Poll on compulsory covid vaccination in 2021-2023

[lljkk]

I don't know what real policy will be, I just wondered about gauging the range of views of readers on this board (chance for lurkers to reply). I will summarise replies if more than 20. Which of the below policies is closest to your own preference, about what the covid vaccination policy should be, for UK adults in 2021-2023?

1. Optional for everyone, not required by any employer or for customers of a business to show evidence or "reasonable excuse" not to have had it

2. Not compulsory for all, but health and social care employers can legally require the jab for staff who work with any clinically vulnerable; refusal would be permitted grounds for dismissal if jab not medically contra-indicated

3. Not compulsory for all, but any employers allowed to require the jab for staff (refusal would be permitted grounds for dismissal); businesses allowed to require jab among customers, thus no jab = legally refuse service

4. Compulsory for all adults without medical contra-indications

1

I’d actually be fine with 4, I’m not pretending anything. I am not sure there is the public appetite for it and I am not sure it would be necessary if vaccines reduce transmission as is now thought.

I didn’t vote, want or consent to any of the other measures we’ve had and I personally think they have been more damaging to me than any vaccine could be. I don’t really see the big deal. I don’t see vaccination as impinging on my rights any more (and in fact a whole lot less) than being forced to stay at home, wear masks when I do go anywhere, not have the freedom to have other citizens of my choice in my privately owned dwelling house, losing my job, my partner not being allowed by the state to do his job, my children not being permitted to access the form of education I have chosen for them. I had no choice but to agree to those when I didn’t want to. What’s a silly wee vaccine in comparison?

FFS Y do the vit D fanatics have to hijack every thread?

I will try to update %s to thread Q in a moment.

I would socially lie to say I had it when I hadn't. Because I'm a coward about personal attacks but brave about getting sick. I'm willing to get sick because I'm more afraid of being a hypocrite than I am of covid. Hope that information satisfies someone.

I prefer 1 but find 2 acceptable.
208 responses to 15:54pm (assuming no double voters)
I still biased down; eg., if you couldn't decide between 1 & 2 I put you down as a 1. But if you said you really wanted 4, I put you down as 4.

Updated %s..
1s (optional all) 62%
2s (health/social care required) 7.7%
3s (most business/services allowed to require) 26.4%
4s (compulsory almost all) 3.8%

@MadameBlobby

I’d actually be fine with 4, I’m not pretending anything. I am not sure there is the public appetite for it and I am not sure it would be necessary if vaccines reduce transmission as is now thought.

I didn’t vote, want or consent to any of the other measures we’ve had and I personally think they have been more damaging to me than any vaccine could be. I don’t really see the big deal. I don’t see vaccination as impinging on my rights any more (and in fact a whole lot less) than being forced to stay at home, wear masks when I do go anywhere, not have the freedom to have other citizens of my choice in my privately owned dwelling house, losing my job, my partner not being allowed by the state to do his job, my children not being permitted to access the form of education I have chosen for them. I had no choice but to agree to those when I didn’t want to. What’s a silly wee vaccine in comparison?

@MadameBlobby - I totally agree (except I went for 3 😁).

I didn’t vote, want or consent to any of the other measures we’ve had and I personally think they have been more damaging to me than any vaccine could be. I don’t really see the big deal.

I do see the big deal, and to me, the vaccine is far more invasive than anything we have been forced to do up to now. You would be putting a foreign substance into my body, something that has not been tested for long term effects, something that does rather drastic things to my body.
I'm the kind of person who don't even take an aspirin if I have a pain. I'm careful about my food, choose organic and unprocessed wherever possible. I don't eat meat, and haven't for 40 years. I don't want anything put into my body that I haven't selected myself. It would be like force=feeding me meat.
The other restrictions? They are here today and one day they'll be gone. We don't know when, but they will. And one day we'll look back and be all the wiser. But I won't let anything enter my body that I don't want.

1. You can't coerce people to have a medical intervention against their will. Very slippery slope.

1

3

Not least to protect the BAME communities who are not very forthcoming in wanting the vaccine, then dying in large numbers. All employers should make it mandatory for all employees too. No vaccine, then no benefits either.

You may not want the vaccine but this is for the greater good.

1

You may not want the vaccine but this is for the greater good.

That's a chilling argument that could start off a very slippery slope, ending in eugenics.

1 although I'm tempted towards 2 if it is only for new employees and not applied to current staff. But I'm worried that would be the start of a very slippery slope.

1

@chocolateorangeinhaler

4. Not least to protect the BAME communities who are not very forthcoming in wanting the vaccine, then dying in large numbers. All employers should make it mandatory for all employees too. No vaccine, then no benefits either.

You may not want the vaccine but this is for the greater good.

Surely the focus should be on encouraging people to take up the vaccine, not to make it mandatory.

Surely the focus should be on encouraging people to take up the vaccine, not to make it mandatory.

Indeed. It's a wee bit patronising and colonial-mindset isn't it? Poor things can't make their own decisions- they're not choosing the path we have decided will be most beneficial to them, so let's take the choice away. Forcing them to do what we want will be so much better for all concerned.

@WineInTheWillows

Surely the focus should be on encouraging people to take up the vaccine, not to make it mandatory.

Indeed. It's a wee bit patronising and colonial-mindset isn't it? Poor things can't make their own decisions- they're not choosing the path we have decided will be most beneficial to them, so let's take the choice away. Forcing them to do what we want will be so much better for all concerned.

Yep!

1 initially and then review the take up. The UK actually has a pretty good record and attitudes towards vaccine take up compared to a lot of countries. If the voluntary approach does not work then review at a later date. Supply is the limiting factor at the moment anyway. I would rather those that want it get it first.

Another factor to consider is that in the UK the government has given the vaccine manufactuers immunity from prosecution in the case of any problems as part of the deal to secure the vaccines quickly. In the EU this still rests with the manufacturers so they could be sued in the case if serious side effects etc.

In my view this makes it more important that the UK public is given the choice in relation to taking the vaccine.

2

1!

Anything else is appalling.

God, this thread is chilling.

@littlepeas I actually found it reassuring that the majority opted for 1. That isn’t always reflected on MN threads where the 4s seem to be the most vocal.