Should DH wait his turn for vaccine?

[Lottie4]

DH is a psychotherapist and counsellor. Works for a large organisation supporting staff and does voluntary work. Most of work can be done on the internet/telephone but he does see the odd person face to face in work (distanced, masks on in a room with no windows). He does have one client who he tells me needs support and it'd be better face to face but they're not comfortable with it (he thinks him being vaccinated would change this).

If DH worked for NHS, then he'd have been offered the vaccine. A counselling body has today posted a link as they believe their members qualify. He's looked at the system and can get a vaccine this week five mins walk away, but his colleagues don't feel it's an ethical thing to do as others need to be prioritised.

Just wondering what others think. If he waits, he'll hopefully have his vaccine in two months. He's very much about doing the right thing, but there are spaces still available locally at short notice!

I don't think he should book one, but if he can be added to a 'last minute list' for unused vaccine at the end of the day then he should go for that.

I think he should get it if it allows him to more appropriately deliver mental health care.

I see a private psychiatrist (who only does private work, no NHS). He and all the staff at his clinic (therapists of different disciplines, again all private) have been vaccinated. They're all medical professionals so I didn't see it as skipping anything, just what was needed to allow them to get back to face to face appointments (which, in the context of the work they do, are much better than virtual appointments)

He should do it.

I can verify that mental health care by zoom is not as effective for some people as in person support.

I disagree. Mental health is a massive crisis at the moment, and often phone calls and online sessions just don't work as well- I'm having phone counselling at the moment, but have only got 30 minutes once a fortnight for 6 sessions as they're so overwhelmed. Most of the session is my counsellor talking through a workbook online. If he had the vaccine and was able to see people face to face, that would be one more person able to take some of the weight off the NHS services. I think he absolutely should take it.

This link doesn’t sound very legitimate to me?

Sorry, I was disagreeing with the comment that he shouldn't book one! Thread moved on more quickly than I could type!

I think as he’s a medical professional it already IS his turn, so no need to wait.

I work for a company who secured them for our staff too. He should take it.

Definitely take it. He’s not depriving anyone of anything by doing so and another person ticked off the list.

All of my mental health team have been vaccinated. They do house visits

I think he should take it.

Of course he should take it.

Take it. He sounds much more in need of it than some of the people I know who have had it. If he's worried about his colleagues he doesn't have to tell them.

Being vaccinated means there is a tiny/zero % chance of him being hospitalised for CV. He therefore has a duty to take it.

If he is being allowed then he should take it. Don't look too much into it.

He should take it and let his colleagues continue to virtue-signal.

Take it, mental health is a huge part of the health system.

He needs to be healthy to support the system, and to treat clients safely for them and for him.

He should take it. Everyone should take it when they have the first chance. The more people who are protected the better, especially people who are out and about coming into contact with people.

Take it!!!

I'm a counsellor and have had mine, as have many other mental health workers I know. He definitely should have it, he provides an essential service to vulnerable people.

He should take it, it’s a step closer to having most appointments face to face again which I’m sure would be useful to many of his clients. His normal job must have a lot of contact, it’s only stopped for covid and I presume will restart when more are vaccinated

It’s quite simple. According to the NHS he is a front line worker and should be getting vaccinated.

See page 6 of the official schedule:

www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2021/01/C1037-COVID-vacc-deployment-SOP_community-based-care-workers-14-January-2021.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3CpdTdPG4gPrwwUBcoCPucJeQCUBNiP2hSd1lAVDQvP0jqsd8_U6G1ip8

I have requested mine today. I work in mental health. It’s booked for the end of the week. I just called 119 and they were very helpful.

Most of work can be done on the internet/telephone

He definitely should wait his turn and not push someone else who needs it more further back in the queue.

If DH worked for NHS, then he'd have been offered the vaccine

First, if he needed it most he'd also have been offered the vaccine.

Secondly, there are plenty of people under the category of NHS who have been offered it for ease of getting it to those in the NHS actually requiring it. Many job roles and situations have received the vaccine where not necessary, clinically. He shouldn't add to the number of those safely working remotely being put before someone both more at risk of catching the virus and becoming ill from it.

Especially if he is seeing clients face to face