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Original poster

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

253 replies

annabellacomestotea · 14/02/2021 10:57

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.

OP posts:
Covetthee · 14/02/2021 11:30

You should try and do your own research OP, lots of actual scientific evidence out there to help make up your mind,

don’t rely on word of mouth or tabloids, no one knows for sure of long term effects as its a new vaccine so understandable that people have concerns but some people take their fears and scaremongering too far.

they have said covid causes fertility issues in men, nothing known about women but that’s something we might not know for a while.

for me personally I think i’d listen to the people who have spent their careers working and gaining knowledge about viruses than the opinions of a few people who read facebook status and believe it.

gamerchick · 14/02/2021 11:31

Think about it logically. Covid has been known about for what? Twelve months

Research into SARS has been going on for how many years though?

o8O8O8o · 14/02/2021 11:31

not trialled is COMPLETELY different to not safe
Yes 'not trialled' means we haven't done the test so we can't say either way
'Not safe' means we have done the test and we can confirm it's not safe
by extension 'safe' would mean we have done the trials and we can confirm it is safe
Or have I misunderstood you 🤔

ThePlantsitter · 14/02/2021 11:31

I didn't call you selfish and nor did the other person who said the word 'selfish'. We both said we thought it selfish to not have the vaccine because the illness doesn't affect you personally. Which it is, because a vaccination programme is not just about protecting individuals it's about cutting transmission as a whole. I understand worries about a vaccine that was prepared so quickly, I really do, but I won't be sympathetic about someone behaving selfishly based on rumours and hearsay when a bit of googling round could provide you with actual data on this stuff. I'm sorry if you think that's harsh, I'm not trying to be rude just honest.

Cornettoninja · 14/02/2021 11:32

@gamerchick

Think about it logically. Covid has been known about for what? Twelve months

Research into SARS has been going on for how many years though?

Yes.... sorry, I’m missing your point? Have there been concerns in the previous vaccine research about fertility?
Bluntness100 · 14/02/2021 11:33

@sylbunny

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
This

Stop being silly op and have your vaccine.

Chewingle · 14/02/2021 11:33

I’m just utterly baffled that you’ve been invited for one at your age and in good health

Cornettoninja · 14/02/2021 11:33

I hope it all goes smoothly for you.

Chewingle · 14/02/2021 11:34

Oh and baffled you’re hesitating

nothingpunny · 14/02/2021 11:34

Hi @Moirasroses,

I was just wondering if you realised you had shared a personal picture on your post along with the Twitter screenshot?

Cornettoninja · 14/02/2021 11:35

Posted that reply to the wrong thread! Blush

Teamox · 14/02/2021 11:37

I'm not calling you selfish, I said that if you do choose not to have it you will be being selfish. And I stand by that. I 100% agree in everyone's right to not have this vaccine - I'd hate to live in a country that made it mandatory. But to me, choosing not to have a proven safe vaccine with any very very small risk it may or may not pose, whilst relying on the rest of the population to take that risk for you is selfish. Others might disagree with me- everyone is entitled to their opinion. People make selfish decisions every day in life, it doesn't necessarily make them bad people, but it doesn't change the fact that they are being selfish in that instance.

I hope you've got some really good evidence here from the very helpful people who have done the research for you, and that it helps you to come to an informed decision based on facts rather than rumour.

DishedUp · 14/02/2021 11:38

Given the fact that women who are ttc or who are pregnant have been advised not to have the vaccine (because its not been tested on pregnant women, not because its not safe or affects fertility) how could we possibly know the vaccine has any affect on fertility? Its not been around long enough for anyone to have even noticed they have reduced fertility as a result of the vaccine.

There is no evidence it affects fertility. I'm not aware of any other vaccines affecting fertility. Theres absolutely no reason to think it would affect fertility. Obviously all vaccines and medication has side effects, however you have had other vaccines with no concerns.

You've been offered the vaccine, take it. As a society we all need to do our bit and part of that is getting vaccinated. I'm 27 and have had my vaccine, as have all my friends who are similar ages and majority medical.

TrufflyPig · 14/02/2021 11:39

You keep saying you want to make an informed choice but are listening to a lot of non scientific sources.

Speak to your GP not people on the Internet.

Restlessinthenorth · 14/02/2021 11:39

Check out the details on the tweet by a GP. Please do not listen to scaremongering

I've been invited for my vaccine but not sure what I want to do
Chewingle · 14/02/2021 11:39

* Given the fact that women who are ttc or who are pregnant have been advised not to have the vaccine (because its not been tested on pregnant women, not because its not safe or affects fertility) how could we possibly know the vaccine has any affect on fertility? Its not been around long enough for anyone to have even noticed they have reduced fertility as a result of the vaccin*

Where is this advice?

gamerchick · 14/02/2021 11:40

Yes.... sorry, I’m missing your point? Have there been concerns in the previous vaccine research about fertility?

Sorry. I agreed with your post. It's part of the whole it's all new so how can they know thing. Research into SARS spans more than 12 months, the vaccines haven't been built from the ground up. I just wish people would take it in to account when they're freaking out over getting their jab.

Maybe it's the words new virus and new vaccine that people are wary of.

SpringtimeBluebells · 14/02/2021 11:40

@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!
This.

There are a lot of very, very similar threads recently

Chewingle · 14/02/2021 11:41

I thought it was if actually pregnant? Not TTC

Cornettoninja · 14/02/2021 11:42

@gamerchick - I was overthinking your post in every possible way! Written text is hard to detect the tone! Grin

gamerchick · 14/02/2021 11:44

[quote Cornettoninja]@gamerchick - I was overthinking your post in every possible way! Written text is hard to detect the tone! Grin[/quote]
Tbf I should have elaborated. Grin

SanFranBear · 14/02/2021 11:46

.

I've been invited for my vaccine but not sure what I want to do
CovoidOfAllHumanity · 14/02/2021 11:51

It is unlikely to have a great personal benefit for your health. If you got COVID it would likely be a mild illness.

You would be having it for those you might give it to who would suffer more.

You would be having it to increase the proportion of people in the population who are immune and can't be infected which will in turn reduce the ability of the virus to spread, reduce deaths and allow lockdown and all its associated harms to end.

There is indirect benefit to you from allowing society to open up again and NHS care for non COVID conditions eg maternity care and fertility treatment if you need it to be more available again.

There is no good reason at all not to have it. There are no proven harms of having the vaccine. No-one can know if it has an effect on fertility as no trials could answer that question without years and years of data but why the hell would it? I don't think any other vaccines that we know of affect fertility so why would this one?

It's actually insane that all these armchair experts have an opinion on this vaccine when they have no opinion on flu jabs or yellow fever vaccine. Their understanding of the science is presumably no better on COVID than on yellow fever so why do they feel entitled to an opinion?

You should have the vaccine
Or if you choose not to then know that you are prolonging lockdown and increasing pressure in the NHS so never again complain about either of those things whilst not doing your bit to help.

Original poster
annabellacomestotea · 14/02/2021 11:52

Thank you to those of you who have left kind, thoughtful or informed responses. I truly appreciate all of you.

I am leaving this thread due to those who have been insulting or rude. For future reference insulting people asking legitimate questions does not open discussion or dialogue, it shuts people down and causes them to retreat from conversation.

Again, to the kind and thoughtful amongst you, I appreciate your time.

OP posts:
WhitechapelLass · 14/02/2021 11:54

I work in medical research, I don’t mind these questions. Never has the research process been so publicly discussed. Of course this leads to misunderstandings and questioning. There is so much written on this it is no wonder some people get lost in it all. Surely it is far better to ask?

Numerous sensible links have been provided which the op is obviously open to reading and which other lurkers may read too.

The fact that fertility is not overtly tested in the same way that memory, toenails or breast size don’t need to be is an excellent point. Calling someone silly for not instinctively appreciating that is, well, also silly.

I have poor understanding of many things - no doubt in years to come I will have questions on economics, constitutional law, the education system, the arts. I’ll ask questions and hope someone will kindly explain and I’ll understand more and form my own opinion. How is this different.

Fake anti vaxxer shit stirring is different: but everyone with questions is not a shit stirrer.

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