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.

I am still working on this, had a family member being nasty to me the other day and I just had to walk away. It's about respect in this case and they were not willing to listen to me at all so I need to give them time to calm down. Hopefully we will talk again soon. It has made me realise that I need to stay true to myself and my beliefs and like you say, stay calm.

Ha. I’m still working on it too. 😂
Try being a vegan with a meat eating partner and kids. There’s lots of ‘debates’ to be had. It’s just a case of respecting everyone’s views and walking away when it gets heated. There’s much more to a person than their views on a vaccine or whatever.
There are people that have just showed themselves to be too judgemental though and I’ve stepped away from them, maybe permanently.

That wasn’t what I said. The poster said she wasn’t having it because she wanted to know about it’s effectiveness.
I asked if people don’t have the vaccine how would she treat the thousands of cases admitted to hospitals?

@Covywovy

I thought the entire point of vaccines was to reduce severity of disease! So, by this logic, only those unvaccinated like me could get sick. If this is NOT the case, then what is the point of getting vaccinated anyway?

These vaccines are surely a con if you can still catch regardless of vaccination status.

You could pass it on to someone who is actually medically unable to have a vaccine or a CEV child who also can't be vaccinated. These people need protection from herd immunity but sure as long as you are ok 🙄

Herd immunity isn't only achieved by vaccination. Some people have recovered from Covid, and therefore have antibodies. Contributing to herd immunity that way

I wasn’t going to bother getting it as I absolutely don’t think I’ll get covid badly. My OH almost fell out with me as I said I didn’t think I needed it....

Anyway i decided that if I don’t get, I’m going to be over a barrel because I bet vaccine passports come in to play at some point so I thought may as well get it done now.

I never get the flu jab either for the same reason, I think I’ll be fine if I caught that!

Point is, I did have the vaccine 3 days ago begrudgingly and under societal pressure. I then won’t be a hypocrite for saying all those that don’t are preventing places from opening because it would appear any covid death is not acceptable..... so unfortunately the pressure is on all of us!! Not great but what else can we do....

On a positive note I feel fine

Having had the vaccine I feel safer being round my elderly mum, as vaccines are not 100% effective I think that both of us having the vaccine gives much greater protection to my DM.

For those of you not having the vaccine how do you feel mixing with elderly or vulnerable relatives?

It's good timing - frightening us all again about another new variant - as others have said. The young now need to be pushed into being vaccinated ...

Are other countries panicking about this new Indian variant?

@ineedaholidaynow My 85 year old parents havent had it done. They said no thanks.

So what’s reported to be happening in India is a scaremongering campaign

Some is, some isn't

There's no disputing India have problems - though the numbers are also a reflection of their much larger population - but I grow tired of all the comments about them "Burning bodies outside" and "Throwing bodies in the Ganges"

The ignorance is astounding, and fails to recognise that this method of disposal is common in hindi funeral rites (antyesti). As for consigning bodies to the river, that's what happens in a country racked with poverty if a family can't afford wood for the pyre

Yes it's worse than usual at the moment, but let's not pretend that this isn't down to folk thinking it's "those funny forriners" doing things differently and looking for a reason - and Covid's a useful thing to hang it on

For those of you not having the vaccine how do you feel mixing with elderly or vulnerable relatives?

I feel uncomfortable about it to be honest so at the moment I’m not. But they say they’re fine with it having had both vaccines. They’re more worried for me and the kids.

Whether or not to have the vaccine is personal choice...but don’t constantly complain about Boris, the Government etc and their handling of Covid when you’re not willing to do the one thing that is our best chance of getting out of this mess.

I don’t understand why people who have had the vaccine (so are fully vaccinated) feel slighted by those who didn’t/won’t?...

You either believe in the protection you’ve garnered or you don’t? - my protection/lack of is my look out?....

And the best news I’ve heard today is from someone I know that is currently in Bolton who has confirmed that people of all ages have been getting their vaccines today.

@Dimsummummy I don’t feel slighted but vaccines do help to reduce transmission. The more people that have a vaccine, the more the cases will reduce which is good news for all of us. Also, vaccines do not work as well in very elderly and vulnerable people as their immune systems do not produce as strong a response. Younger and healthier people who have the vaccine are helping to protect the vulnerable. Plus there are some people who cannot have the vaccine at all.

@BunsyGirl I was playing devil’s advocate as I have had Covid (I’m also CEV ans have turned vaccine down) but my reasoning is I’ve had Covid (really quite badly tbf and had long covid) so am naturally immune system protected until variant changes jab.
However, as a critically thinking adult I still believe in individual choice regardless of prior infection status.. there’s something VeRY wrong with expecting are 40 year old to take a jab that might cause blood clots to protect a 70 year old?
For some odd reason people (in this virus only) seem to believe in selfless decisions that are to the detriment of the decision maker- if they don’t comply they’re selfish?! That is bizarre and out of kilter with any other medical decision which is individually based?

• our not are

Vaccines are important because they reduce transmission. Reducing transmission reduces virus mutations. Sooner or later this virus will mutate into a version that is more scary to you personally - or for example becomes more fatal to kids - and suddenly the vaccine won't seem so bad

Sooner or later this virus will mutate into a version that is more scary to you personally - or for example becomes more fatal to kids - and suddenly the vaccine won't seem so bad

Evidence for this?

@Dimsummummy My mum was 44 years old (a year younger than I am now) when she was diagnosed with a severe respiratory condition. From then on my whole family would have the flu vaccine to help protect her. She passed nine years ago but my children still have the flu vaccine every year. Not because they are at risk, but to help protect elderly and vulnerable people. That’s one of the reasons we have a flu vaccine programme for children.

@Dimsummummy Clots are a worry but my uncle has had two strokes whilst suffering from long Covid brought on by blood clots on the brain.

Also don't the scientists say that they think immunity will last longer with the vaccine compared to immunity from having had COVID

@Dimsummummy

I don’t understand why people who have had the vaccine (so are fully vaccinated) feel slighted by those who didn’t/won’t?...

You either believe in the protection you’ve garnered or you don’t? - my protection/lack of is my look out?....

That would be fine if they all were able to have the vaccine, but many can't despite desperately wanting/needing that protection

@BunsyGirl commiserations my mum passed at 42 when I was 14. I don’t disagree with ‘herd immunity’ or ‘population protection progress’ but I do disagree with detrimental/potentially detrimental health choice 🤷‍♂️ you can’t expect a 20 year old to vaccinate against a 1/1000000 Chance to save a 7@ year old who has a -/100000 chance life/death ? (Figures aren’t exact) we coSt these figures every day in cancer/heart disease etc...

[quote Dimsummummy]@BunsyGirl I was playing devil’s advocate as I have had Covid (I’m also CEV ans have turned vaccine down) but my reasoning is I’ve had Covid (really quite badly tbf and had long covid) so am naturally immune system protected until variant changes jab.
However, as a critically thinking adult I still believe in individual choice regardless of prior infection status.. there’s something VeRY wrong with expecting are 40 year old to take a jab that might cause blood clots to protect a 70 year old?
For some odd reason people (in this virus only) seem to believe in selfless decisions that are to the detriment of the decision maker- if they don’t comply they’re selfish?! That is bizarre and out of kilter with any other medical decision which is individually based?[/quote]
I actually agree with this, despite having had the vaccine. I felt pressured in to it tbh and I’m so someone that never gets colds, flu etc and I work in an environment where I’m in direct contact with lots of people daily.

I would bet a billion pound I would be fine if i caught covid so I certainly didn’t have the jab to protect myself.

@Dimsummummy Well those 20 year olds can’t expect to live a life free of restrictions if they won’t step up and be vaccinated. They can’t blame everything on the Government if they are unwilling to do their bit to help end the pandemic. Also, under 40’s can have alternative vaccines now anyway.