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).

"I wouldnt stand behind her if I were you. What if she is infected and breathes out.....?

Your post is too idiotic to respond to seriously."

..........

Really? Aren't you forgetting that despite being vaccinated, you can pass it on?? eye roll emoji

@Emeeno1

What about those who cannot have the vaccine i.e. those with severe allergies? Should they resign from their jobs too because they are putting colleagues at risk? Are people going to label them all the names under the sun? Why are we so woefully unable to see anything but black and white or good and bad anymore? It's just another polarization of right and wrong yet again.

I think what people have issue with is people that can have the vaccine but won't, not those that can't have it

Wow so much poison on this thread

Nobody knows yet if you can still transmit the virus once vaccinated. It's possible, but we don't know.
What I don't understand is people who won't have the vaccine because they are worried about side effects, when we do know quite a lot about vaccines, but don't seem worried at all about the long term effects of catching Covid about which we still know very little.
What's that about??

What about those who cannot have the vaccine i.e. those with severe allergies? Should they resign from their jobs too because they are putting colleagues at risk? Are people going to label them all the names under the sun?

I'm sure if you thought for a minute you would realise that those people who can't have the vaccine are exactly why people like the OP need to have it.
People who can have the vaccine need to stop thinking only about themselves and help to protect others, such as those who can't.

@IceIceBebe

those people who can't have the vaccine are exactly why people like the OP need to have it

Nobody 'needs' to put their lives at risk to protect others. I'm not categorically saying that Covid vaccines carry any risk, but they are new and some people are understandably cautious. They shouldn't be pushed or guilt-tripped for the 'greater good'

Nobody 'needs' to put their lives at risk to protect others. I'm not categorically saying that Covid vaccines carry any risk, but they are new and some people are understandably cautious. They shouldn't be pushed or guilt-tripped for the 'greater good

So you want to stay in lockdown for ever because people don't understand the science and don't trust the experts?
They should be pushed or guilt tripped if they can;t get there on their own.

Can you get it into your heads that a global pandemic is happening and collective action is needed to manage it and end it? Do you comprehend that individualism and not caring about others is why things are so bad, and why covid cannot be ended with that attitude?
I'm disgusted that people are so selfish and short sighted.

Exactly @IceIceBebe, those of us fit and healthy individuals who can be vaccinated should be to increase population immunity and protect the most vulnerable, many of whom cannot be vaccinated. WE are protecting THEM by being vaccinated.

This is not just about us - whether we like it or not we have a responsibility to protect our vulnerable. Same with any vaccine really. We need to think beyond individual selfishness here.

YANBU - it’s entirely your choice.

I expect that if you do not have it, there will be airlines (possibly) who will not take it, and countries that will not admit you.

Your choice though not to have it.

YANBU - it’s entirely your choice

If the numbers of people saying this on MN are replicated in the community at large...I hope you're loving lockdown because you'll be in it for years.
In reality I suspect the vast majority to stop talking shite and run towards the needle as fast as possible once it's their turn.

@IceIceBebe

Can you get it into your heads that a global pandemic is happening and collective action is needed to manage it and end it

I don't see the same bulldozing attitude on threads where people are applauded for displaying 'you do you' behaviour (e.g. forming unnecessary bubbles, sending children to school when they would be in a position to keep them at home as not key workers, etc ). The general feel is of compassion and leniency although these people are putting others at risk by not following simple guidance

However, when it comes to vaccines, most are happy to take a totalitarian stance and demand 'collective action'

We have good levels of vaccine confidence generally and I expect that those who are most hesitant will cross that bridge when it's a flight to somewhere warm and sunny.

I suspect Ryanair will get rapped over the knuckles for their 'jab and go' tagline but you couldn't have implemented a better vaccine advert.

YANBU

@Thefeep

YANBU - it’s entirely your choice.

Yes it is, in the UK it always has been, has never looked likely not to be. Be grateful you live here.

BUT that doesn't mean there are no consequences to that choice, including:

Being judged, looked askance at; losing part or all of your employment; being part of or cause of an infection spike, see the last measles outbreak (and thoroughly digest it, see why Wakefield is so vilified).

If someone is going to refuse this vaccine, and post about it here, then threr are going to be a lot of negative repsonses, some nasty, some infomrative and questioning, some supportive.

What alternative would you like?

However, when it comes to vaccines, most are happy to take a totalitarian stance and demand 'collective action'

I do hope you are correct in that, for your own sake.

I don't see the same bulldozing attitude on threads where people are applauded for displaying 'you do you' behaviour (e.g. forming unnecessary bubbles, sending children to school when they would be in a position to keep them at home as not key workers, etc ). There are about 50: 50 of those threads, depending on whther they are primarily answered by people who currently have kids or not!

However, when it comes to vaccines, most are happy to take a totalitarian stance and demand 'collective action'

Because that's how vaccines work, ffs.

@trulydelicious a successful vaccination programme by definition demands “collective action” from individuals. This is why people including myself feel so strongly about it.

Vaccination is our only permanent solution, lockdowns and SD measures are not. Even with vaccination we will not eradicate covid but should be able to co-exist without this cycle of endless bloody lockdowns and needless deaths.

Can we keep on shouting MEASLES at such people?

Or is that utterly pointless?

Can we keep on shouting MEASLES at such people?

Or "Hey, remember smallpox and polio? No, because VACCINES, numbnuts!"

Me an Polio down by the schoolyard

@Myshinynewname2021

Well the vaccine won't stop you passing it on or getting it and being asymptomatic so it's up to you really. If it meant you couldn't give it to others I'd say you were BVU.

I think given that it's only a vaccine to stop you getting sick yourself (at least I'm pretty sure that's the deal) who cares? Though personally I wouldn't take that chance as you are most definitely not too young to get long covid/very ill.

yes but its not just about her getting sick...its about reducing strain on hospital beds and increasing herd immunity to hoepfulyl get rid of covid for good one day and allow life to return to normal. It's not just her own health at stake

My understanding is that the current vaccines do not stop transmission, but rather lesson symptoms in the people who receive it. If this is the case, then how does the OP getting the vaccine help to protect anyone else?

And if the OP is going to be blasted by people saying she should pay for her own treatment if she is unlucky enough to have a poor reaction to acquiring C19, then I hope those same people will be firing the same comments at 'selfish' people who play team sports, go hiking, ride a bike on a public road and take other similar risks.

We can’t presume that they affect transmission because it wasn’t studied. Most experts seem to think they will reduce transmission but until there’s proof it shouldn’t be assumed. Obviously with carers/NHS they are hoping to get more information about this