Choosing not to get vaccine

[InnerDiscomfort]

Not looking to start a fight, but interested if you have made the decision not to get the vaccine and have no condition that you know of that would stop you, why not?

Family members abroad have decided not to get the vaccine (Pfizer I think). Vague concerns about it not being safe and/ or tested enough. They both work outside the home and have families. Fairly fit and healthy so unlikely to be seriously affected by COVID, under 50 years of age.

It's not something I agree with but up to them I guess. I'm also unlikely to get ill but had my first vaccine mainly to help stop the spread (and I'd like to go abroad!)

So if you haven't had it, I'm interested in your reasoning if you would care to share.

Me and my partner have chosen not too, any vaccine produced in under a year has not had been tested enough in our opinion. My childminder has come to the same conclusion, her thoughts on the matter have been reinforced by the fact her mother has suddenly been having memory issues within a week of having the vaccine.

@Arrowheart

Fear of needles is a pathetic excuse. You'll soon get over your fear of needles if you need life saving treatment.

You do not get to decide the severity of someone else's phobia, or how they will react to triggers. My phobia (not a dislike, or fear) is extreme... and I have turned down treatments in the past. It is not safe for me, or the person delivering the vaccine, for me to have it.

Saying that, no one needs any excuse to not have the vaccine. It is choice... and saying "no thanks, I just don't want it" should be enough.

@Arrowheart

Fear of needles is a pathetic excuse. You'll soon get over your fear of needles if you need life saving treatment.

You have no idea what a phobia is do you?

Fear and of needles and medical treatment?! So a Cannula and being intubated after a case of covid would be terrible for you, yes?
Get the vaccine then.

@Chamonixshoopshoop

Fear and of needles and medical treatment?! So a Cannula and being intubated after a case of covid would be terrible for you, yes? Get the vaccine then.

Another one with no idea what a phobia is 🤦🏻‍♀️

@Arrowheart

Fear of needles is a pathetic excuse. You'll soon get over your fear of needles if you need life saving treatment.

I had something very similar said to me when I went to A&E a long time ago with a cut in my hand (cut by a broken milk bottle under some leaves, so not a clean wound). I was told I needed a tetanus shot. As I'm a needle phobe I panicked and refused. The doctor's idea of convincing me to have it was to be told 'if you get tetanus you'll needs LOTS of injections'. Well, that just panicked me more and I got out of there ASAP.

Didn't get tetanus, fortunately! But that attitude just doesn't work if you are a needle phobe. You need, at the very least, empathy and a gentle approach. So you telling people it's 'pathetic' and so on, really isn't helping, nor is pouring shame on them. Phobias are very real and crippling to deal with.

What strikes me as odd in the arguments against taking the vaccine and life in general are peoples false perception of how healthy they are. Regular drinkers, regular red meat eaters, maybe even occasional smokers, overweight, sedentary lifestyle, most exercise they do is walk the dog, thinking they live a healthy lifestyle so don't need a vaccine.

From the Lancet COVID-19 has unveiled some uncomfortable truths for the UK. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study found that Britain had the worst healthy life expectancy in Europe.1 This finding was driven by obesity, hypertension, chronic respiratory conditions, excess alcohol use, and inactivity, compounded in some areas by poor physical, economic, and social environments.

The UK is an unhealthy nation. This contributed to our high covid figures.

People who say they are ‘generally healthy so don't need the vaccine’ are more likely kidding themselves.

I have a phobia thank you, I appreciate (truly) how hard they are.
I had CBT that helped a bit and can function normally now.
I’m genuine when I say, if you don’t like needles and medical treatment, then get the jab.
I’ve had a general anaesthetic and I was petrified.
I was being honest! Not trying to be goady.

@Blondiney

I wouldn't be at all surprised if you actually knew more refusers. Many people wisely decide to keep it to themselves, rather than being unfairly judged.

100%

I’ve had lots of injections over the years, vaccines, etc, blood taken when pregnant etc. and I’m not a fan of needles. But genuinely, compared with the flu jab I had a year ago, this jab was so fast and so painless I actually asked if they were sure they’d done it!
If you go to a big vaccine centre, by now the staff there have been doing dozens and dozens a day, and so they are super-efficient and fast. If you have a phobia of needles then don’t look (I didn’t), but honestly I think you’ll be amazed.
And yeah, way way more needles if you catch Covid and get ill. It can also trigger diabetes, so then you’d really have to get used to them.

@RachelRaven

What strikes me as odd in the arguments against taking the vaccine and life in general are peoples false perception of how healthy they are. Regular drinkers, regular red meat eaters, maybe even occasional smokers, overweight, sedentary lifestyle, most exercise they do is walk the dog, thinking they live a healthy lifestyle so don't need a vaccine.

From the Lancet COVID-19 has unveiled some uncomfortable truths for the UK. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study found that Britain had the worst healthy life expectancy in Europe.1 This finding was driven by obesity, hypertension, chronic respiratory conditions, excess alcohol use, and inactivity, compounded in some areas by poor physical, economic, and social environments.

The UK is an unhealthy nation. This contributed to our high covid figures.

People who say they are ‘generally healthy so don't need the vaccine’ are more likely kidding themselves.

It annoys me that people aren’t talking about this more... the impact on the state of health of the population with regards to Covid. Everyone is so afraid of causing offence but if we don’t sort the state of our health out now, we will be in this position again when the next pandemic kicks off.

Unhealthy people have poorer health outcomes. It astounds me that people don’t seem to see that.
There has been a few times during this pandemic where I have seen/heard stories about ‘healthy’ individuals getting seriously ill/dying from Covid and it turns out they weren’t actually healthy at all.

Haven't decided about the covid vaccine yet, leaning towards not getting it. Not antivax at all, had all the regular ones+annual flu vaccine. What worries me personally is the following:

• Obvious one with the vaccine being very new. The first version of MMR was not great, it took time to come up with the current one.
• denial of side effects. Britain denied the stories about blood clots from AZ raised by other countries for quite a while. Daily news emphasising how stupid France and Germany must be allowing the vaccine just sitting there. Now we are offering alternatives to some age groups.
• Complete ban on mainstream channels of any attempt to raise concerns or voice different opinions on the vaccines. There is no discussion, just a very heavy handed propoganda. I personally know 1 virologist in US and one immunologist in UK who question some statements about the vaccines mechanism and risks, but qualified professionals are not allowed to speak publicly unless it is in line with 'let's get everyone vaccinated asap'

On the whole I would much prefer a healthy discussion where the public would be told a bit more about the vaccines.Yes,there are blood clots, Yes there are uncertainties like with any new product. However if the risk of covid for you personally is high enough it is probably worth doing. I would like them to make it clear the decision is personal.
The worst part is the argument 'for the greater good'. It is very wrong to expect people to put something in their bodies for the sake of other people

I have one friend who plans to have one, but has booked a dr appointment first to check something. I’m not sure what, as we’re the same age and she’s pretty healthy. So I assume she will have one soon after.
Otherwise, everyone I know has had it/wants to have it as soon as possible, & all of us are relieved to have some protection.

I'm not having it for now. I don't like the coercion, don't like the use of probably' in the defence of the mrna 'probably' not altering DNA. The nhs leaflet that came with the vaccine invite listed reasons to have the vaccine, and none of them applied to me. The leaflet also stated that everyone can have the vaccine, even those who have immune disorders, so I don't feel the pull to have it to protect the vulnerable. I detest the coercive messaging from the government, and I don't think the chance of a holiday is a good reason to have a vaccine that I don't want. I also know of a death after vaccine and several people who have had horrible symptoms after vaccination. Whereas I no noone who has had problems from covid infection. I appreciate all that is anecdotal, but we are all influenced by what we see happening around us.

I don’t think ‘the greater good’ is a weak argument. What happened to our sense of covid responsibility?
It’s important we have the vaccine for others who cannot, cancer sufferers, the immunocompromised.
I do care about them, and I do want to help.

Civic* not covid!

“ It is very wrong to expect people to put something in their bodies for the sake of other people”

Still, it’s nice to know that previous generations did this so we no longer have Smallpox or Polio or a whole load of horrific illnesses that, in the past, meant vast numbers of children never got to the age of 5.
It’s the right thing to do to look wider.

Justa47

Sensible maybe for you only.
But it’s selfish as in a pandemic
You live in a community.

Look just admit it but when something goes against you in your community just remember

And I hope you can handle the guilt.

I find it difficult to grasp the point you are trying to make. Are you trying to say everyone must get the vaccine for the greater good? I’m not anti vaccine. However I’m highly concerned about AZ. It is not being offered to

I have had my first (AZ) but not having the second. The only thing that has made me unwell in the last year is the vaccine itself. There isn’t the same data on second doses obviously due to the time between doses and time for the data to come to light etc. I believe everyone has the right to do what is best for them and judge no one for their choices. I am sick of the anti vax argument, from what I have seen most people just want answers about the risks but are constantly shut down. The ever changing goal posts of who should have which vaccine doesn’t fill me with confidence either.

@duffeldaisy

“ It is very wrong to expect people to put something in their bodies for the sake of other people”

Still, it’s nice to know that previous generations did this so we no longer have Smallpox or Polio or a whole load of horrific illnesses that, in the past, meant vast numbers of children never got to the age of 5.
It’s the right thing to do to look wider.

But exactly - people vaccinated their children so THEIR CHILDREN wouldn't die. Those diseases directly impacted the young. The reason my children are vaccinated is to protect THEM. I wouldn't be jabbing my kids against a virus that won't kill them, for the sake of others.

I’m not having it. Nor is DH. Neither of us are COVID deniers or anti-vaxx or 5G conspiracy theorists. :) We actually know quite a few other people who aren’t having it either. They seem quite relieved to find similar minded others tbh. I agree with the PP that people are almost afraid to admit they’re not being vaccinated because they don’t want to be lumped in with the conspiracy theory anti-vaxxers and considered ‘stupid’ for not taking it.

@duffeldaisy

“ It is very wrong to expect people to put something in their bodies for the sake of other people”

Still, it’s nice to know that previous generations did this so we no longer have Smallpox or Polio or a whole load of horrific illnesses that, in the past, meant vast numbers of children never got to the age of 5.
It’s the right thing to do to look wider.

Well they primarily did it to protect themselves from the (far more deadly in the case of smallpox) diseases at the time.

My MIL is the only person I know not having it, although my husband has booked but is unsure. I haven't really asked others unless they volunteer the information, it's not really my business. It's a personal choice.

MILs reasons are that she was told she had a bad reaction to vaccinations when she was a child which likely caused epilepsy which put her in hospital. She's in her 60s now so a long time ago but she's nervous. She also reads all the alternative news and believes in the rumours about it's the governments way of controlling us, it's got damaging Ingredients in it and leads to infertility.

I should add that I won’t be telling anyone I’m not having it.

You will be surprised the people you know who are the same

I haven't and I won't for another while, I'm mid thirties and I work in Pharmaceuticals so I'm not a nutter who is against pharma as such.