If you had decided not to have the AZ vaccination, has the Indian variant changed your mind?

[nancysblush]

Or if you’d decided not to have your 2nd dose are you now going to go ahead and get it? Because it’s looking like the only way we’re getting out of this is for everybody who possibly can to get fully vaccinated.
Seeing all the people on the news this morning in Bolton who’ve been eligible for a vaccination for for months but for whatever reason haven’t bothered (apparently there’s 10,000 in Bolton alone) has really surprised me. Now they’ve realised they’re at risk they’re all rushing to get done. Bit late though and potentially this surge of cases could have been avoided.

More evidence the vaccines will work against this variant

twitter.com/andrew_croxford/status/1393611601819938817?s=21

I've had my Phizer. Wouldn't have had AZ, as the government view it as more risky than COVID for my age group.

Nope, I'm not having either of the vaccines.

I think it's funny how the goverment scare everyone with a new variant and then they rushes out to the the vaccine.

*My mind is genuinely blown by people who both believe they are too precious and important to take a vaccine taken by literally millions AND who are too dim to realise that - yes - this variant is a risk to them. The thought that we may all be forced into a longer lockdown by this group is just infuriating

I totally agree with this.
I think the responsibility of any future lockdowns should be borne mostly by people who refuse their vaccine.
Especially if they're saying they can't rather than don't want to. At least be honest about why*

I’ve already had both doses. Second a few days ago. Never occurred to me not to. So the Indian variant didn’t impact my decision making.

I’m not sure why someone would lose respect for me exercising a valid choice to be vaccinated, it’s not going to have any kind of negative impact on anyone else.

Exactly what they both said ⬆️

Why drive a car? Why take the risk?
Why cross the road? Why take the risk?
Knives in my kitchen? Fuck off.

You're more likely to die, be maimed or fall seriously ill from the above than the vaccine.

If you choose not to get vaccinated then I have no respect for you. It's selfish AF.

If you choose not to get vaccinated then I have no respect for you. It's selfish AF.

Good to know. 😇

Personally I respect people to make their own choices. I wouldn’t lose respect for someone who has/has not had it. I prefer to base my opinions of others based on more than if they have a covid vaccination.

Seems like Bolton is full of absolute idiots

Thankfully IRL all my family and friends are normal, decent people who have been vaccinated, because I would struggle to have any respect for somebody who doesn't get vaccinated.

I feel sorry for the clinicians having to provide hospital care to these people in Bolton who are now hospitalised despite having been vaccine eligible

I honestly have no respect for people who refuse to take the vaccine. It's for the greater good, not out of self-interest for most people - to reduce the risk of transmission, lower the risk of mutations and protect those vulnerable people who really can't have the vaccine.
I'm not personally frightened of getting covid at all. I've worked all the way through, sent my children to school and now I'm back out living life to the full. Avoiding further lockdowns though is my absolute priority and those who refuse to play their part out if sheer selfishness make me sick.
I dont care if you have health anxiety...you'll be a lot more bloody anxious when the country goes to shit because it's shut down again. Grow up and do the right thing.

If you choose not to get vaccinated then I have no respect for you. It's selfish AF.

People are selfish. It's how our species has survived so long. You put you and yours first- there's no shame in that. If you think the vaccine puts you at greater risk than COVID, not having it is a logical decision. And I say that as someone who has had a vaccine against COVID.

@Parker231

In the US if you have had your vaccinations you can mix more freely with other vaccinated people and don’t need to wear a mask all the time. If you haven’t been vaccinated you still have to follow restrictions.

How does this work in practice?

Thankfully IRL all my family and friends are normal, decent people who have been vaccinated

What a ridiculous statement. My family and friends are also normal and decent. Some have had the vaccine, some haven’t. Having this vaccine isn’t the measurement of ‘normal decent people’. Some people I know who have had the vaccine are complete twats in many aspects of their life, definitely not normal or decent. But it looks like they’d get the respect of people on this thread, over someone like me. Oh well.

@Fixitup2

I agree with the Darwinian approach to a point. My worry is that the unvaccinated by choice ‘because I’m worried my last 2 brain cells will be eraticated’ will mean that more variants could evolve which could potentially put my unvaccinated children at risk. I say this as a very low risk person who hasn’t recovered yet from Covid 6 months ago. I also worry as a nurse that the unvaccinated will clog up healthcare and delay medical care to those who need it and didn’t have a choice to prevent their illness. There should be a waiver that you sign to accept that you understand you will not be given priority healthcare over someone else as you knew the risks of not being vaccinated.

You do realise that a variant could just as easily arise in the millions of unvaccinated children right (including your own)? It’s not like the virus is distinguishing between those who can’t have the vaccine and those who have chosen not to. I would also expect that ‘as a nurse’ you would realise that the reason we prioritised certain groups for vaccination is because they are the ones more likely to end up seriously ill and ‘clogging up healthcare’. The people who are currently being offered their vaccine are low risk and unlikely to end up in hospital anyway. It’s also ridiculous to suggest that people should sign waivers for making free choices - should we be asking people to sign waivers if they’re smokers, drink alcohol and/or are obese? All personal decisions but, as I’m sure you’re aware, they put a massive strain on the NHS.

BTW, it’s ‘eradicate’. Perhaps check your spelling before insulting people’s intelligence just because they made a different decision than you did.

I think the responsibility of any future lockdowns should be borne mostly by people who refuse their vaccine

How do you feel that would be received by minority communities, considering that - on current take-up numbers - they'd be disproportionately affected?
And for all those insulting refusers, would you stand in front of a minority community group and say the same?

This post is not aimed at me but I will be having the vaccine for the benefit of those who cannot have the vaccine because of genuine medical reasons. I volunteer with a charity that works with children and young people with terminal or life limiting diagnoses, many of whom will not ever be eligible for the vaccine. They have been hidden away in their homes for over a year, if mass vaccination is the best way out of this for them then they can have my arm as soon as they're willing to jab me.

It’s also ridiculous to suggest that people should sign waivers for making free choices - should we be asking people to sign waivers if they’re smokers, drink alcohol and/or are obese? All personal decisions but, as I’m sure you’re aware, they put a massive strain on the NHS.

Exactly. Quite ironic that the poster who suggested this, accused people that chose not to vaccinate as being the ones with a low number of brain cells. Most illnesses can in some way be blamed on something we’ve done or not done. Luckily for all those smokers, obese people, sports people that have accidents etc, the NHS doesn’t discriminate.

Can I ask those of you who are refusing AZ whether you have ever traveled by air, taken hormonal contraceptives, are obese or drink alcohol? I’m really interested in peoples logic in their decision making. This isn’t a criticism as I strongly believe in individual choice and freedom but I am concerned that a lot people have lost the ability to weigh up risk during this pandemic.

Nope, the Indian Variant hasn't changed my mind nor all the obvious scare tactics surrounding it. I still won't be getting the vaccine as I have this very special thing called an immune system.

I had Covid in December and I barely even noticed. I suspect the same will happen if I catch any other variant.

Get the vaccine if you want, don't if you don't 🤷🏻‍♀️

@user1471462428

Can I ask those of you who are refusing AZ whether you have ever traveled by air, taken hormonal contraceptives, are obese or drink alcohol? I’m really interested in peoples logic in their decision making. This isn’t a criticism as I strongly believe in individual choice and freedom but I am concerned that a lot people have lost the ability to weigh up risk during this pandemic.

Done all those things apart from being obese. But the AZ vaccine is not recommended for people my age, so I won't be having it.

I went for the Vaccine On Monday-Didn't know which one until I got there.
It was of course AZ
It is only today that I am feeling almost myself again,I was very unwell for 2 days and now have been struggling to get up stairs and do anything other than walk normally without getting out of breath,I have also been very tearful.
I am seriously thinking I should not get my 2nd one-I am scared to feel that way again

This vaccine issue is causing more hate and division. Why can’t people respect others views and concerns? I had mine but would not be so rude to impose on others. The uptake in this country is very high anyway. More people that were waiting for data would come forward in the next few days / weeks. Specially if it is Pfizer. More variants would be coming up and is an area of expertise in the U.K. to detect them so keep things in perspective.

Can I ask those of you who are refusing AZ whether you have ever traveled by air, taken hormonal contraceptives, are obese or drink alcohol?

It’s not about risk for me. I try really hard not to use things that have been tested on animals and unfortunately this vaccine has. I’m a vegan and the vaccine just isn’t right for me although I know other vegans who have had it and the vegan society says to have it.
My partner has been vaccinated and my kids will decide for themselves. I don’t judge others for their views, it’s a shame others judge me. I’m not selfish, I’m actually putting myself at risk for something I believe in. But if others want to call me selfish, that’s up to them.