Covid Vaccine

[Tzimi]

Can someone please explain to me the extraordinary negative attitude some people seem to have to the Covid-19 vaccine? Some people seem to think it's some kind of conspiracy to implant microchips into us, others seem to think it has no chance of working. There's a really cynical attitude some people have. Surely the way we beat other diseases like Polio, Smallpox, Chickenpox, Diptheria etc was with vaccines? Why should this be any different?

I think it’s the speed with which it’s been manufactured. Vaccines usually take years and at the start of this pandemic the news reported it would take years, yet here it is .
I’m not an anti vaxxer. Chicken pox vaccine isn’t available on the NHS in the U.K. Most people don’t have it, because the majority don’t die from it and there’s a link with it triggering shingles in the elderly (I think!)

It doesn’t stop you getting Covid it just lessens potential symptoms. It was designed for over 80’s, its in clinical trials until Jan 2023 and the research is unfounded and untested long term. Why would you take it???

There's a lot of factors at play, but vaccines have had a long history of being viewed as suspicious and part of conspiracies and cover ups. Vaccines being deliberately designed to cause infertility is a theme that seems to get repeated- it caused real damage to the campaign to eradicate polio.

www.thenewhumanitarian.org/analysis/2013/04/04/roots-polio-vaccine-suspicion#:~:text=Infertility,rumours%20by%20some%20Muslim%20clerics.

The speed at which misinformation can spread in 2020 has also played a key role. A tiny rumour is started, grows legs, is picked up by someone using a Dr/Prof title and then it's everywhere.

I think against the background of lockdown (people bored, stuck at home, too much time of social media) AND the very real issues we have with current government being generally untrustworthy and corrupt, it's been a perfect storm for conspiracy theorists.

I've said this on my posts but going to say it again - it is completely fair enough to refuse the vaccine if you don't want to take it, for whatever reason. What does make me frustrated and sad is people being coerced into refusing it due to misinformation (e.g., it doesn't work, doesn't stop transmission, can cause infertility, a specific health condition is a risk factor for vaccination). People will repeat false statements with no source, and on some social media sites it will genuinely be contributing to vaccine hesitancy among those who would be safer taking it than not.

Poster above me demonstrates this perfectly

Well said @oldegg123

Also, uk has actually managed really well (compared to the scenes in Italy last year, and now in India) so people will make a choice based on the facts they perceive - and the morally corrupt government endorsing it (or endorsing pretty much anything tbf) will also put a lot of people off.

I suspect if we were trying to get hold of medicines and oxygen for our loved ones two to a bed on a packed ward that might give a different response.

@Suzi888

I think it’s the speed with which it’s been manufactured. Vaccines usually take years and at the start of this pandemic the news reported it would take years, yet here it is . I’m not an anti vaxxer. Chicken pox vaccine isn’t available on the NHS in the U.K. Most people don’t have it, because the majority don’t die from it and there’s a link with it triggering shingles in the elderly (I think!)

On an individual level, the chickenpox vaccine is lower risk. The link with chickenpox vaccine is that those who are vaccinated don't get chickenpox nor shingles.

The risk is that if chickenpox spreads less then some other unvaccinated children will be less likely to be infected with chickenpox, leading to them getting a more severe case of chickenpox or shingles as an adult.

The choice for the NHS to get all children to take the risk with chickenpox for the sake of those who won't vaccinate. In large part it's probably because some won't give MMR due to old fake news, they don't want to add another vaccine until that's back on track.

As to why some won't have the vaccine; some are anxious and will get there, some deny covid is serious, some are anti vax everything... As many reasons as there are people.