Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Not telling friends, work etc I’ve had the vaccine

87 replies

Lemons1571 · 25/03/2021 20:58

Is anyone else not telling people that they’ve had the vaccine? It’s the current topic of conversation on team calls and when chatting with friends, but I’ve kept quiet. I feel really uncomfortable about discussing my vax status with colleagues, in the same way that I’d feel uncomfortable discussing my medical records in general. I don’t have a job where my vax status is remotely important or relevant as I wfh (not going back to office on the same way as before). Is anyone else not declaring to the world that they’ve had the vaccine? No idea why putting it out to the world makes me cringe. But everyone else is shouting it from the rooftops and others saying congratulations to them, and I wondered if I’m being unreasonable.

OP posts:
Violetlavenders · 26/03/2021 07:38

It doesn't stop you being infectious, although it reduces it.

Marc Lipsitch and Rebecca Kahn, both of whom are epidemiologists at the Harvard School of Public Health, in a preprint study estimated from the same data that "one dose of vaccine reduces the potential for transmission by at least 61%, possibly considerably more."

Pinchoftums · 26/03/2021 07:42

Where I live over 48% have been vaccinated. For adults that's over 50%. It's not even interesting. My neighbour is the only person I've spoken to about it recently as she had been taken in by the "plandemic" antivax crew. She has since changed her mind and has had it. That was a bit of interest to me.

Bluntness100 · 26/03/2021 07:42

I also don’t understand the secrecy and don’t equate it to discussing private medical matters. If you’re cev I don’t understand why you’d be embarrassed about it. I can totally understand why you’d not wish to admit you won’t be having it though if it’s just you’re some anti vaxxer.

Everyone is sick of this, and vaccines are clearly the best and fastest way out of it, so everyone should be doing their bit.

cryh · 26/03/2021 07:44

@Violetlavenders

It doesn't stop you being infectious, although it reduces it.

Marc Lipsitch and Rebecca Kahn, both of whom are epidemiologists at the Harvard School of Public Health, in a preprint study estimated from the same data that "one dose of vaccine reduces the potential for transmission by at least 61%, possibly considerably more."

Exactly, reduces it, does not stop it.
Violetlavenders · 26/03/2021 07:45

By a massive amount! So I think it's relevant to share with friends and family!

Sparklingbrook · 26/03/2021 07:47

I'll tell people if they ask. It's a fairly innocuous question, they don't tend to ask if I've had a smear test funnily enough. Grin

Whenthesunshines · 26/03/2021 07:51

@SophieGiroux

I won't be having the vaccine but am sure I'll get abuse for not conforming so am not going to be broadcasting it. Those who think having it will get things back to how they were are living in a dream world. Six months of more government COVID powers has just been announced today. So much for the vaccine ending it all hey?!
People who think the vaccine is some kind of ‘cure’ are ridiculous obviously. Vaccinated people can still catch and spread covid. They are just mire unlikely to get seriously ill.

If people don’t want the vaccine that’s their look out. I suppose they just have to hope that they don’t catch it (and become dangerously ill) from the many asymptotic vaccinated people out there.

poppycat10 · 26/03/2021 07:52

@MajesticWhine

If people are cagey about it I assume they are refuseniks and I secretly judge them.
That's a hell of an assumption when you don't know how old they are, what medical conditions they have or if you do know their age, whether they're being done in their area or they can find a vaccination centre close to them.

I wouldn't share either for the reasons people have given - boss wanting to drag you back to the office too soon, or people saying "why have you had it already" etc.

M0rT · 26/03/2021 07:52

I thought it was because you didn't want pressure to do things before you were fully vaccinated!
I haven't got my first injection yet and it has crossed my mind that will be a thing.
But of course your entitled to your privacy, you just need a phrase to use if people ask you directly and you don't want to answer.

Boglins · 26/03/2021 07:54

Jab envy is a real thing - I have one colleague in particular who is desperate to have the jab and will not take it well if they were to learn that I've already had it when I'm younger than them, with no underlying conditions of my own.

The reason DH and I were offered the jab is a legitimate one (child on the shielding list) but I feel a bit weird about having had it as we've never been entirely convinced that the shielding advice was necessary in our case, and so although we've followed the advice to some degree, we haven't been strict with it.

So all in all, I guess I feel a bit defensive about it and therefore don't want to get into conversations about it. It's not a secret, family and close friends know, and if I'm asked directly by others I answer truthfully, but I'm not volunteering the information to people who I suspect would be put out by it.

cryh · 26/03/2021 07:54

@Violetlavenders

By a massive amount! So I think it's relevant to share with friends and family!
The word stop means stop. The word reduce means reduce.

I just don't think it is helpful to spread untruths about covid, positive or negative.

Your initial post was untrue.

gamerchick · 26/03/2021 07:59

@KitchenFairy

I’m not particularly advertising it after seeing someone on Facebook post they’d had their vaccine - they got their arsed handed to them and ended up having to explain what exact medical conditions they had to justify having it already at their age (same as me, 42/43).
I got a few 'how are YOU getting it when us oldies haven't been called yet'. Vaccine jealousy is a thing.

I don't care if people want to talk about it or not but always happy to listen to those who want to tell me all about it. I had a postman this week tell me all about his jab. His relief was almost palpable.

It's a big thing for a lot of people. Save your cringing OP.

Zig27 · 26/03/2021 08:02

At least you’re not being a vaxhole.

Tigerchips · 26/03/2021 08:04

I haven't and wouldn't put it on Facebook.

I've told 4 or 5 people who I'm close to.

Crappyfridays7 · 26/03/2021 08:08

I’ve not had mine yet - nurse and only one who hasn’t. Due to health condition & medical treatment awaiting consultant giving go ahead to have it. Ex is getting his today, 47 no obesity but did have a breakdown last year or could be he’s just to get it as they can start that age group who knows it’s his business not mine. If you’ve had it you’ve had it I’m really not interested that much in why tbh

Sparklingbrook · 26/03/2021 08:13

I would imagine people who put their lives on SM would want to make a big song and dance on there about it as they do with every other aspect of their existence, and what congratulating and praise?
I have seen loads of people wearing their stickers so there's people out there who want to tell the world, clearly.

Violetlavenders · 26/03/2021 08:15

@cryh yes you're right I should have written that the vaccine massively reduces transmission rather than stop it. I apologise.

TheOneWithTheBigNose · 26/03/2021 08:15

Everyone is sick of this, and vaccines are clearly the best and fastest way out of it, so everyone should be doing their bit

But why does doing your bit involve telling everyone about it? I’ll happily have mine when I’m offered it, which is a long way off yet. Cant imagine feeling a need to tell anyone though, unless they ask.

Whenthesunshines · 26/03/2021 08:16

@Zig27

At least you’re not being a vaxhole.
Don’t you just love Urban dictionary!
TheOneWithTheBigNose · 26/03/2021 08:18

@MajesticWhine

If people are cagey about it I assume they are refuseniks and I secretly judge them.
You need to look up the word ‘refusenik’.

I’m among the just under 50% of adults who haven’t been offered it yet and won’t be for a while now they’ve slowed down on first vaccines. By the time I have it, everyone will have stopped bothering being excited by it I imagine.

Angrymum22 · 26/03/2021 08:18

I have had both doses now, fully entitled due to being HCP, I tend to tell my patients because it makes them feel more secure during treatment ( I have to get very close to them ). You don’t need to justify why you have had the vaccine, the faster we vaccinate the adult population the quicker we can return to normal. Now we have the majority over 50s and clinically vulnerable vaccinated it really doesn’t matter the order it is given to the remaining population.
I have my completed vaccination card in my purse ready to show anyone who asks when lockdown starts to lift. I suspect it will become part of life for a few years to come whether we agree with it or not.

To be honest, in my profession we are regularly exposed to far worse infectious diseases. We have to be vaccinated against Hep B and have been using full PPE and infection control methods for 30yrs to protect against HIV. I am hoping that as a result of the mRNA vaccine development they will find an effective vaccine for HIV.

Trisolaris · 26/03/2021 08:19

I’m in my 30s so my family and best friends know but other than that I don’t advertise it as I look fit and healthy so I don’t need the questioning. I’ve told a couple of people who’ve asked because they know I have an underlying condition and they/family members also do so were wondering how far the rollout had got - I didn’t mind sharing with people who asked nicely for a genuine reason.

Whenthesunshines · 26/03/2021 08:20

I hate the word ‘entitled’.
It should never be spoken alongside the word vaccine (or any other word come to think of it).

Zig27 · 26/03/2021 08:33

@ Whenthesunshines Urban Dictionary gave me a good laugh which I needed! 😂

Whenthesunshines · 26/03/2021 08:36

@Zig27

@ Whenthesunshines Urban Dictionary gave me a good laugh which I needed! 😂
Me too!!