Anybody been invited and declined the jab?

[Devlesko]

Beginning to think I did the right thing now.
Anybody else?

I was worried about side effects but when it came to it I was dancing on air after my second. So pleased to have it. Covid was fucking awful and I'm in 40s with no risk factors definitely don't want to go through that again if I can help it. Also good to know I've reduced the risks of passing on to friends, colleagues and family. Joyful and can't wait to get some normality.
@HairyToity the risk of the blood clot is tiny from a vaccine compared to from covid, the pill, or HRT

"Civic duty" means being a responsible citizen and not something I have a problem with. The UK after the shitshow has finally got its act in order thanks to vaccination and the millions who have got the jab have all done their bit to help protect the vulnerable, support frontline health care providers and get us to herd immunity. Refuseniks who for no compelling medical reason who elect not to have it are piggybacking on those who have. It's certainly better than the empty gesture of clapping on your doorstep.

@Crystaltipsandalyster

Yes, I've been invited and declined. Why would I want to have something injected into my body which is still in the experimental stages and any adverse effects may not come to light for years? I was speaking to my friend last night, who had her 2nd jab last week. I asked her did she feel protected now and more at ease going out. She said she doesn't feel any different and would still be cautious. So if she believed having the vaccine would protect her, why after having it is she not feeling safer?

Have you looked at the treatment plans if you do get COVID & go into hospital? You'll get a cocktail of medicine, & that's before hiw rough ventilation is on your body.

Or there's always long Covid. Treatment for that in its various forms will not be free of medication.

[quote smithyca]@MindyStClaire I don't think it matters to anyone if I have children or what vaccines I or my potential children have had do you? You've had yours and that's great for you but I don't understand why people can't respect the choices of those who are weary. [/quote]
Because vaccine refusal affects everyone, not just the refuser.

@Crazycatlady83

Genuine question (which is always followed by something that is bound to annoy someone, but I am not asking to be inflammatory - I am genuinely interested!)

If enough people don’t take the vaccines, we are told the virus will continue to spread and that the vaccines are our way out, back to normal blah blah blah. If the virus does start to spread amongst the unvaccinated, how do you think the government should handle it? Should we have another lockdown to protect you so you can access the NHS or do you accept that if the NHS cannot treat you, you will go without (with the potentially horrific end conclusion to that)

Or do you expect that there will be enough vaccinated to protect you?

Or do you just think “it won’t happen to you” when people talk about the worst outcomes for covid?

Hopefully uptake will still be very high but no we shouldn’t protect those who just opt out, as it’s a risk they are willing to take. Also SA variant seems to have spread in vaccinated care home, no issue thankfully if you were vaccinated as just a mild cold.

But why does it affect everyone? If the success of the vaccine is in preventing serious illness then the person who has had it is protected. It makes no difference to them whether I've had it or not. There are still so many unknowns about this whole situation that I don't know how anyone can think they know the right thing to do. I certainly don't, I just know I want to wait a while before being vaccinated. If that makes me selfish/uneducated/lacking in my civic duty then so be it.

@FlyLight

But why does it affect everyone? If the success of the vaccine is in preventing serious illness then the person who has had it is protected. It makes no difference to them whether I've had it or not. There are still so many unknowns about this whole situation that I don't know how anyone can think they know the right thing to do. I certainly don't, I just know I want to wait a while before being vaccinated. If that makes me selfish/uneducated/lacking in my civic duty then so be it.

Others may have more but imo it affects others if enough get ill to slow down opening up.

But hopefully NHS can cope with everyone who opts out as is without help from restrictions.

Also if transmission is cut then that also helps everyone.

@MarshaBraydo

You're very kind. Thank you.

@sunshine7981

My point was trust people that actually have some education rather than random posters on Mumsnet

Don't stop trying to help 💐

Some people are thicker than mince and prefer to trust memes on Facebook than, you know, actual science 🙄

@FlyLight

But why does it affect everyone? If the success of the vaccine is in preventing serious illness then the person who has had it is protected. It makes no difference to them whether I've had it or not. There are still so many unknowns about this whole situation that I don't know how anyone can think they know the right thing to do. I certainly don't, I just know I want to wait a while before being vaccinated. If that makes me selfish/uneducated/lacking in my civic duty then so be it.

There's a couple of reasons why it affects everyone if not enough people take up it up

1. Some people can't be vaccinated and they rely on herd immunity to not get ill. This currently includes those under 16 and although risk is much lower for children there still have been deaths and long term complications in this group.
2. Coronavirus will continue to circulate in those unvaccinated - this is a problem as each new infection gives the virus the chance to acquire mutations. This is how new strains emerge, potentially leading to new variants that people who are vaccinated won't be protected from.

Neither reason means anyone who doesn't want to be vaccinated should be pressured into. But it isn't a simple 'those want to be protected can be vaccinated' scenario.

@loulouljh with all respect, you are talking bollocks with your claim that you wouldn't be covered for life insurance, or medical insurance.

As far as liability goes, the liability for this vaccine is exactly the same as any other in the UK, nothing is different with the covid vaccines than MMR, 6 in 1, hib etc.

It is your choice to refuse when offered but spreading misinformation is not acceptable.

@MarshaBradyo
I can’t disagree with you re:- treatment of the unvaccinated. But realistically that simply won’t happen. There is no way we will allow citizens (through their own choices) to be refused medical care and die at home (even if that impacts on the economy / people’s freedoms / others medical care - maybe it will impact on one of their loved ones planned operations resulting it in being cancelled or because doctors are redeployed their loved ones cancer diagnosis may be missed - who knows - everything has a knock on effect!?)

We treat others bad choices (smoking / obesity etc) so I assume this will be no different!

So either they won’t think they will need hospital care, or even if they do - cos so many others have been vaccinated, they think they will still access hospital care. Or that we should have to lockdown again to make sure hospitals aren’t overwhelmed again. I don’t know, genuinely wondering about people’s thought processes who have refused the vaccine!

I do hope you are right with the rates of vaccinated and people are making sensible choices if they are vulnerable! Who knows after reading MN!! The real life data seems to suggest you are right!

I also was pleased to hear the real life example of the South African variant and how the vaccinated care home residents didn’t suffer! Wish there was more info on the MSM rather than the fear they like to spread!

[quote Blondiney]**@MarshaBradyo

It’s fine really. I hope you feel reassured when you get there. It’s all very easy and mundane with people that help you feel fine.

Thank you. Hopefully the aftermath won't be too horrendous, I live alone so will have to fend for myself. It's not something I want in my body and I'm starting to feel rather resentful at the idea that I 'have' to have it to be part of society when I'm not really part of society anyway.[/quote]
I live alone too, it does make things more of a worry. I had AZ 10 weeks ago and I'm getting my second this coming Saturday.

I had prepared for covid/vaccine (I have a box by my bed with some protein drinks, crackers, Panadol oximeter etc etc) & some bottles of water etc.

As it happens I felt no different than I usually do (due to underlying conditions, that's not fabulous, but I didn't feel any different). I hope you just feel your normal self too.

However even if you feel crap for a few days, it's a shed load better than getting Covid! 💐

[quote Crazycatlady83]@MarshaBradyo
I can’t disagree with you re:- treatment of the unvaccinated. But realistically that simply won’t happen. There is no way we will allow citizens (through their own choices) to be refused medical care and die at home (even if that impacts on the economy / people’s freedoms / others medical care - maybe it will impact on one of their loved ones planned operations resulting it in being cancelled or because doctors are redeployed their loved ones cancer diagnosis may be missed - who knows - everything has a knock on effect!?)

We treat others bad choices (smoking / obesity etc) so I assume this will be no different!

So either they won’t think they will need hospital care, or even if they do - cos so many others have been vaccinated, they think they will still access hospital care. Or that we should have to lockdown again to make sure hospitals aren’t overwhelmed again. I don’t know, genuinely wondering about people’s thought processes who have refused the vaccine!

I do hope you are right with the rates of vaccinated and people are making sensible choices if they are vulnerable! Who knows after reading MN!! The real life data seems to suggest you are right!

I also was pleased to hear the real life example of the South African variant and how the vaccinated care home residents didn’t suffer! Wish there was more info on the MSM rather than the fear they like to spread![/quote]
Oh I think they should get treatment, sorry maybe I wrote very fast.

But more that we shouldn’t take risk on at societal level and introduce restrictions to lower their risk. I hope that NHS won’t need a slowing of intake as before due to people opting out.

No, I booked within seconds of getting the text. I'm far more at risk of long covid or death from covid without it than I am from the vaccine. I was desperate to get it.

Vaccination is, categorically, the way out.

That does not mean that there might not be bumps in the road, even (though, hopefully not) another lockdown.

However, within the next year or two, we will have enough vaccines to stop COVID. We may need to revaccinate due to new strains, but I am firmly of the belief that we can tweak vaccines faster than COVID can mutate.

Vaccines are already helping immensely and we are already on the right track. However, some are determined to say every glitch means we are losing. We might lose the odd battle, but we are winning the war.

Refuseniks who for no compelling medical reason who elect not to have it are piggybacking on those who have

Someone doesn’t need a “compelling medical reason” to say no to a medical intervention.

Ever heard of something called “informed consent?”

It’s a rather important concept in modern medicinal ethics, you know.

No I was so relieved to receive it that I could have cried! So grateful.

@FlyLight

But why does it affect everyone? If the success of the vaccine is in preventing serious illness then the person who has had it is protected. It makes no difference to them whether I've had it or not. There are still so many unknowns about this whole situation that I don't know how anyone can think they know the right thing to do. I certainly don't, I just know I want to wait a while before being vaccinated. If that makes me selfish/uneducated/lacking in my civic duty then so be it.

It affects everyone because you're providing a host to Covid and the more hosts still available, the more chance of it mutating to a vaccine escaping variant.

It affects everyone because there are people who cannot have the vaccine and they're more at risk the fewer people are vaccinated.

It affects everyone because the more Covid cases in hospitals, the fewer other services are being provided.

By not having the vaccine people are enabling Covid to prevent a return to a
Pre pandemic lifestyle.

I’ve had mine and felt initially very, very relieved - then pretty shit for about 5 days, fairly normal for AZ I reckon- and now I feel happier to see my family. Great!

BUT In the back of my mind I don’t like the way the blood clot problems were dismissed by the manufacturers and the UK government ... I’m not on the Pill or HRT & very rarely take Paracetamol. (Though I would if I needed to).

I vehemently dislike attitudes involving ‘civic responsibility’... Just patronising and extra off putting. This is the UK not some fascist state!

Oh also, my period then came and for the first time ever was 15 days long! JUST WHY? Can anyone explain this??

@MartianMellows

I’ve had mine and felt initially very, very relieved - then pretty shit for about 5 days, fairly normal for AZ I reckon- and now I feel happier to see my family. Great!

BUT In the back of my mind I don’t like the way the blood clot problems were dismissed by the manufacturers and the UK government ... I’m not on the Pill or HRT & very rarely take Paracetamol. (Though I would if I needed to).

I vehemently dislike attitudes involving ‘civic responsibility’... Just patronising and extra off putting. This is the UK not some fascist state!

Oh also, my period then came and for the first time ever was 15 days long! JUST WHY? Can anyone explain this??

Nope, no one will be able to explain this.. yet. Give it a year or 2 and they will be able to. Once the trial of this vaccine is over.

It affects everyone because you're providing a host to Covid and the more hosts still available, the more chance of it mutating to a vaccine escaping variant

And what about those who have natural immunity?

@Sweetpeasaremadeforbees

My Dsis did. She and my BIL had Covid in Jan and she's worried that the vaccine will overload her immune system (!). My BIL has long Covid and doesn't want to get the virus again so jumped at the chance of having the vaccine (and he said bizarrely that he actually felt better after having it than he had done since having Covid). I think her grown up kids have tried persuading her but to no avail.

I think it's up to her really. At least hopefully her antibodies will be protecting her for now.

There has been some anecdotal data that people with long Covid sometimes feel better after the vaccine . It isn't at all supported by any data yet but I think this is being reported by some people

@Terracotta9,

No one is suggesting enforced vaccination. Informed consent still applies.

However, it is simultaneously true that those who refuse a vaccine are sheltering under the umbrella created by the herd immunity of the vaccinated majority.

You have the right not to consent but that does not mean it Is not selfish (unless you have a specific health issue).