I've been invited for my vaccine but not sure what I want to do

[annabellacomestotea]

Hello everyone

I've been invited for my vaccine much sooner than I expected. I am a 31 year old woman, I do not work in a public facing capacity and have no health concerns (normal BMI, only health concern of note being diagnosed with PCOS and generalised anxiety disorder, which would have no impact on me being offered the vaccine.)

Although I am of course grateful to have been offered the vaccine, I was hoping to be offered it later as I have had concerns about it.

I am not sure if my concerns are legitimate or the result of absorbing so much mixed messaging online, from friends and family and even news outlets. In real life, some of my friends and family support the vaccine and others are 'wait and see', whilst others are vehemently against.

I have had everything else from yellow fever to rabies vaccinations, but I have concerns about this vaccine, especially as it has been linked (whether factually or not I'm unsure) to infertility. As a 31 year old woman with no pre-existing health conditions, I don't like the idea of taking a vaccine for something unlikely to impact me greatly. I also have never taken the flu jab for the same reason.

Anyone of a similar age group, would you take the vaccine? Do you have any concerns? Are these concerns unfounded, or should I be asking more questions? And if I reject the vaccine now, am I able to take it later on, and how would this work?

Thank you.

You will be fine. It’s not just about the impact on you. It’s about protecting the whole of society. Do it.

I’m a few years older. Had my vaccine yesterday and no regrets.

I don’t believe their is any scientific evidence to suggest any impact on fertility

There is no impact on fertility

@Adirondack

You will be fine. It’s not just about the impact on you. It’s about protecting the whole of society. Do it.

I do understand that but I have been abiding by rules and shielding, so even if I don't take the vaccine now, I am doing nothing that would pose me as a risk to anyone else.

@stilllovingmysleep

There is no impact on fertility

Thanks @stilllovingmysleep. I have heard a lot of people in my friend group talking about impact on fertility. Does anyone know where this originated from? As I already have PCOS, this concerned me greatly.

I would feel the same. I am not in a risk group at all for Covid. My mother had the vaccination last Wednesday and she is still feeling rotten.

I am your grandparent's age. I know a lot of medics, have friends with DCs who are medics, your age. They have all had the jab. One already has DC the other does not yet. The story about infertility is scaremongering and wrong. www.nursingtimes.net/news/coronavirus/no-evidence-covid-19-vaccine-will-affect-fertility-say-unions-21-01-2021/

"The Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) have issued a joint statement to confirm there is “no evidence to suggest that Covid-19 vaccines will affect fertility”."

I'm 29 and personally will be having the vaccine. I'm not concerned about the virus myself but the vaccine is the only way out of this so we all have to play our part. I haven't seen anything about fertility, do you have a source for that? I've had children already so it's not a concern for me

Why have you been shielding if you have no underlying health concerns? If you're that anxious about covid then I'd seriously recommend getting the vaccine!

@ChocOrange1

I'm 29 and personally will be having the vaccine. I'm not concerned about the virus myself but the vaccine is the only way out of this so we all have to play our part. I haven't seen anything about fertility, do you have a source for that? I've had children already so it's not a concern for me

Hi choc, absolutely no sources at all. A lot of my friends have addressed concerns regarding infertility, a couple of them are actually nurses although I understand conspiracy theories can bleed into any group of people. I have no idea if it's founded or unfounded. I don't really know anything about the vaccine at all, other than knowing there is a lot of division regarding people's opinions about it.

Why are you shielding if you have no health concerns?

Sounds like you may have been invited by mistake. I would check with your gp

I don’t think there is any factual basis to the fertility rumours and I personally will be having it as soon as I’m called. So many people have had it now and if there were very serious immediate adverse effects it would doubtless be apparent.

I say all this as someone who is slightly sceptical about the uk infant vaccine schedule for kids by the way. I vaxxed mine more spaced out by going private after a few bad reactions to early jabs, but I still think there is absolutely no basis to the covid vaccine rumours.

It hasn’t been ‘linked with infertility’ in any meaningful way.
Sounds like you’re not an antivaxxer but you have been listening to those who are!
In your position I would snap it up.

Re taking it later on if you reject it now, at the moment they are stressing that the door remains open to those in earlier groups who have been unsure and changed their minds, and I don’t imagine that will change- they want uptake to be as high as possible. But why would you put the NHS to extra admin trouble when they are already working their socks off?

The point is they can relax the rules when a certain number of people are vaccinated so you would be playing your part. And if you don't because you think you personally are not affected you would still benefit from all the others who did 'take the risk' so are being a bit selfish tbh.

I suppose if you are worried about fertility you should do some more research.

I believe you will have been called due to PCOS. My friend is slightly older and was called for that reason. She had hers. If I was called now i'd be going but I'm way way down the list.

@emmathedilemma

Why have you been shielding if you have no underlying health concerns? If you're that anxious about covid then I'd seriously recommend getting the vaccine!

Think I used the wrong word Emma, I am part of a bubble, keep distance and wear my mask when I go out. I really do it just to play my part in protecting other people. I do go out so not hidden away, but I haven't been seeing anyone outside of my bubble. I am not actually anxious about getting covid believe it or not, but I'm just following the rules.

have heard a lot of people in my friend group talking about impact on fertility. Does anyone know where this originated from?

What did your friend group say when you asked them where they got their information from?

As PP said, why have you been shielding if not vulnerable?

Getting the vaccine for the greater good isn’t just because it reduces the risk of you getting it/passing it on, it’s because we need a certain percentage of society to take it up in order for it to be our way out.

I’m about your age and if I was offered the vaccine I’d be down there like a shot!

I have heard a lot of people in my friend group talking about impact on fertility. Does anyone know where this originated from? As I already have PCOS, this concerned me greatly.

It’s come from misunderstanding of the information for healthcare professionals leaflets and subsequent irresponsible scaremongering.

The effects on fertility have not been studied, that’s all. There is no reason and no possible mechanism by which fertility could be affected. www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/using-covid-19-vaccines-in-women-of-child-bearing-potential/

@TheCountessofFitzdotterel

It hasn’t been ‘linked with infertility’ in any meaningful way. Sounds like you’re not an antivaxxer but you have been listening to those who are! In your position I would snap it up.

Re taking it later on if you reject it now, at the moment they are stressing that the door remains open to those in earlier groups who have been unsure and changed their minds, and I don’t imagine that will change- they want uptake to be as high as possible. But why would you put the NHS to extra admin trouble when they are already working their socks off?

I just want to make sure I am making an informed decision before I agree to the vaccine. Definitely no anti vaxxer, but this vaccine has certainly exposed a great deal more discussion and information, much of which has left me confused.

Surely pcos isn’t a factor? I have that and not far off 50 and certainly not expecting to be in group 6!

@ThePlantsitter

The point is they can relax the rules when a certain number of people are vaccinated so you would be playing your part. And if you don't because you think you personally are not affected you would still benefit from all the others who did 'take the risk' so are being a bit selfish tbh.

I suppose if you are worried about fertility you should do some more research.

I don't think I am being selfish. I have said I am unsure what to do, not that I wont. I simply want to make an informed choice.

The 'issue' with fertility is that it had not been tested for its effect on fertility. To put that in to perspective it also hasn't been tested for it's effect on long term memory or ingrown toenails or breast size. There's no reason to think it would have any effect on fertility as the researchers no how it works and there's no reason to think that method would effect fertility in any way

@InterfectoremVulpes

have heard a lot of people in my friend group talking about impact on fertility. Does anyone know where this originated from?

What did your friend group say when you asked them where they got their information from?

Mainly what I've been told is that the vaccine is still too new for people to understand the effects. A couple work in the NHS and said they were adamantly against having it, although they have no choice. I don't know if they've been sucked into the conspiracy theories swirling around or if their concerns come from somewhere legitimate. It concerned me coming from nurses (one is close to my age, the other friend is in her forties.)