Shocked at how anti vax it seems to have got on here

[daisiesinmay]

Haven't been on this board for maybe a week and it seems to have some real scaremongering about AZ vaccine now. People are losing sight of the benefits I think because cases have gone down, but if they start to go up again and people are refusing vaccines then we'll have problems.
I remember when this board started up it was people all worried about the virus. Has the anxiety just transferred to the vaccine? FWIW had my AZ and no regrets

I don't even feel like I need an extra layer of protection. I find it all pretty gaslighty tbh - what do I need protection for? I have a good immune system which has immunity for Covid.

Certainly not my intention to 'gaslight' by saying others in your situation may have a different approach - I guess it depends when you had it, unknowns about how long immunity lasts and variants etc. I haven't had covid so can't comment personally on whether or not I'd have a vaccine in those circumstances. Nobody is trying to suggest you should have it.

I ought to say not on this thread- I think the government medical advisors have said to have the vaccine even if you've had covid haven't they

@Deevil

Can be identified by saying lockdown/vaccines/masks are causing more deaths than covid or threaten to kill themselves if lockdown isn't lifted/mask-wearing stopped etc.

Fail to acknowledge that any NHS staff have ever died from Covid etc.

Yep. Currently all to be found back slapping each others random conspiracy articles on the governemt inducing fear thread. And completely missing the irony

@hamstersarse I understand where you're coming from completely. I'm keeping my eye on the yellow card data.

They are genuine nutjobs who just savvy enough to keep away from the real nasty stuff like empty hospitals,5G and global conspiracy. But it's there bubbling under - emboldened by their anti-lockdown march at the weekend.

You can't know every individual circumstance. I feel like I have sacrificed a year of my normal life for people who were vulnerable already. I don't see how me taking this risk is anywhere near worth it for me. I see that this is now an unacceptable thing to say - yet somehow it has been OK for a year and continues to be OK to have to sacrifice things and take risks for others. Because I feel coerced into having the vaccine, when I know it is not in my best interests, it is a difficult pill to swallow

You should not be coerced into having a vaccine if you don't want it, Hamstersarse.

(Although I will say that none of us have sacrificed a year of our lives "for people who were vulnerable already" (nice bit of othering there btw). We have made sacrifices so that the NHS and other vital services don't collapse due to huge swathes of people becoming ill all at the same time.)

My gripe is with those on MN who post thread after thread after thread under the guise of "concerns" or "questions" or links to dubious “experts” but which are really an attempt to coerce and frighten people into not having the vaccine. That is unforgiveable.

@hamstersarse that immunity isn't long term, so not a very good excuse.

@Savethegrammies

You can't know every individual circumstance. I feel like I have sacrificed a year of my normal life for people who were vulnerable already. I don't see how me taking this risk is anywhere near worth it for me. I see that this is now an unacceptable thing to say - yet somehow it has been OK for a year and continues to be OK to have to sacrifice things and take risks for others. Because I feel coerced into having the vaccine, when I know it is not in my best interests, it is a difficult pill to swallow

You should not be coerced into having a vaccine if you don't want it, Hamstersarse.

(Although I will say that none of us have sacrificed a year of our lives "for people who were vulnerable already" (nice bit of othering there btw). We have made sacrifices so that the NHS and other vital services don't collapse due to huge swathes of people becoming ill all at the same time.)

My gripe is with those on MN who post thread after thread after thread under the guise of "concerns" or "questions" or links to dubious “experts” but which are really an attempt to coerce and frighten people into not having the vaccine. That is unforgiveable.

Excellent user name. Took me a while. Thought you'd had a personality change 😆

@vera99

They are genuine nutjobs who just savvy enough to keep away from the real nasty stuff like empty hospitals,5G and global conspiracy. But it's there bubbling under - emboldened by their anti-lockdown march at the weekend.

They are worse than the conspiracy theorists. They are so obvious and we can laugh at how ridiculous they are. The ones with 'concerns' are much more plausible.

sleepwouldbenice

I think there is a big difference between being anti vax and legitimately concerned regarding a relatively new vaccination that has some relatively rare but very serious side effects. It’s also worth noting that the incidence of the rare blood clots is increasing. The incidence of blood clots was 7.9 per million on the last weekly yellow card report on in comparison with 4.9 per million the week before. I’m in my 30s and I don’t have any significant risk factors. I’ve had my first dose of AZ and I’m happy to now hopefully have some protection but I’m watching how things progress very carefully before making a decision about my second dose as the incidence of such clots seems to be increasing as we reach the lower age groups and 1 in 126,000 when averaged across the age groups is more concerning that the 1 in a million that was first mentioned. It’s a delicate balance but AZ isn’t the only vaccination around. I understand that society wide the benefits outweigh the risks due to limited supply of other vaccinations but on an individual level I’d like more information before taking the second dose. I think there are some people scare mongering but also many genuinely concerned people seeking information and reassurance.

Isn’t the very rare clotting issue with the first jab though?

Well said @Rainbowsandstorms

I thought they weren't sure as not enough 2nd doses have been administered?

@Delatron

Isn’t the very rare clotting issue with the first jab though?

Yes, so far (and then there's normally an argument on these threads about how many people have had second AZ's and whether that constitutes a good enough sample size or not. IMO its into the tens of millions of people so its reasonable) only one clot has been from a second dose.

Or millions of people rather than tens. Either way fair few folks and only 1 incident of the clotting for the second doses.

I'm hoping that the issue is only with the 1st as I'm due my 2nd end June

Im due my AZ second in May and my group 6 raison d'être is a blood clotting disorder. I will be there with bells on and jumping with joy for the power of science after my jab.

Is it pretty easy to find out if you have low platelets? Maybe younger people could be screened for that first in order to reassure & boost uptake?

When I've been on heparin for long periods they have done blood tests for platelet levels on me. Easy and standard to get the blood out, no idea about the equipment to test for that!

I've no idea of the logistics behind it but it may be worth looking at if vaccine uptake starts to dip.

I think the phrase anti-vax has certain connotations. I have certainly not seen much evidence of it on here and I am sure @MNHQ would have been quick to stamp down on it if there was any.

[quote babbaloushka]@hamstersarse that immunity isn't long term, so not a very good excuse.[/quote]
There’s lots of talk about misinformation about vaccines but that is misinformation.

Of course you have immunity if you’ve had the virus.

@B1rthis

When people go food shopping they check ingredients, some opt for foods that are organic others feel diary is not for them, some are vegan etc and people decide what they want to put into their body. When people go clothes shopping they look at the material or the shape style and decide which items they want to wear based on colour, style, size, ethically made etc. When people go on holiday they look at countries that are safe based on other people's trips (not in a war zone, good food hygiene, family friendly, activities etc). People who have cancer are sometimes offered life saving unlicensed drugs, these patients are given all the options and make an informed decision.

Opting in and agreeing to be part of a clinical trial for these vaccines is an extremely difficult decision for most. All the risks that come with the unknown and how we are all individuals with various health and social differences has an impact on the results.
I would not describe any hesitation or declining the offer to be part of the clinical trials as anti vaxx. I think it's just that people have done lots of reading and thinking and said it's not for them.

Hopefully when they offer children aged twelve and over to be part of the clinical trials from September with parents consent many of the yellow card reports will have been ironed out and children will not suffer blood clots, rashes, headaches, vision problems, worsened period pains and all the other many symptoms that people have reported so far.

I do wonder how many parents will be happy to allow their children to have the vaccine? So far I know of no one who would happily put their healthy children forward for it.

@rarat i was stopped from taking the Pill in 1998 for the same reason.