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Would you support the vaccine being mandatory?

225 replies

Lockdowner35 · 09/01/2021 20:22

If there was a guarantee life would get back to normal

OP posts:
Heartlantern2 · 09/01/2021 22:05

No, choice is the most important thing.

virginpinkmartini · 09/01/2021 22:09

No. Its the governments job to inform the public well enough about the vaccine, so that most people feel safe and confident to get one. If I had enough info about it and I was sufficiently happy that it was safe, I would get it. If it was mandated, I would refuse out of principle. Its terrifying to me how many people have the 'It's a means to an end' attitude, and don't care about the snowball affect all of this is having on our freedoms. People laughably think that everything is just going to go back to normal, and even then our rights were being picked at.

Subordinateclause · 09/01/2021 22:16

Once again, for people saying it should be essentially mandatory to access travel, theatres etc what about women who are breastfeeding (or people who cannot have a vaccine for a medical reason, if that is the case for some people)? They just can't do anything whilst they devote their life to feeding their child? The vaccine doesn't reduce transmission, so if it's just a case of protecting oneself, for a young mother with no underlying conditions the benefits of the vaccine and stopping breastfeeding (to protect against an illness that will likely little affect them) are outweighed by the benefits of continuing to feed, both for the babies future health and the mother's (lower risk of various cancers etc).

Crazycatlady83 · 09/01/2021 22:21

@flicktheswitch22

This is a very interesting thread.

I wonder, hypothetically, if uptake were unexpectedly low particularly amongst high risk groups, and say 6 months from now there was a continued direct impact (further lockdowns, education disrupted, ecomony further damaged etc) would everyone currently saying 'no' still feel the same way?

I do wonder if we won’t know the answer to this question soon enough. In some countries, initial uptake has been poor (from news reports France for example) Although if other countries see progress being made in vaccinations / restrictions being eased, death rates falling and no adverse side effects, maybe this will encourage them?

Also, I see the point being made about if not enough vulnerable / elderly take the vaccine, numbers won’t drop, NHS will continue to be threatened etc. The idea of people dying without treatment and the NHS being overwhelmed will still be horrific but we need to overcome this somehow because other illnesses / diseases are still out there and we can’t put treatment off forever!

So in my ramblings I have come to the conclusion I very much hope it’s a hypothetical question! Grin

Crazycatlady83 · 09/01/2021 22:24

@Subordinateclause

Once again, for people saying it should be essentially mandatory to access travel, theatres etc what about women who are breastfeeding (or people who cannot have a vaccine for a medical reason, if that is the case for some people)? They just can't do anything whilst they devote their life to feeding their child? The vaccine doesn't reduce transmission, so if it's just a case of protecting oneself, for a young mother with no underlying conditions the benefits of the vaccine and stopping breastfeeding (to protect against an illness that will likely little affect them) are outweighed by the benefits of continuing to feed, both for the babies future health and the mother's (lower risk of various cancers etc).
New guidelines say that breastfeeding mothers can have the Oxford vaccine. Can’t link (I’m useless) but a quick google search will confirm!

I share your worry about people who are unable to have the vaccine due to medical reasons though. Once we have more data on whether the vaccine will effect transmission, and hopefully reports of 80%+ people willing to take the vaccine, will give us herd immunity to protect those people (and children of course!)

YouCanWorkItOut · 09/01/2021 22:24

No. Obviously not.

Indoctro · 09/01/2021 22:26

Not as such but I think for instance certain things should be restricted if you don't get it, like travel.
Unvaccinated people coming to uk shouldn't be allowed.
Kids not vaccinated not allowed to school etc

Redwinestillfine · 09/01/2021 22:28

No. Last time I checked we lived in a democracy.

waydownwego · 09/01/2021 22:29

Vaccination has never been compulsory in this country, and we've allowed people to refuse reasonable medical treatment for religious reasons (e.g. no blood transfusions for dying JWs who need blood), so a mandatory Covid vaccine doesn't feel particularly compatible with British values.

With that said, it's become very clear in recent years that roughly half the voting population is incapable of sound judgement, so in this hypothetical scenario, I would support some kind of system where you could prove you had had the vaccine (or prove that you were 'exempt' - i.e. a doctor had recommended you did not have it). I'd support exclusion from certain activities based on vaccination status.

No vaccine is a 100% guarantee, and strains mutate all the time. Plus, as I've already indicated, not everyone who would love to get the vaccine will actually be able to get the vaccine for medical reasons. I think to protect people in general, the anti-vaxxers should not be allowed a free pass to mix with those who have taken the vaccine or who are not able to take it.

It's not quite shipping them off to an island, but it's withdrawing some of their creature comforts. I think that's a reasonable compromise.

Of course, in real life, maintaining any kind of secure database not riddled with errors is above Government competence, so it won't happen. But it's a nice idea.

Maryann1975 · 09/01/2021 22:35

I was absolutely furious to see that someone on Facebook who has been very vocal that schools should never have reopened in September, How Schools should have stayed closed all through Autumn/winter and about us needing to go back in to lockdown has said today that she doesn’t think she will be getting the vaccine due to safety concerns. Yes, I get it’s her choice, but honestly, how does she think we are going going to get out of this shit storm? If we all refuse to vaccinate, what does she think will become of her and her family and of wider society? We can’t stay locked down forever!
I do think life should be made more difficult for those without vaccinations though. No travel, no insurance and although ethically, it’s completely wrong, should they be eligible for nhs treatment for COVID if they do catch it when they have been offered a vaccination to prevent it?

Eng123 · 09/01/2021 22:36

No. I want the vaccine asap so personally it would not make any difference to me but I think mandating the vaccine would fuel the anti vaxers and conspiracy theorists. However I would suggest that proof of vaccine could possibly be used to determine Visa and quarantine conditions for travelers if scientific advice supports such measures. This could give rise to complaint from the antivax nut jobs of discrimination... at least I wouldn't have to put up with the gammon eating morons on holiday!

ellenleaves · 09/01/2021 22:36

Once everyone has been offered I'd support restrictions for those who haven't, but not mandatory vaccinations. Those who are unable to have it (with strict criteria) should be allowed an exemption card if they qualify.

QuantumQuality · 09/01/2021 22:37

I think it’s something that might need to be considered if take up isn’t high enough to get the virus under control. There will always be some people who can’t have the vaccine and if they plus the anti-vaxxers make up too high a percentage of the population, we may not reach herd immunity. In those circumstances I might support it being compulsory to be vaccinated for some people. I imagine employers will effectively also make it mandatory for many people.

Scaredykittycat · 09/01/2021 22:39

No. Everyone has a right to refuse anything going into their bodies and that shouldn’t change.

I am pro vaccine.

HandlebarLadyTash · 09/01/2021 22:40

No, your body your choice

MadameBlobby · 09/01/2021 22:42

Yes

YouBoughtMeAWall · 09/01/2021 22:43

Kids not vaccinated not allowed to school etc

Which vaccine would you like the kids to have?

paulhollywoodshairgel · 09/01/2021 22:45

No.

But I can fully see you having to have it if you want to travel anywhere. I'm having mine tomorrow and I thoroughly looking forward to it!!

CrunchyCarrot · 09/01/2021 22:54

No. Your body, your choice. Especially as it could become an annual jab, like flu.

Ilovemyhairbeingstroked · 09/01/2021 22:55

Yes - unless a valid medical reason of course

SaltyTootsieToes · 09/01/2021 22:56

Yes

Kendodd · 09/01/2021 22:59

No.
But I'm perfectly comfortable with unvaccinated people being barred from places.

TopBants · 09/01/2021 23:22

@Kendodd

No. But I'm perfectly comfortable with unvaccinated people being barred from places.
I'm not. There are some people who are physically incapable of being vaccinated because it wouldn't be safe for them. I don't think we have the right to discriminate against them for that.
Morgan12 · 09/01/2021 23:39

No.

But. Big big but coming up.

If you are perfectly healthy and are choosing to not get the vaccine then I don't think you should be allowed in restaurants etc when they reopen.

I shouldn't have to get the vaccine so the people who aren't (for no good reason) can have their normal life back.

We are all in this together.

TopBants · 10/01/2021 00:01

I shouldn't have to get the vaccine so the people who aren't (for no good reason) can have their normal life back.

Ahh, but who decides what constitutes a good reason? What about phobias? Family history of allergy/side effects from vaccines? What about if their sister reacted badly to the COVID vaccine? Or a different vaccine?

Ultimately, no one should be pressured or forced into medical treatment they don't want (or, realistically, need). We don't do it for measles, and that's more deadly than COVID, and more contagious. I don't think the COVID vaccine should receive any special treatment in that regard.