express the slightest reticence about the vaccine must be either unprofessional, an anti Vaxxer or “hiding” at home.
My dh has worked on the frontline all the way through the pandemic and continues to do his job professionally as he has always done. He had to fight for the correct level of ppe to protect himself and his patients. He will have the vaccine when instructed obviously but doesn’t feel full of enthusiasm. He knows the unwritten rule that if it’s going to go wrong for anyone it’s usually the Doctor or nurse!

MonkeyPuddle · 07/12/2020 20:53

All bar two of my colleagues will be having it, one is a GP who never had the flu jab, one receptionist who is pregnant and I won’t be as I’m currently breastfeeding. If I wasn’t then I would be having it. I work as a practice nurse.

TonMoulin · 07/12/2020 21:00

@missyB1, I agree. there is a huge pressure on doctors to have the vaccine and in some ways, a lot of them feel they have no other choice but...

which is also a reason why some of them just don't talk about it with other colleagues. Unless they know that the person is also not keen.

That's what happened with the bird flu vaccine btw. And why there are now quite a few nurses etc.. suing because of how poorly they have been/are because of it.