Employer disadvantaging and threatening staff who haven’t had the vaccine

[MrsFCastle]

My partner works in health and social care. He isn’t an anti vaxxer. Just feels it’s too soon. His employer is furious and is threatening to stop offering shifts if they don’t get it. I’m genuinely concerned about his job security. Can they do this? Helpful replies only please. This isn’t a thread about anti/pro vax.

I'm not an anti vaxxer but they said thalidomide was the wonder drug of its day too.

Thalidomide is not a vaccine. After thalidomide however, the UK government put in measures to prevent anything like this happening again

Anyone else playing bingo?

I initially felt the same as OP's DH. Had a real hard think and realised that I really don't want to continue living like this with the risk. Also, I just want to hear that others have had a good day, other than another muddy walk.

So when I was unexpectedly offered the vaccine due to work, I was there within 16 hours. It was the best hour of my life this year, I know I still have to be careful, but the sense of relief and positivity was well worth it.

Whilst we can't make people have the vaccine, I think in the next few years it'll become a requirement in many work places. I half suspect that later in the year, some people will still be careful around family and friends who haven't had it, as they will be seen as an increased risk to be around, given no vaccine is 100%. I guess you have to work out how much you want your old life in terms of work, leisure and socializing.

I'm still waiting to hear about some sort of exemption category for those that can't
Reporting over the last couple of days and all the strident opinions here has made me feel suicidal.

An actual medical reason is totally different, and I'm sure most people here would agree so dont feel bad.

@NicolaC17. Interesting reading, but without understanding the context of the reports I’m not sure what it tells us. For instance, how is it possible to say that the MI’s were caused by the vaccinations? Just because heart problems aren’t known to pre-exist doesn’t mean they don’t. Most people who have a heart attack don’t know they have a problem until after the event.

@Purplerayhan thank you, but absolutely none of the reporting covers exemptions. The Guardian article I read this morning just said people who can't would have a case for constructive dismissal against an employer.
I wish I could just have it and be excited about travelling and doing things again.

@Darkbrownistheriver - it’s very hard to prove a vaccine for was the single reason for the deaths but this is only the start of it so I fully expect this will go up.
I understand that people will obviously die from natural causes but what are the chances of 23 people dying who hadn’t had the vaccine, in a 3 week period as attached - www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/19043790.coronavirus-outbreak-22-deaths-pemberley-house-care-home/

They are saying it was covid outbreak but coincided with them all receiving their vaccine - and then another - www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands/2852836/16-deaths-confirmed-at-two-invergordon-care-homes-as-35-cases-are-linked-to-outbreak-at-inverness-facility/

@NicolaC17 stop posting anti vax bollocks.

@RedcurrantPuff - why can we not have posts for both sides of the argument? Even the CEO of Phizer is yet to have the vaccine. Wouldn’t you be the first in line if it was your vaccine to show how brilliant it is.

And another article for the hell of it dailyexpose.co.uk/2021/02/18/think-the-pfizer-jabs-safe/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

@MaxNormal

I'm still waiting to hear about some sort of exemption category for those that can't Reporting over the last couple of days and all the strident opinions here has made me feel suicidal.

There will be an exemption for those that can’t have it for medical reasons. I would imagine the number of people that can’t have it will be small enough to not have an effect on herd immunity.

The fact that some people can’t have it is the biggest reason why everyone else should.

So nancy what do you propose?

Staying in lockdown?

For how long?

[quote NicolaC17]@RedcurrantPuff - why can we not have posts for both sides of the argument? Even the CEO of Phizer is yet to have the vaccine. Wouldn’t you be the first in line if it was your vaccine to show how brilliant it is.

And another article for the hell of it dailyexpose.co.uk/2021/02/18/think-the-pfizer-jabs-safe/amp/?__twitter_impression=true[/quote]
Because anti vaxxers opinions have no validity.

@TheKeatingFive

So nancy what do you propose?

Staying in lockdown?

For how long?

What? I’m quite clearly proposing we all have the vaccine?

What? I’m quite clearly proposing we all have the vaccine?

Apologies, I meant NicolaC

The employer wants to keep clients safe, and other workers. They are more likely to get contracts if they can say their staff are vaccinated and not going to have Covid. Yes they could still pass it on but the risk is tiny of passing it on on clothes etc if you are wearing clean PPE.
I would be more likely to employ carers who said all their staff were vaccinated so they are looking at their patients and business where your husband is being selfish.

@NicolaC17 the outbreak occurred just as the residents were receiving vaccines. They hadn’t yet been able to develop immunity because not enough time had elapsed, so when Covid hit the home, many of them caught it and died. They didn’t die because of the vaccine, they died because they didn’t get the vaccine soon enough.

In a home near me, the vaccination visit had to be postponed because a couple of residents had tested positive. Within three weeks, virtually all the staff were ill or self-isolating, all but one of the residents had tested positive and half of them had died. That’s what happens when a virulent infection gets into a community of frail elderly people who are as yet unvaccinated.

Fiona2020
Why does everyone assume people want the vaccine? I’m 90% sure my partner won’t have it- he doesn’t even have a GP. He’s got no reason other then he was fine when he had covid and he cba. Not everyone wants it. This isn’t a communist country it’s not going to be implemented!“

Perhaps he ought to register and have in informed discussion with a medical professional.

He can be infected again, either with the original strain or with one of the variants, of which doubtless there will be many more.

Good news this morning, latest research on the Pfizer jab found that those who have already had Covid and therefore have some natural immunity are significantly boosted by having a vaccine too. Win win for him.

RedcurrantPuff

Because anti vaxxers opinions have no validity.“

Exactly, there is no valid “argument”.

Like getting Nigel Lawson on to debate climate change. Pointless.

Why does everyone assume people want the vaccine? I’m 90% sure my partner won’t have it- he doesn’t even have a GP. He’s got no reason other then he was fine when he had covid and he cba. Not everyone wants it. This isn’t a communist country it’s not going to be implemented!“

I would suggest that the emotionally intelligent aren't just thinking about themselves, but the impact that having or not having the vaccine has on other people. The vast majority of people who are pro vaccine have vulnerable family members, some of whom may not be able to have the vaccine. Some of them are the primary carers for these family members and would not want to become ill and become unable to care for them.

It isn't just about becoming ill yourself. They can see the bigger picture. After all, lockdown was primarily about not overwhelming the hospitals.

It is against the law to force anyone to have vaccinations without their consent.

No-one is being forced.

I keep seeing/hearing that 20% in the Uk are refusing the vaccine. The majority of those will be in the elderly.
Younger people are even less wanting it apparently.

And the UK are more in favour of vaccines that eg Europe.

I dont think the problem as a whole is going away anytime soon, whether people want it to or not.

I watched Loose Women yesterday. I was surprised. 2 celebs were hesitant about vaccine passports. 1 was not. Pretty sure I have heard Phil and Holly both say they were not in favour of forced vaccinations.

There is a difference legally apparently, between anti vaxxers and vaccine hesitant by the way.

These points may already have been made on this thread. I read all of it tues I think.

@MaxNormal

I'm still waiting to hear about some sort of exemption category for those that can't Reporting over the last couple of days and all the strident opinions here has made me feel suicidal.

Sorry to hear that. I would have thought it inevitable that if people cant have it, then adequate provision will be made for that.

And apart from a handful of countries maybe, no country forces vaccination. I would have thought UK is a long long way off that scenario.

"Coronavirus (COVID-19) latest insights - Office for National Statistics" www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/articles/coronaviruscovid19/latestinsights

91% are happy to get the vaccine according to the most recent ONS data. To see this rise against the backdrop of a concerted anti-vax campaign really does renew my faith in this country.

This isn’t about forced vaccines but yes many countries request certain vaccines before any one is permitted in.

This is about an employer saying staff need to be vaccinated or you can’t work there. The choice is till the individuals. Even if for them it’s some how hard. It is nothing to do with the government.

From a government perspective we may see a requirement for visitors coming in to be vaccinated, but that’s a very different subject.

The op didn’t specifically say her partner was a care assistant dealing with the elderly. Either because he’s not or she knows the reaction to saying he’s dealing with elderly people in a care setting and is refusing to be vaccinated but demanding to keep his job and be let at them.

But if he is indeed dealing with vulnerable people my personal opinion is if he doesn’t want vaccinated them he should not be permitted to work there. He is free to make the choice he doesn’t want it. But the employer should make the choice not to give him any shifts.