If not enough people take the vaccine?

[3littlewords]

If those eligible for the vaccine decline to have it for whatever reason, will it mean restrictions will be in place for longer? Or will it be a case off tough luck you refused the vaccine take your chances?
I know a quite few people who would be eligible for the vaccine soon either due to their age , job or ECV and around 50% say they aren't having it, if that's the case nationally will it be enough to reduce transmission enough to ease restrictions? Or do I know just know an unusually high amount of weird people that don't want the vaccine? 🤔

This thread is interesting and I wonder how it compares with the actual uptake rates which I guess vary by group and area. I haven’t heard of anyone declining other than due to logistics / already quarantining in our area.
The only staff members who couldn’t have it are those pregnant / breastfeeding and there’s a huge amount of anxiety amongst HCPs in this groups who are going to be left unprotected except by hopefully some herd immunity as the vaccine is rolled out and restrictions reduce.

I would say if the people I know aren't a fair representation that's fine, I'll accept that. However you can't say MN is a fair representation of real life! That it definitely is not.

OK, that’s a fair point. If you look at the various surveys of vaccine-willingness, though, your contacts do seem to be the outliers.

Literally every person I know is chomping at the bit for the vaccine - family members, friends, work colleagues. Wide variety of ages, social and economic backgrounds - all can’t wait to be offered it.

I am confused by the priority of the vaccinations to be honest. My DS and I both work for the NHS both the same trust, he is 27, mildly asthmatic, I am 56 and high BMI, he has been offered the vaccine from work, so I am guessing being male and asthmatic is higher risk than obese and over 50. Neither of us is patient facing, not sure whether I find this a relief or not, pleased my DS will have protection and assume I am lower risk than I thought, but I do find it very confusing to be honest.

A surgery near me (where my friend works) achieved 100% take up rate.
Yorkshire Post article

Obviously there are demographic reasons (few elderly BAME people in rural North Yorkshire, not very transient community so strong relationships between doctors and patients with high levels of trust) but looking at how they did it points to some of the things that might raise rates (community involvement, letters hand delivered rather than texts which some elderly people won’t even see).
If we are in a position where uptake is too low for herd immunity there is a lot that can be done before anyone would even contemplate anything more coercive. But in any case there is a good chance many of the people who are currently wary will be less so in 6 months when millions of people have had it.

@OpheliasCrayon

I actually don't know anyone who will have it. And they're definitely not anti vax. Even my DH who's a scientist has said he won't. I can't have it anyway due to severe allergies (I can't even take the drugs to treat my own illnesses ) so I've never needed to consider it.

But I Literally know no one, including doctors who will.

A scientist? doctors? that tactic is called an appeal to authority.

Actually the allergie thing is a concern for my DS he had an anaphalatic shock when he had nuts, not sure if that means he should be wary

My parents (late 60s no ecv) cant wait for the vaccine, my in laws (late 60s FIL ecv and shielding) refuse point blank, they will either mutate overnight or be dead because they'll kill people off with the vaccines! Dsis works in care home won't have the jab, covid is overhyped and its the government way off controlling us, a friend of my DM would be willing to have the Oxford but not Pfizer vaccine.

But agree with PP Once we are past the stage that all eligible ECV and older people will have been offered the vaccine theres not a chance im complying with any further restrictions to keep them safe no way I miss my extended family I miss my friends I miss being able to go out without worrying who I'm getting to close to

@3littlewords

My parents (late 60s no ecv) cant wait for the vaccine, my in laws (late 60s FIL ecv and shielding) refuse point blank, they will either mutate overnight or be dead because they'll kill people off with the vaccines! Dsis works in care home won't have the jab, covid is overhyped and its the government way off controlling us, a friend of my DM would be willing to have the Oxford but not Pfizer vaccine.

But agree with PP Once we are past the stage that all eligible ECV and older people will have been offered the vaccine theres not a chance im complying with any further restrictions to keep them safe no way I miss my extended family I miss my friends I miss being able to go out without worrying who I'm getting to close to

I agree. Once all the elderly and CEV members of the population have been offered the vaccine, the restrictions should be lifted. If they aren’t, I think many people will just vote with their feet.

@TheCountessofFitzdotterel my 3 closest surgeries got 100% uptake - but many elderly neighbours couldn’t get the vaccine as not enough allocated. So they have to wait until after January 2nd when hopefully more will arrive

Friend of mine works at our local hospital. Out of a team of eight medical staff only her and one other have agreed to have the vaccine.

I’m quite a long way down the priority list but can’t have the Pfizer one anyway because of allergies.

[quote ivykaty44]@TheCountessofFitzdotterel my 3 closest surgeries got 100% uptake - but many elderly neighbours couldn’t get the vaccine as not enough allocated. So they have to wait until after January 2nd when hopefully more will arrive[/quote]
It’s brilliant to hear of more IvyKaty.

The one in the link was able to vaccinate just under 50% of their over 80s. Obviously spread is very uneven and there’s still a way to go.

I suspect it will be difficult to do certain things without vaccines -- a certificate might be required to go on airplane flights, for instance.

Key thing is to encourage the age 70+ to get vaccinated.

@MadameBlobby

However if not enough people have it I reckon they will make it mandatory except for all those who can’t have it for medical reasons

This is unlikely to happen. Covid vaccines are new and more time is needed to ascertain whether they are safe. Also medical reasons appears to be a very broad and fluid term at the moment.

For the Pfizer vaccine for instance, almost every day there's someone expressing concerns regarding allergic reactions.

The Pfizer COVID vaccine has triggered more allergic reactions than would be expected, according to Operation Warp Speed chief scientific adviser Moncef Slaoui

www.newsweek.com/pfizer-covid-vaccine-allergies-more-expected-white-house-moncef-slaoui-1557129

Let's hope that these vaccines are effective and safe for those that want to take them voluntarily.

But I don't think the UK government (and others, for that matter) are going to risk another health crisis and a plethora of compensation claims by making inoculaitons mandatory.

@lljkk

I suspect it will be difficult to do certain things without vaccines -- a certificate might be required to go on airplane flights, for instance

Again, this is unlikely for the same reasons I mentioned to @MadameBlobby

Key thing is to encourage the age 70+ to get vaccinated

I do not believe anyone should be encouraged

Everyone should be provided with the facts (which at the moment are not fully known, by the way) and people should make their own decisions

Luckily everyone I know wants the vaccine as soon as possible. DH is a GP - he has already had the first one with the second due the first week in January.

If people don’t want it, that’s their problem. They will probably face restrictions on how they live their lives. Thankfully I think there are enough (the majority) sensible people who can make a difference to our futures.

Listening to a few of the younger generation talking in work yesterday (healthcare setting). They’re concerned about the effect of the vaccine on their fertility and are not having it for that reason.

TrulyDelicious- but the same reason doesn’t apply in that case.
If you get a vaccination so you can fly with a particular airline and you get it for that reason and have a reaction, it’s not the airline’s responsibility. They didn’t make you have the vaccine, you chose to do it, they aren’t making any guarantees about its safety, and you can’t sue them.

Fwiw I think it’s more likely airlines will give the option of either a vaccine or a negative test before flying, because some people can’t have vaccines, but not because of being sued.

I’m desperate to have it.

As for the idiots who don’t want it? Well it makes my turn come faster!

Qantas has already said they won’t let people fly who haven’t had the vacine.

@UnmentionedElephantDildo

YouGov poll last month had nearly 70% saying they would

Polls often get things wrong don't they?

And l think you will need a vaccine for overseas travel.

Britain can’t control other countries. You might not need it in the U.K., but other countries will have a less tolerant approach.

@whatswithtodaytoday

don't know anyone who wouldn't have it. A couple have asked me what I think as they know I follow the science and know more about it than them

What do you mean? Can't your acquaintances read and make decisions for themselves? Worrying that some will be following self-proclaimed 'vaccination gurus'

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

And l think you will need a vaccine for overseas travel

This is not happening. As much as you would like it to

How do you know?

Look at the reaction to Britain this week. Some countries insist on mandatory vaccinations. Why are they going to let anti vaxers in?