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).

Bumblymummy

This isn’t about preventing anyone from ever getting covid - it’s about reducing the risks for more vulnerable people so the health service isn’t overwhelmed.

Yes I know. It will never be eradicated, just reduced to the level of seasonal flu, hopefully. Still though, anyone (in all age groups) who is not protected by vaccine risks becoming seriously ill and must be prepared to take that risk. They cannot expect others to take precautions to protect those who on principle decide not to take it forevermore. (Heard it suggested by more than one commentator that we should perhaps all wear masks henceforth.)

If they are prepared for that, their choice.

I think people who are deciding not to have the vaccine are happy enough to take that risk for themselves and aren’t expecting others to protect them.

Not so sure. There was a thread on here the other day, someone venting because a 96 year old relative refused their invitation because they didn’t trust it. Fair enough, but they expected the family to continue to isolate too until they’d all been vaccinated and “herd immunity” achieved! (Not sure it ever will be?)

Clearly unreasonable but I suspect he won’t be the only one thinking that way.

I was more talking about younger/not high risk patients deciding against it. I think everyone should have the choice of course, but I think it’s unreasonable of him to expect everyone else to have the vaccine to protect him if he refuses it.

I don't want to take it. I'm v anxious about it. I have had covid so feel that this should protect me to a similar degree as having the vaccine, but it's hard to find info about the differences between natural antibodies and vaccine antibodies in order to make an informed decision. My colllegues (we r NHS) are pressuring me to have the vaccine and making me feel selfish, but truth is I'm so anxious about having it and can see little.point when I've had covid.

People deciding not to have it when invited fucks the system up and is part of the reason delivery has been slowed down. In future people not having it could cost us recovery from it as a society.

Why should the nhs have to chase you around the table like some blushing bride only for you to 'suddenly' realise you will have it after all when you've got no choice and pubs won't let you in calmed your anxiety. Honestly.

The uk is fucked because no one wants to just get on with it. They want to feel special. They need to be wooed with lovely words just to do the fucking basics. Meanwhile people's livelihoods and lives are being destroyed.

If you don't get the vaccine there will be no heard immunity and we will all be stuck in this hell forever. Don't be so fucking selfish.

@IHateThisVirus

Here is some info about the Oxford study that showed natural immunity lasted 6 months www.ox.ac.uk/news/2020-11-20-prior-covid-19-infection-offers-protection-re-infection-least-six-months

@Myshinynewname2021“ If you don't get the vaccine there will be no heard immunity and we will all be stuck in this hell forever. Don't be so fucking selfish.”

The point of the vaccine is to reduce the seriousness of infection in the more vulnerable, reducing the risk of hospitalisation (and death) and thereby taking the pressure off the hospitals. Once that pressure has been lifted we will not need to be in lockdown. This does not require everyone to be vaccinated.

@Sunshine3013

There is a chance the vaccine could have a side effect of making women sterile! No way I'll be taking it.

Where is the evidence that supports this?

I don't usually like Piers Morgan but he's spot on here, and funny.

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=metro.co.uk/video/piers-morgan-slams-imbecile-lauren-goodger-vaccine-views-mocks-fillers-2326836/&ved=2ahUKEwjAivqhhIzuAhVGxYUKHa__AWQQo7QBMAB6BAgCEAE&usg=AOvVaw20XgH-voOYsdP3XMAcSYrO" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=metro.co.uk/video/piers-morgan-slams-imbecile-lauren-goodger-vaccine-views-mocks-fillers-2326836/&ved=2ahUKEwjAivqhhIzuAhVGxYUKHa__AWQQo7QBMAB6BAgCEAE&usg=AOvVaw20XgH-voOYsdP3XMAcSYrO

Vaccination is the best option we have for slowing or stopping the pandemic. Approval for vaccines is only given after thorough consideration of the evidence. It is in everyone's interests to have the vaccine as soon as it is offered, for their own and others' protection.
IMO it should be compulsory for NHS staff to have the vaccine to reduce the risk of them transmitting the virus to other staff/patients, for example if they were asymptomatic. YABU and it should be no surprise that you are being shunned as a result.

Two things

1. It probably does reduce transmission, results on that just not in yet

2. Such a choice will curtail life a lot eg I think it’s unlikely people will be able to fly without a vaccination cert as soon as airlines can organise a system for that

There's already data on the oxford vaccine, suggestive of reduced transmission in asymptomatic over 55s

Don't feed MN's regular anti-vax troll, now that she's appeared.

That’s cool, sign something to say you won’t take up a hospital bed or ventilator then 👍

@Brunt0n

That’s cool, sign something to say you won’t take up a hospital bed or ventilator then 👍

Quite. Money where mouth is comes to mind.

Yanbu Op.
Your body. Your choice.

This is such a weak argument.

Are all smokers supposed to waive the right to healthcare when they buy a packet of cigarettes in case they need treatment for their breathing at a later date?

Or someone who decides to go on a subbed must sign an agreement to say they can’t have treatment for skin cancer if they get it?

Or if someone does extreme sports they’re meant to agree they aren’t entitled to any treatment if they harm themselves?

Or if someone has sex without a condom and contracts a STI then they shouldn’t be allowed treatment because it’s their ‘fault’?

People’s right to health care isn’t dependent on a lifestyle choice they makes.

Your body. Your choice

This a historic phrase with real meaning. Can anti-vax people stop hijacking it for their own selfishness and narcissism?
Thanks.

[quote bumbleymummy]@Myshinynewname2021“ If you don't get the vaccine there will be no heard immunity and we will all be stuck in this hell forever. Don't be so fucking selfish.”

The point of the vaccine is to reduce the seriousness of infection in the more vulnerable, reducing the risk of hospitalisation (and death) and thereby taking the pressure off the hospitals. Once that pressure has been lifted we will not need to be in lockdown. This does not require everyone to be vaccinated.[/quote]
Not what the scientists and epidemiologists say. You have no access to detailed information and are not an expert. Why is that so hard to accept?

JCVI recommendations:

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/950113/jcvi-advice-on-priority-groups-for-covid-19-vaccination-30-dec-2020-revised.pdf

“ JCVI has considered a number of different vaccination strategies, including those targeting transmission and those targeted at providing direct protection to persons most at risk.
...
Given the current epidemiological situation in the UK, the best option for preventing morbidity and mortality in the initial phase of the programme is to directly protect persons most at risk of morbidity and mortality.”

Covid-19 Actuaries Response Group:

Vaccinating the top four groups ( includes care home residents, people aged 70 and over, clinically extremely vulnerable individuals and frontline healthcare workers) could prevent up to 88% of deaths.

Chief medical officer Chris Whitty on easing restrictions:
“At a certain point, society, through political leaders, through elected ministers and through parliament, will say this level of risk is a level of risk that we think it is appropriate to tolerate.
At a certain point you say, ‘actually, the risk is now low enough that we can largely do away with certainly the most onerous things that we have to deal with'.
This will be a kind of gradual retreat from that, but it is a de-risking process rather than it’s just going to go away. We will de-risk hopefully to a very low level of risk, but I think it’s very unlikely we’ll get to zero level of risk.”

This information is available to everyone. We are not going to be 'stuck in the hell' of this lockdown until the majority of the population are vaccinated. It is not realistic and it is not necessary.