To expect to be able to choose not to have the vaccine without being made to feel uncomfortable? *edited by MNHQ at OP's request*

[Drogonssmile]

Risking a flaming here:

I work in the NHS not patient facing. Our Trust has said all non frontline staff are likely to be offered the vaccine next week. (1000 staff have already been done which is brilliant!)

I'm a fit and healthy 39 year old with no underlying health conditions. I am not an anti vaxxer however I am concerned about the lack of long term research that has understandably not been able to be done on the vaccine and have made an informed decision that I probably won't have it. I'd prefer my dose to go to someone more vulnerable. I believe this should be my choice.
My colleague is 62 and is all for having the vaccine which is great. I said I probably wouldn't as it doesn't affect transmission only the severity of the illness. Now she isn't speaking to me.
AIBU?

(Also given the amount of setbacks and govt lies/omissions in the last 10 months I wouldn't be at all surprised if the vaccine isn't the silver bullet we've been told to expect. The way things are going I can see is in the same situation in 12 months time).

You're sick of hearing freedom of choice?! No, like many others it's the blh blah blah that's the issue!

Rights come with responsibilities. That's the social contract.

I’d also point out to them that some staff are getting upset you won’t have it. Becayse that may change the decision.

They can’t force you to have it, but they cannot have someone in the workplace deliberately endangering others. How other staff accept it is going to be a key part of this decision. And it will not be accepted by the majority, as you can see from this thread.

Sorry to clarify, it’s almost guaranteed your colleagues will complain about being forced to work with you.

I signed a consent form for the vaccine and in the small print it states that the vaccine does not prevent you from catching covid nor spreading covid. All it does is stop you being as ill as you would without it. So what difference does it make to the OPs colleague whether she has it or not?

You are being exceptionally unreasonable yes. By not having it and expecting your colleagues to be happy about your decision.

Then I shall ask that You won't need to. The details will be publicly available via your Trust.

I've just Googled a few. Covid is not specifically mentioned but flu vaccines, TB etc are, have been for decades. New ones are added as and when. You know that you have to keep your vaccinations up to date, and thatinlcudes new ones as well as boosters. It is logical that, even if only in the short term, that covid will be on the list! Possibly being added as we help you prevaricate!

Surely that is massively discriminatory. Why should non BAME be lower priority in the list. In the battle against covid all lives matter

Yes it is massively discriminatory. I suggest you find Covid-19 right this instant and give it a good scolding about disproportionately affecting BAME people. Where is this special attention for your family??

Please be joking...

@Drogonssmile It should be compulsory where possible because people are dying and we can all do something to prevent it. I don’t understand any other mindset. Sorry.

But the people throwing parties on New Year’s Eve have already shown that lots of people no longer give a shit about their fellow humans. It’s a sad state of affairs.

Your choice not have but your employers and service providers choice to restrict stuff to the non vaccinated too.

Tbh in any NHS setting, there strict social distancing, PPE being worn with patients and it is usually a rule to wear a mask at all times when in an office space with another colleague. Noone would know who chooses to get the vaccine and who doesn't. But the precautions will probably be continued for a while irrespective of it..

I won't be taking it either, it's not compulsory.
But I won't be mixing with people so no need.

Obviously it's up to you if you have it or not. Your colleague needs to speak to you as you work together. If she doesn't want to speak to you outside of work that's up to her

I am getting the vaccine and there are many who have booked appointments to get the shot asap. The slots were solidly booked out for this week by yesterday.. but our trust is pretty much keeping the precautionary measures no matter what. Getting a vaccine is pretty much every capacitous adult's choice, whether we like it or not.. and the consequences for that are their lookout as well.

There are no mandatory vaccinations in the NHS after you are already employed. To work in certain settings you need certain jabs such as hep b etc. before you start. But, currently, the added yearly jabs such as the flu vaccine are not mandatory.

@lagerandblack

I signed a consent form for the vaccine and in the small print it states that the vaccine does not prevent you from catching covid nor spreading covid. All it does is stop you being as ill as you would without it. So what difference does it make to the OPs colleague whether she has it or not?

Thank you.

@Drogonssmile

Risking a flaming here:

I work in the NHS not patient facing. Our Trust has said all non frontline staff are likely to be offered the vaccine next week. (1000 staff have already been done which is brilliant!)

I'm a fit and healthy 39 year old with no underlying health conditions. I am not an anti vaxxer however I am concerned about the lack of long term research that has understandably not been able to be done on the vaccine and have made an informed decision that I probably won't have it. I'd prefer my dose to go to someone more vulnerable. I believe this should be my choice.
My colleague is 62 and is all for having the vaccine which is great. I said I probably wouldn't as it doesn't affect transmission only the severity of the illness. Now she isn't speaking to me.
AIBU?

(Also given the amount of setbacks and govt lies/omissions in the last 10 months I wouldn't be at all surprised if the vaccine isn't the silver bullet we've been told to expect. The way things are going I can see is in the same situation in 12 months time).

Your decision is not well informed.

I work at a major research institution with a 65 year old lifelong immunologist who trained under Dr Fauci. Upon reviewing all materials/scientific papers he said "this is as good as a vaccine gets."

People who refuse the vaccine are, in my opinion, childish and stubborn and just looking for a way to grab attention.

I work in an NHS pathology lab, I am 18wks pregnant so I am unable to have the vaccine. This means I am relying on my colleagues to keep me safe at work with herd immunity but there are a few who are refusing to have it. I am yet to hear of anyone refusing to give me a better reason than 'it was rushed, it's not safe'.

The reason vaccines normally take so long is mainly down to funding. Researchers normally have to jump through several hoops to secure it but as this was of global interest the funding was secured straight away, therefore greatly reducing the time it took to develop it. And as pointed out the groundwork was already laid when they looked at a SARS vaccine. The MHRA would not have approved these vaccines if there was any doubt in the safety of them.

In short, yes I do judge people who are refusing to have it when they can't seem to give a decent, well informed decision as to why not.

There is a new flu vaccine every year. Would you turn that down because there wasn't enough research @Drogonssmile?

@Candyfloss99

Worrying that you work for the NHS but don't understand vaccines.

Indeed.

It's up to you if you have it or not. Were you hoping for a round of applause OP?

@lagerandblack

I signed a consent form for the vaccine and in the small print it states that the vaccine does not prevent you from catching covid nor spreading covid. All it does is stop you being as ill as you would without it. So what difference does it make to the OPs colleague whether she has it or not?

I think that’s unlikely to be an accurate recollection of what the consent form said.

@Disfordarkchocolate

There is a new flu vaccine every year. Would you turn that down because there wasn't enough research *@Drogonssmile*?

Yes. I've only had the flu vaccine once in 15 years as an employee.

I wouldn't want to see anyone feeling forced to have the vaccine. People are so quick to be shitty with anyone not doing as they themselves would do nowadays, and I bet there are many who would remove free will given the chance. Of course people are entitled to be shitty, but a pandemic doesn't excuse twatish behaviour. Like all medical treatment, consent should be given freely. It is a personal choice, despite what some MNers think.

However, if there are consequences in terms of where you're allowed to go and what you're allowed to do, I think that's fair too. Few healthy people particularly want the vaccine. Most take the view that it's necessary for the whole of society. Anybody not taking part but wanting to be involved in other aspects of society should have a valid reason.

@WiseUpJanetWeiss I suspect you are right. There are two word definitely missing: Immediate and guarantee

Other than that it reads much like a standard permissions form!

Stupidity isn't a protected characteristic - you can't be discriminated against on that basis. HTH

The following does not apply to those who have a medical reason for not vaccinating.

People who decide to not have the vaccine because they think it is not safe are cowards. Just cowardly! They want everyone else to make them more safe. Everyone else has to risk (and there are always some risks) taking the vaccine for the general good - but not them. They’re special.

If I was your colleague I would not be talking/chatting to you. I would be explaining to my manager that the best I could manage was professional politeness, but that it would be bound to be noticed. If you work for the nhs, who are seeing the direct consequences of this pandemic, I would expect my manager to understand.