Will having the COVID vaccine become mandatory

[yarncakes]

I am not having it done as it is my choice. I'm not going to treated like a guinea pig until I know the long term effects of it. But I've been reading here and there that most countries are going to make it mandatory so if you want to travel there, you have to prove you've had the vaccine. Also jobs as well, especially NHS and care homes, you have to have it done. My boss is funny with me because I am refusing to have it but again, it's my body and my choice but I'm just worried I will be forced to have it against my will if it means living my life normally again.

@Wobblysausage

The care home I work in has basically told us if we don’t have it then we’ll be sacked and they won’t be employing anyone new who won’t have it. At the moment I’m off sick so haven’t had it yet and I’ve been blocked from using the company’s reward scheme and the ‘happiness’ app they provide. I also didn’t receive a bonus other members of staff got. Got a letter telling me I was no longer entitled to company benefits until I have the vaccine. Essentially they are making it difficult for people who haven’t had it.

So I’m guessing it will be mandatory for some jobs and probably travel.

I’d take legal advice on this because your employer are acting terribly. Good luck with it.

‘’How can you look at the majority of posts on this thread and say 'not really'.

I just read a comment that said 'so if you don't want to have it fine but stay away from everyone else' or live on the fringes of society. Like an outcast...

How is that not nasty? You can't seriously be reading this thread and thinking that everyone's being kind!*

Right now everybody should be staying away from everyone else and there is going to be an odd period where some people will feel invincible and others more cautious’’

And no I don’t think it’s unkind to ask someone to stay away on the basis they could put their health at risk, no more than I would think it’s unkind to ask someone to stay away if they had untreated nits or if I was on chemotherapy and they had a streaming cold. Why do you think it’s unkind for someone to protect their own health interests?

The judgement and bitchiness on this thread towards the OP is fucking awful. Her body, her choice. It’s nobody else’s business

I think people are judging the untrue and unsubstantiated myth of 'being a guinea pig' rather than the op.

Almost every poster has told the op that it will be their choice and no one will force them. No one is saying she won't be able to choose.

However, not having the vaccine may come with consequences.

It isn't being the realms of possibility that the vaccine may become a necessary entry requirement for other countries, such as the yellow fever vaccine is.

Who knows if it won't become mandatory for some professions in the future. I guess it depends how things go. When I worked in a prison I was expected to have certain vaccinations first. It's not that unusual.

I am frontline nhs and I am VERY grateful to have received my first vaccination (you're welcome that i have acted as your guinea pig). In my mind i would rather take the 'risk' on receiving a fully approved vaccine vs the possible alternative of contracting covid and the potential impact that could have on my life and my nearest and dearest around me. Those people refusing the vaccine im sure would be willing to accept trial drugs and treatments if they were laying on a ventilator.

The care home I work in has basically told us if we don’t have it then we’ll be sacked and they won’t be employing anyone new who won’t have it.

I think that's quite right too. Otherwise you are putting the residents lives at risk.

That was in reply @U8myufo and I mucked up my quoting

@BogForLife

You do realise that the flu jab given every year is a new vaccine, different from the previous year, so developed quickly

It's new in the sense that each year protects against different strains, but not in relation to the technology it applies (e.g. mRNA)

So no, not comparable

Superloudpoppingaction... Seriously, talking to the OP like they are stupid but clearly assuming the jab is anything like the annual HPV vaccine? Are you serious? Anyone with half a brain cell will see it is going to have to be annual vaccination, like the flu jab to account for new mutations.

And I'm very grateful to all those who participated in the trials and I agree it's offensive to call them (or anyone) a 'guinea pig'

Nobody is making you travel or work in certain types of employment. You can do what you want, but so can everyone else. Why do you think that free will only applies to you? If travel companies want to make it a requirement, that is their choice. If employers want to protect themselves and others, that is also their choice. If you want to restrict where you can go and what you can do, have at it. I won't be missing you. Plenty of others want to travel and work. Just make sure that you don't end up claiming any of the benefits that I pay for because you don't want to be a part of society. If you want individual autonomy that is fine by me, but make sure that it applies to everything you do, and not just the things that suit you.

@southeastdweller

I’d take legal advice on this because your employer are acting terribly

If she doesn't take legal advice, I'm sure someone who is put in a similar situation (and does not want to take the vaccine for whatever reason) will

@Wobblysausage

I am going to have the vaccine when I’m feeling better

Fair enough if you have decided the best option for you is to take the vaccine

trulydelicious

@southeastdweller

I’d take legal advice on this because your employer are acting terribly“

Not a lawyer but I think it’s legal to renegotiate contracts. Sure I’ve read of several large companies who have required employees to re-apply for their posts.

If circumstances change, contracts must. A carer who is not vaccinated is potentially putting those they care for at risk.

@raviolidreaming I would genuinely like to know how long the OP thinks we should wait to rule out long term effects. 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, a generation? How long will it take to be satisfied that this is safe

In the vaccine world, I think it is 8 years. 8-10 years, when all the studies are deemed "complete".

I think I am also right in saying, that the majority of knowledge will have come to light, after 2 years.

@DenisetheMenace

A carer who is not vaccinated is potentially putting those they care for at risk

I agree that the situation with a carer can be trickier and should be looked at more carefully at some point

But regardless, these are emergency-approved vaccines and it has not been proved yet that they stop transmission, so it'a a bit too early for all of this (even if it was lawful)

@KihoBebiluPute -I wish I could like your post too. Completely spot on.

If circumstances change, contracts must. A carer who is not vaccinated is potentially putting those they care for at risk

I’m not sure you can change contracts without consultation and I thinks it’s also shaken ground to stipulate carers must be vaccinated when residents are likely to be vaccinated themselves. I think it’s also questionable whether an employer can withhold benefits without vaccinations, especially of an employee on maternity leave.

I agree with vaccinations but I think there are some very grey areas in that scenario worthy of questioning legally.

“I agree with vaccinations but I think there are some very grey areas in that scenario worthy of questioning legally”

Indeed, no doubt they will be.

I don't know, herd immunity will hit at 60-70% immunisation so I wonder what will happen then

Requiring it for entry into a country doesn't make it 'mandatory'. It's up to each country what their requirements are, and it makes sense. Hardly any travel abroad is 'essential', and you can't expect to potentially put members of their local population at risk just because you a) don't want to be a 'guinea pig' and b) want to go on a jolly without taking sensible precautions.

If you don't want it, fine, but your life will be limited with what you are and aren't allowed to do.

@LindaEllen what if you’re immune through natural infection? Should you not be allowed to travel then?

Why is the vaccine being seen as the ‘gold standard’ to show immunity when we know it’s nowhere near 100% effective and we don’t know how long immunity from it lasts?

If any of my family needed home carers after a time in ITU with Covid; there is no way any unvaccinated carer would be stepping foot in my house.

@bumbleymummy maybe antibody test results will be a part of it once they know how long natural immunity lasts. It won't be more than a year though I don't think

I don't see how it can avoid being required for some jobs. The vaccine is not 100% effective and likely to be less effective in those with reduced immune systems. I would expect my frail, elderly mother in law to be cared for by people who were vaccinated. Pregnant women can't have the vaccine. If it's required annually then they are likely to be overdue by the time they give birth. I think they have the right to expect their midwife/consultant etc to be vaccinated. No responsible NHS employer could put people in A and E or ICU if they were unvaccinated.

And if we don't get to the level of vaccination needed to safely remove restrictions, why should those of us who are vaccinated stay home because other people choose not to?

@MO1268

If any of my family needed home carers after a time in ITU with Covid; there is no way any unvaccinated carer would be stepping foot in my house

Your family member is likely to be immune if they they have come out of ITU after Covid, so I don't see the problem

As far as the rest of the family goes, just employ a carer who has been willing to have the vaccine if that worries you

@yarncakes

I am not having it done as it is my choice. I'm not going to treated like a guinea pig until I know the long term effects of it. But I've been reading here and there that most countries are going to make it mandatory so if you want to travel there, you have to prove you've had the vaccine. Also jobs as well, especially NHS and care homes, you have to have it done. My boss is funny with me because I am refusing to have it but again, it's my body and my choice but I'm just worried I will be forced to have it against my will if it means living my life normally again.

Relax. Anti-vaxxers willl not want to risk having a chip installed and we understand that. So you retain the right to put everyone else at risk but that's how we do things in this country.

As for other countries refusing you entry that isn't making it mandatory as you don't have to go there I wouldn't let you in my house either or near my family, but that's my choice. See how that works?