Vaccine or no vaccine? Opinions please

[gonewiththegin]

I am mid thirties, female with no existing health conditions. By no means an anti vaxer but I feel very uneasy about getting the jab.

I am aware it’s for the benefit of others more than myself, after all I’ve spent the best part of a year wfh and in complete isolation from anyone not in my household. I feel I’ve done my bit, I protected the vulnerable when there was as no vaccine. Now there is one and they’ve all had their first jag.

I think they government is aware the younger generations with no health conditions will likely have the same opinion as myself hence the talk of vaccine passports for gigs etc. IMO this is blackmail and a lot to people who were not planning on having the jag now will do so purely so they can go on holiday.

Is there something I am missing? Should I just get the jag and be done with it, it should I reject on the basis that I am fit and healthy.

How can you say you’re not an anti vaxxer then go in to say you don’t want the vaccine?
Take a look at “The last iron lung” on YouTube.
Quickly brought in vaccine that saved hundreds of thousands in the USA.
Then stop being so ridiculous.

@gonewiththegin

Because I am not at risk of any serious side affects if I were to catch covid. I haven’t until now- socially distancing, limiting contact and wearing I mask are reducing the risk.

I guess you are planning on taking all these measures forever then?

I’m in a similar position op, I’m not saying I’m never getting the vaccine I’m just not particularly fussed about getting it in the short term. When the time comes I want to pick the vaccine I want at a time I want. I have never been massively concerned about covid and happy to take my chances.

Rates are low right now and I expect them to get progressively lower over the summer months. I will review again in the autumn/winter once it’s clearer how long the vaccine is effective for and if there are any new variants etc. Things are still changing very quickly on the vaccine front. Happy to let them play out rather than rush in at the first opportunity.

@curiouscuriouscurious

It's miserable, I've seen marathon runners younger than you die from Covid on ICU. Seen friends get a mild form of the illness and months later they are still unable to chase their children in the park. It's a miserable, miserable virus.

If you're one of the people that feels like you won't get it and don't want the vaccine then fine don't have the jab. Can you also be one of the people that when they do get it stays at home doesn't end up blocking a hospital bed for months on end. Cheers

Blocking a hospital bed. Can you hear yourself? One of the most frightening things about this pandemic is how righteous and judgmental a whole load of people have become. What next? People shouldn't be treated for injuries due to a car crash because driving is risky?

OP, it's totally up to you what you put into your body. Have the vaccine, don't have the vaccine – it's YOUR choice. You know what's best for you.

Almost all my friends work in healthcare. So nearly everyone I know has had the jab. None of my friends and colleagues have been hospitalised by the jab. More than one ended up in intensive care with Covid pre vaccination, including a previously well 39 year old.

@EffOrf

You're right of course, lots of people run marathons with or without existing issues.

My point was more to highlight that there are people who have become extremely unwell and have died or are living with long lasting and limiting effects of Covid19. They are people that you might consider the fittest of the fit and they have still not been immune to virus. They also could have been people that had a predisposition to disease of a body system that hadn't yet become apparent. So even if you feel full of health and the joys of spring you don't actually know how your body will cope until the time comes. For me I'd rather have the vaccine, if you don't want to then don't.

Your age group means you're less likely to become seriously ill with Covid but it's not guaranteed. Long Covid is proving to be a problem for those who weren't seriously ill. The vaccine will also help to prevent asymptomatic transmission - one of the main reasons why Covid -19 has spread so effectively across the globe.

@Joeblack066

How can you say you’re not an anti vaxxer then go in to say you don’t want the vaccine? Take a look at “The last iron lung” on YouTube. Quickly brought in vaccine that saved hundreds of thousands in the USA. Then stop being so ridiculous.

Being worried about one vaccine does not make someone an anti-vaxxer. Anti-vaxxers are extreme in their views... it is not someone who has worries about a particular one. I wont be having this one (at least as an injection), but I have had all the rest. I am ex-NHS so had a load. Most people on MN who express their concerns have also been fine having other vaccines in the past. Stop tarring us with the same brush as an extreme group.

Thanks for your opinions! To be honest I am a long way off even being offered the vaccine so will do more research and do what I feel is right for me at the time.

@Joeblack066 because I am not and to suggest I am one as I disagree with you is absolutely ridiculous

Who said they were? You have asked a question and I think the problem is that you want everyone to agree with you rather than pointing out that the vaccine is safer than getting COVID and this is probably one of the things you need to consider. What would make you happy “yes, you have done a sterling job following lockdown rules and so you don’t have to have the vaccine for the vague reasons you have not really specified”. Better?

@Barbadosgirl no I was a actually looking for more opinions are my friendship group are all of the same opinion as myself and I am as trying to better educate myself before making a decision. I don’t need a pat on the back for doing what’s right, thanks

I just turned 40 and will get the jag as soon as I'm called for it. I really can't wait. It's a deadly virus and the vaccine is proven to massively reduce our chances of becoming very ill, so it's a definite for me. I have a lot of friends and colleagues in other countries who are going to be waiting years before they get the chance to benefit from it. Sometimes I think we don't know how lucky we are in this country.

To suppress this awful virus we need a good % of people to be vaccinated. The higher the number vaccinated the better the virus is suppressed.

It's not just to do with whether you might get very I'll or long Covid, it's just as much to do with being part of the vaccinated barrier holding the spread of the virus back and keeping everyone safe.

I prefer to be part of the solution and look out for others as well as myself.

If you like travelling having the vaccine will also make it easier. Countries for a while will be requesting pcrs if not vaccinated. I used to travel 4 times pre COVID. If I want to have those 4 trips it’d be just myself 1.2k + quarantines. With the vaccine the counties seem like they won’t ask for it , so that was one of my reasons to have it as well.

@fiendfyre

All patients do get treated according to need and not personal morals, that is exactly how it should be. We don't judge them personally. However you sometimes see a patient and what brought them to hospital just seems needless, that it could have been prevented, that it is such a massive shame. Accidents happen, we are all only human, sometimes you get to see the total devastation caused and wish it could have been prevented. To many people the vaccine is one of those things that could stop your life and family being torn apart.

Personally I'd rather see operating theatres and intensive care beds full of patients that have been in accidents, on long waiting lists or with emergent illnesses rather than Covid patients that might not needed to have been there at all if only they'd had a vaccination because when all beds are full of Covid patients others are getting turned away and are having to wait which leads too poorer outcomes.

I’m not keen either. Both parents scientists (one professor and Dean of uni who is a microbiologist and the other professor in animal pharmaceuticals) both are 60+ and they have rejected it. They both are uncomfortable with the science; but can’t discuss it openly because scientists rejecting the vaccine is not what the NHS and public want to hear. My father worked for Pfizer for years and says it’s a money machine. My parent’s say they will probably have to have it to be able to travel for work purposes but asked me- would I be comfortable to vaccinate my children with it tomorrow? I said no. To which they said then why would you put in into your own body?

I’ll hold off until necessity forces me to have it.

3 of my team caught Covid in Jan, all young fit women ( regular runners) the first one came back to work on phased return at the start of March and the last one is still phased now.

They were hit sideways by Covid with a force that shocked me (hcp), brain fog and post viral fatigue have been significant. I was going to have the jab anyway, but their experience just compounded my decision ( had both jabs now)

What's the rush?
If you're doing everything you can to reduce the risk of getting the virus and you've managed to avoid it for a year... why not wait?
That's not saying no - you're open to the idea.
Once everyone starts mixing etc over the next few months (vaccinated or not) you can then make a better judgement on the benefits.

Marathon running doesn't mean you are healthy, DH runs one or further on average every couple of weeks and he isn't that healthy, he had high blood pressure, asthma and is slightly overweight.

To the NHS - PP who thinks marathon runners are healthy - I used to be one and I was sick all the time, quite badly. Running every day, long distances - can really run your immune system down - especially if you don't eat properly.

@Shadowboy I am seeing a lot of people being vaccinated purely for tips abroad etc. If this wasn’t necessary they would have rejected. I am also very apprehensive about having my child vaccinated, it’s a while off and I am trying to read up as much as I can to make an informed decision. I can’t shake the doubts though and I think as a rule if you are uncertain then at the very least wait and see what happens which is what I will do.

I’m waiting.

I’m slightly older than you; good health; relatives vaccinated.

I would check your vitamin d status (privately) and optimise that. Make sure your weight is low end of normal BMI. Enough zinc and B12. Fermented foods.

I will wait for stage 4 trial data myself. I’m naturally very cautious about what goes in my body as we have a lot of familial cancer. I don’t take any drugs - prescription or otherwise.

If I was at a higher risk of covid in any way ir was a carer for someone who was I would take the vaccine to be honest. I think the numbers look ok so far

Please just take the vaccine. This nightmare is never going too end if people who can take it don't take it.

Also agree that long distance runners aren’t healthy. There is a sweet spot for endurance exercise. Too much running strains the body and lowers the immune response and increases inflammation.

I know a few runners knocked sideways from covid

@gonewiththegin

Because I am not at risk of any serious side affects if I were to catch covid. I haven’t until now- socially distancing, limiting contact and wearing I mask are reducing the risk.

You may not be statistically at risk but are you sure you’re not individually at risk?