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Original poster

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*

571 replies

Drogonssmile · 05/01/2021 11:32

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).

OP posts:
DearFrutti · 05/01/2021 13:09

You are saying you are concerned about the lack of long term research and then that you'd prefer your dose to go to someone more vulnerable.

Why would you want someone more vulnerable to have it if you don't trust it for yourself?

Phlip · 05/01/2021 13:10

@Oly4

Actually they think the vaccines WILL stop transmission. We are waiting for the data. I personally would also be livid and find it hard to talk to you. Herd immunity works when most people get vaccinated. Do your bit and end this pandemic. And surely you know that any side effects (extremely rare) show up in the first few weeks of a vaccine being given? You don’t need long term data
I feel sure this is true, it would be staggeringlyrare for a vaccine not to prevent transmission, though obviously no-one knows yet for sure. . In the midst of a pandemic it is expedient to tell the public that vaccine does not prevent transmission. Compliance with restrictions is hard enough to police without having a chunk of the population claiming exemption due to vaccination.
Mrgrinch · 05/01/2021 13:10

@DayBath

OP you're a coward for not enabling voting.
WTF is wrong with you?
BeardyButton · 05/01/2021 13:10

These people are all herd immunity until herd immunity means actively doing sonething for others....

If you choose not yo do this, you are putting others at risk. If everyone who 'didnt need it' acted like you, vaccine would not be effective.

Do you have no conception of the public good??!!

Bluntness100 · 05/01/2021 13:11

I completely support you OP. Some people here seem to forget you have freedom of choice, and if you are concerned about the vaccine (which many are), it is your right to refuse and for your decision to be respected

But the op isn’t the only one to be respected. The colleague also has to be respected. And the op is increasing her risk of illness. Whilst being all chuffed that everyone else is having it so her own risk declines.

Butchyrestingface · 05/01/2021 13:12

This brings back memories of the time I stopped talking to a colleague after he loudly voiced the opinion that he was glad the Chinese cockle pickers drowned in the 2004 Morecambe Bay disaster.

I was young then. Probably wouldn't have the guts to do it now. Grin

Shhhhh223 · 05/01/2021 13:13

I agree with you

WhereamI88 · 05/01/2021 13:13

You have a choice but choices have consequences and you sound thick as shit. I hope you lose your job over it. Because 1) you will be at a higher risk of spreading covid in a healthcare setting and 2) you are spreading misinformation and convincing others not to vaccinate (people will be saying I know X who works in the NHS and she refused so I won't have it either).

Crowncan · 05/01/2021 13:13

It won't be a silver bullet if people refuse to get it. I don't think your choice is as 'informed' as you think it is.

IrmaFayLear · 05/01/2021 13:14

If a vaccine refuser said boldly that no one ever should have a vaccination and viruses etc should be allowed to run their course.... well, that’s a position they are entitled to hold.

If a vaccine refuser says, “Everyone else first so I can see how it goes” or “I’m banking on enough people being vaccinated so I don’t have to be” then that’s the position of an arsehole.

ASmallMovie · 05/01/2021 13:14

Also, if you are off work for 6 months-plus with long Covid will you be happy to forfeit sick pay?

notangelinajolie · 05/01/2021 13:15

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

Wrong, scientists have been researching related viruses like Sars and Mers for decades. I think it is you who needs to do some research.

and have made an informed
Clearly not

decision that I probably won't have it

Yeah great idea lets all not have it Hmm

I said I probably wouldn't as it doesn't affect transmission
You don't know that

I wouldn't speak to you either. I'd be putting in for a transfer.

Newdonewhugh · 05/01/2021 13:18

“These people are all herd immunity until herd immunity means actively doing sonething for others....”

I think you’ll find that some people that don’t want the covid vaccine think this way but a true “anti vaccer” is not “all herd immunity”
We would prefer it if no vaccinations took place at all. I won’t be back to explain that theory because if your interested rather than defensive that info is easy to find out online.

bridgetreilly · 05/01/2021 13:18

It is, of course, your choice whether or not to have the vaccine.

It is your employer's choice to decide whether it is safe to have unvaccinated staff present in the hospital. That's not discrimination. Being an anti-vaxxer is not a protected characteristic. I'd certainly expect you to be treated differently and potentially even to be sacked.

Your choice.

TheDailyCarbunkle · 05/01/2021 13:19

@FourTeaFallOut

Interesting that this is the attitude, when so many pro-lockdowners are happy for medical staff and retail staff to take on the risk of covid, to keep services going for them, but they're unwilling to take that risk on for themselves

Nice straw man. Any other stories you have about me based on nothing?

If you're pro-lockdown, but still want retail staff and medical staff (among others) to go to work and serve you, then you are expecting others to take a risk on that you are not taking on yourself.

Anyone who works from home during lockdown has no high horse to get on about risks.

CharlotteRose90 · 05/01/2021 13:19

Thank god my company have said everyone has to have the vaccine unless your allergic. I couldn’t deal with idiots refusing to have it. If you don’t want it stay out of publics way.

Janegrey333 · 05/01/2021 13:20

YABU

CuriousaboutSamphire · 05/01/2021 13:20

We would prefer it if no vaccinations took place at all. I won’t be back to explain that theory because if your interested rather than defensive that info is easy to find out online. Please do exlain it @Newdonewhugh

I had a quick Google and there is a very humanitarian train of thoguht and a weird one... which one is your belief

Meadow1203 · 05/01/2021 13:20

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

TwentyTwentyOne · 05/01/2021 13:21

I'm usually quite chilled about stuff but if someone in my circle decides not to have the vaccine, rather than cant have it for whatever reason, then I won't have them in my house nor will I socialize with them in case you brought it into my house and infected one of my children. They are not entitled to the vaccine and if you infected one of them they could end up in hospital or worse.

I wouldn't have you around us and I would kick up a stink at work about being exposed to the virus.

Also, imagine if you refuse this and then it turns out that you took Covid into your workplace and it started a cluster. How would you feel about that, or would you not care?

CuriousaboutSamphire · 05/01/2021 13:21

@Meadow1203

I support you too OP. Your choice totally. This Vaccine has not been tested and has killed some people also has had some alarming side effects, of course we are not told about this in the mainstream media. I am not an anti Vax my children had all their jabs but this is too risky in my opinion for virus that has only killed 388 people under the age of 60 with no underlying health condition.
Woah! Receipts please!!!
FourTeaFallOut · 05/01/2021 13:21

You see how you have to start that sentence with an if...

TwentyTwentyOne · 05/01/2021 13:21

This Vaccine has not been tested and has killed some people also has had some alarming side effects, of course we are not told about this in the mainstream media

Sources please.

Pukkatea · 05/01/2021 13:23

I absolutely despise the 'lack of long term research' argument. Not one medicine has EVER been approved with long-term research available. Not one. Ever.

That aside, what long term effects do you think a single (ok double) dose medicine is going to have? Long-term effects come from medicine you take...long-term. Do you think it's possible for an ibuprofen you took 15 years ago to now make your eyeballs fall out?

BuntysTwinkle · 05/01/2021 13:23

With all the faffing involved in you asking to be passed over, and them finding out whether you can or can't be, and if that needs to be documented, you may as well just have the jab.

But being concerned about your health so you want someone more frail to trial it for you... Hmm

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