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).

@Drogonssmile

You need to repost this and put a POLL on.

See what the results are.

I will guess 95% for YABU, and 5% from the anti-vaxxers,/covid deniers.

Anyone who refuses the vaccination, should have any treatment if they contract covid.

No more Mr Nice Guy, and fuck the Hippocratic Oath. You refuse the vaccination, you get no treatment for covid. End of. No ifs, buts, or maybes.

As for the people who won't have it, but 'won't tell anyone,' the powers that be/your GP etc will know, and you will be on an 'anti-vaxxer ergo no treatment for covid' list.

And YES I am being serious.

Oh and YABU, and a total inconsiderate muppet.

’I said I probably wouldn't as it doesn't affect transmission’ Which is the worst kind of lie told about this vaccine.

The transmission question is nigh on hypothetical. The kind of question that has to be asked by researchers , because viruses are tricky buggers, but has been taken on by an uneducated Media and The Masses as a sign that this vaccine, all vaccines, are the very devil and don't actually work anyway!

And what your coworker is doing is NOT discrimination. And your employer choosing to modify / restrict your deployment wouldn't be either!

Given I don't believe altruism is behind your decision, why do you REALLY not want the vaccine?

That should be no treatment on the NHS^

You want treatment for covid (when you have refused the vaccination,), then you PAY for the treatment.

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

@trixiebelden77 Can you outline briefly the usual steps in preparing pharmaceutical products for public release that you believe have been missed?

I've literally just copied and saved this line in my draft emails so I can use it on morons who think they're being smart by refusing the vaccine.

Your colleague not talking to you isn't discrimination

And can we all just stop saying 'do some research!' There are algorithms online set up to send you to news and sites which reinforce your own belief and to be quite honest, people that frankly aren't able to think critically and validate their 'research' and will find all sorts of 'facts'. Not everyone is qualified to 'just do some research.'

Not aimed at OP.

Yes YABU

Choosing not to have a vaccine which benefits both you and wider society is selfish and thankfully not a protected characteristic.

I fully support people who can’t have the vaccine for genuine medical reasons and they shouldn’t excluded. Selfish idiots who buy the anti-vax nonsense can take the consequences of their own stupidity

Agree discriminated is the wrong word, she doesn’t want to work with unvaccinated people. As a pp said she’s within her rights to think you’re an idiot. That’s not discrimination.

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.

Can anyone spot the contradiction in this sentence?

You aren’t being discriminated against just because one of your colleagues thinks you’re a twat.

BAME and CEV staff have already been done.

How are they selecting BAME people? Is it self-id?

@shouldistop

Your colleague not talking to you isn't discrimination

I've apologised for not using the correct terminology.

I think given the job you do you have to have it. You may not be patient-facing but presumably you come into contact with people who are - if you were low risk you wouldn't be on the list at all.

I am a bit vaccine sceptic, and don't eg bother paying for a flu vaccine, but I didn't choose a job working with vulnerable people, or with healthcare workers.

@TheOrigRights

BAME and CEV staff have already been done.

How are they selecting BAME people? Is it self-id?

Yes via their COVID risk assessment

YANBU

I'm horrified (but not surprised) that non frontline workers are being offered it for no other reason than they work for the nhs.

OP no idea what you do but there's plenty in the nhs who are at no greater risk than anyone else, and significantly less than shop workers, or dare I say it, teachers.

You are within your rights to refused no matter how tenuous your reasoning is. What you are not within your rights to do is police other peoples reactions.

Your colleague doesn't have to speak to you. It is borderline offensive to call this discrimination given the actual real discrimination some people face daily over issues outside of their control.

You made a decision and I defend anyones choice to do so even if it's not one I agree with. I do not defend you then throwing a hissy fit because people express their opinion in words or actions. You can't have it both ways.

@nopeaceforthewicked

I'm horrified (but not surprised) that non frontline workers are being offered it for no other reason than they work for the nhs.

OP no idea what you do but there's plenty in the nhs who are at no greater risk than anyone else, and significantly less than shop workers, or dare I say it, teachers.

I agree.

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.

Really!!! So you are so concerned about the safety of the vaccine you want a vulnerable person to have your dose?

A reasonable decision if it was based on reasonable arguments, but it is not. So it is not a reasonable decision and is just plain silly.

Yanbu
As long as you also opt out of receiving any medical treatment from the NHS if you catch covid and choose to save that capacity for those who didnt get the chance to be vaccinated.

YANBU. People are stupid on here.

@VapeVamp12

Personally I'm hoping people will have to be vaccinated in order to be able to get on flights / ferries etc in the future. I think it is very selfish to not get it.

If you're in your 30's you probably won't get it until next summer anyway.

It's likely to happen. Some countries already demand proof of vaccinations like yellow fever from non-passport holders/non-residents.

@littlepattilou it would actually be very risky for me to have, but people like you are the reason I will feel forced to keep quiet about it in real life.