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

[Lemons1571]

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.

After the terrible year most of us have had, a vaccine offers the most reliable route back to some kind of recognisable normality. I was delighted to receive my jab and told everyone I knew. As an acquaintance who works in the NHS said, all these anti-vaccination clods and Covid deniers will change their stance when they can't book a foreign holiday or go to the pub. And the testing is more invasive than the jab. It's hardly a private medical matter either. There were roughly fifty people queuing with me in the vaccination centre, so it's not like a GP consultation or smear test. We all knew why everyone else was there.

I won’t tell my boss because either way she won’t be happy for me
She won’t have me anywhere near her or her shop if I haven’t had it as Im selfish and probably got Covid and need to tell area manager that I’ need ‘ to be moved as I selfish , oh and I’m selfish
And 2 if I have had it she will ask why and I’m selfish because she needs it more than me , why did I get it before her and I’m selfish
So I’m not telling her anything because I’m selfish
SHES A CUNT

@Spanielsarepainless

After the terrible year most of us have had, a vaccine offers the most reliable route back to some kind of recognisable normality. I was delighted to receive my jab and told everyone I knew. As an acquaintance who works in the NHS said, all these anti-vaccination clods and Covid deniers will change their stance when they can't book a foreign holiday or go to the pub. And the testing is more invasive than the jab. It's hardly a private medical matter either. There were roughly fifty people queuing with me in the vaccination centre, so it's not like a GP consultation or smear test. We all knew why everyone else was there.

Just because people don’t want to announce it to everyone, doesn’t mean they’re ‘anti-vaccination clods’ or ‘Covid deniers’. I will have mine when I’m offered it, probably June or July. Would like to have it sooner but there you go. I won’t be telling anyone unless they ask.

I’ve got mine as I’m a carer for my disabled DD, she had hers recently as well. In my world everyone knows my status and it’s a main topic of conversation. We shared info between ourselves how to book, what documents to take with you, where to park, etc. I took DD out of school to get hers so school knows about this obviously. I don’t think she mentioned it to other students but she doesn’t have close friends at school. I didn’t post anything on FB.

However I completely understand your position. I wouldn’t mention it at work if I’ve had it because of my medical history not related to work. Some of us are just not comfortable to discuss personal matters with other people who are not close friends and colleagues are not your close friends automatically. It’s not secrecy it’s privacy.
It’s ok to say you are going through menopause in a group of 55 +. But it’s quite another matter to say that you are having it when you are 35.

Of course sometimes the situation is obvious. It’s obvious that my DD has disability and I’m her career. But I have some other medical issues which I wouldn’t mention to others but because of them I’m especially glad to be vaccinated earlier.

OP don't you know if you haven't put multiple statuses on facebook about having the vaccine culminating in a triumphant photo of your vaccination card, then the vaccine won't be effective :) Seriously though, it's up to you who you tell about anything medical. I haven't gone around telling people I've had mine, but if anyone asks I don't mind telling them. But if you don't want to then don't!

I suppose I feel really awkward about it for several reasons. I had the vaccine as part of group 6, though tbh the actual medical reason is spurious and I’m not likely to be at any more risk than others in their 40’s. Most of our team at work are in their 40’s and a couple have got a spare vaccine via the back door (knowing someone who works in the local gp surgery), it’s caused a lot of unspoken stress and tension in zoom calls for those who feel vulnerable but can’t get protected as they’re not vulnerable enough for group 6. We also have someone in our team that makes very pointed comments if someone else for example, gets tested without the “correct 3 symptoms”.

But I don’t want people to think I’m secretive and untrustworthy, as it is the main topic of the moment. I’m hoping to keep quiet, then casually mention it a couple of months down the line when it’s not such a contentious and emotive topic any more.

I would just say that yes, you’ve had yours already and if anyone asks why tell them that it’s because you are in group 6. And then ask them anything and move on. I saw people doing this even on FB. The other line is that your GP is recommended you to have one.

YANBU OP. It's medical stuff and there is no need to broadcast it. Some of us (myself included) are feeling pretty frustrated that we haven't been offered the vaccine yet, and don't want to be constantly reminded about it. I suspect it has become such a topic of conversation because people have nothing else to talk about.

I was first in my team to have it (group 6) and was happy to tell them. We're a close team, they already know the underlying medical condition that put me into group 6 and were happy for me. About half the team have also had theirs now and shared, it's a good news story for us and we all discussed our various reactions to it.

However, it is personal information and I absolutely respect people's individual decisions to share or keep private.

I’ve told people I’ve had it and there was a show of hands at a recent teams chat thing at work. Not one single person asked about their reason for having it! Surely people don’t pry into others medical history that way

Totally up to you.

In life, it's up to you what you talk to friends, family and colleagues about and what you don't. This is just another one of those things you can discuss to the nth degree or not mention if you choose.

Of course, you could be asked directly by someone else about it. Then up to you if you want to lie, evade or tell truth.

All of it is up to you and no right or wrong.

I was so excited I told half of my team! It also meant when I was a bit useless the day after they understood why.

I'm in group 10, btw, no conditions but our GP has been going for it and I guess there is quite a young population here (London).