Colleague who does not want to get vaccinated

[JennieLee]

I've recently returned to work in a venue that has been closed because of Covid.

Was chatting with various colleagues about whether they'd had first and/or second jabs and one person who is of mature years - and rather anxious - said they weren't having vaccinations, though they 'weren't an anti-vaxxer.'

One of my other colleagues says this is because they have a condition which affects their immune system. I was already aware of this condition but on looking it up, the official medical body says there is no reason why people with this condition should be adversely affected by the vaccine. The official advice is to have it.

It seems to me that by working in proximity with her over prolonged periods I am at increased risk of carrying the vaccine and infecting others. (I've had both jabs.)

Is there anything I can do, I wonder...?

@strangeshapedpotato

Incidentally, you're going to get all the covid-deniers and anti-vaxxers weighing in on this thread so expect quite a bit of flaming.

Noooo. I’m not an anti vaxxer or a covid denier, I’m booked my first jab in a week. I just wouldn’t be so arrogant as to try and force anyone to take a medicine they didn’t feel comfortable taking nor would I try and pressure someone to undertake a medical procedure they thought might damage their health. That’s just called not being an arsehole.

Mind your own business!

@strangeshapedpotato

@strangeshapedpotato

TBH I'd press management about it. And while nobody can FORCE them to have the vaccine, you can make their lives a lot less pleasant.

Their choice puts the rest of you at increased risk, not to mention your customers.

All this personal choice argument is just bullshit. It's ONLY a personal choice if it doesn't affect anyone else.

TBH I'd press management about it. And while nobody can FORCE them to have the vaccine, you can make their lives a lot less pleasant

What?!! You want to try and make someone’s life ‘a lot less pleasant’ . Are you now working with threats and menaces. Fucking hell I think I’ve heard it all now.

Is there anything I can do, I wonder...?

You could try keeping your nose out

@strangeshapedpotato

TBH I'd press management about it. And while nobody can FORCE them to have the vaccine, you can make their lives a lot less pleasant.

Their choice puts the rest of you at increased risk, not to mention your customers.

All this personal choice argument is just bullshit. It's ONLY a personal choice if it doesn't affect anyone else.

What a stupid comment. Awful.

WOW! Calm down lady! Vaccination is not mandatory and it is everyone's personal choice what drugs/jabs etc to inject to THEIR OWN BODY. Jesus. You better off looking for another job or start WFH as you will find unvaccinated people in EVERY SINGLE JOB. And well done to your colleague for standing her ground

@strangeshapedpotato

TBH I'd press management about it. And while nobody can FORCE them to have the vaccine, you can make their lives a lot less pleasant.

Their choice puts the rest of you at increased risk, not to mention your customers.

All this personal choice argument is just bullshit. It's ONLY a personal choice if it doesn't affect anyone else.

What a piece of work you are.

I can't type what I really think though because MN will just delete the comment

Did you seriously Google her medical condition to decide fir her of she should have it?

Don't you think that's between her and her drs?

Ffs

Her body her choice. Simple..

Conversations about the vaccine is now up there with views on politics and Brexit. Not suitable discussion points for the workplace.

Some people need longer to get to a point of confidence than others. I think once the 18 years olds start getting theirs, there'll be a whole load of older people booking. You can't force others, just respect their current decision.

is there anything I can do, I wonder?

Well you've 2 options

1. Mind your own business and carry on with your job
2. Quit your job and work somewhere else. Don't forget to ask for proof of everyone's vaccine status at the interview stage though, afterall you don't want to find yourself in the same scenario again.

Good luck and all the best with whichever option you choose 👍

Is there anything you can do

Yes, keep your trunk out of others business, or they may throw you a bun.
HTH

@strangeshapedpotato

Incidentally, you're going to get all the covid-deniers and anti-vaxxers weighing in on this thread so expect quite a bit of flaming.

Nope not a covid denier or anti vax ,I'm fully vaccinated thanks, but still think your comments are disgusting and completely inappropriate

It seems to me that by working in proximity with her over prolonged periods I am at increased risk of carrying the vaccine and infecting others.

Freudian slip there, OP!

One of my other colleagues says this is because they have a condition which affects their immune system. I was already aware of this condition but on looking it up, the official medical body says there is no reason why people with this condition should be adversely affected by the vaccine. The official advice is to have it.

Yep, I'm in that boat, too. 'Official advice' doesn't mean very much to me, I'm afraid, as I've been let down by it as have many, many others with autoimmune diseases. No-one really knows what effect these vaccines may have on people with autoimmunity longer term. I know it's a 'what if' scenario, and also am aware of the 'covid itself could be much worse' argument as well, but at the end of the day you have to let people do their own risk assessment and decision. If you are fully vaccinated you have nothing to worry about.

Is there anything you can do? No, just leave her be. Trying to argue/guilt/persuade will likely end up with her more entrenched in her viewpoint.

lots of countries require kids to have had childhood vaccines to go to school.

most countries require doctors and dentists to have Hep vaccines.

How and why is this case so different?

"It seems to me that by working in proximity with her over prolonged periods I am at increased risk of carrying the vaccine and infecting others. (I've had both jabs.)"

Can you explain this op? Because I think there may be a gap in your scientific knowledge here. I assume you mean carrying the virus but even that doesn't make sense. They weren't sure initially, but now strong evidence suggests people who are vaccinated don't carry the virus unless they are somehow infected.

You've had the vaccine. This will most likely protect you. The fact your colleague hasn't - whether because she chooses not to, or because she medically can't - means that yes, theoretically, she can contract and carry the vaccine. The likelihood of that will diminish overtime as more and more people are vaccinated.

But lets say she has it right now. The likelihood of you contracting it is very very low. The likelihood of you contracting it and passing it on is also much, much lower than if you weren't vaccinated. Repeated exposures doesn't effect this - she'd have to have covid one time to give it to you. And honestly, its not as transmissible as some people think, and its outcome is not as terrifying as people think either. I am pretty sure I had it in the early days and nobody in my family (including my then breastfeeding and co-sleeping child) got it. A friend had a confirmed dose, his wife and small children tested negative. I know of lots of cases where people didn't manage to infect their immediate families. Yes, it can spread around work spaces. But that's often to do with the nature of the work and ventilation, and tends to only happen where everyone is unvaccinated.

I have had every vaccination going, not covid yet as I'm not eligible at the moment but I'm counting down till I can get it. Regardless, it is essential we not make vaccines compulsory. I had a bad vaccination reaction as a child: they always chat to me about it before new vaccines. I think its very unlikely to happen again. But I also think I should have the choice to take that into account when making decisions for myself. The best way to turn people against public health advice is make vaccines compulsory.

@MaxNormal

TBH I'd press management about it. And while nobody can FORCE them to have the vaccine, you can make their lives a lot less pleasant

This is disgusting.

Bully comes to mind!

@coachmylife

lots of countries require kids to have had childhood vaccines to go to school.

most countries require doctors and dentists to have Hep vaccines.

How and why is this case so different?

A lot of those countries have huge difficulties with families going off-grid and 'home educating' in response to this. The US is a notable example (and I think vaccine requirements vary by state, though I"m not sure of that).

Healthcare professionals are different, you know the standard required of your profession going in and can choose accordingly.

Plenty of good evidence suggesting the best way to get a population vaccinated is to encourage trust in the healthcare system rather than to mandate compliance.

@Devlesko

Is there anything you can do

Yes, keep your trunk out of others business, or they may throw you a bun.
HTH

Laughed so much I spat out my coffee 🤣

@MrsRobinsonsHandprints

Go to your local vaccination centre, create a diversion, grab a vial and needle, hot foot it back to work and then pin your colleague down? Might manage it the first time but the second jab will be tricker.

🤭🤣🤣🤣🤣 Yes OP you can try minding your own business!

It’s personal medical information you should not be discussing in the workplace.

Look at what you've all become. Covid might as well take us all, there will be nothing good left to save.

Not carrying the vaccine. The virus. Typo.

As in the advice to behave with caution even once you've been vaccinated because you can still carry/pass on Covid, despite having some protection oneself.

So I am behaving with caution. And the workplace has made appropriate adjustments. But if I'm expected to work in a proximity of less than 2m with someone who hasn't - for reasons that aren't immediately clear - got vaccinated, then managements other adjustments may not really be wholly effective.

It would be possible for management to arrange for the person to work from home. Or for them to work in an area of the building where they had less proximity to colleagues and vulnerable members of the public.

I am curious as to why this has not been done, despite the building been ventilated, PCs being sanitised regularly etc etc...

People have a right to choose to get vaccinated. But do they have a right to put others at risk?

You actually went and looked up your colleagues condition? Over invested in other peoples business or what? Butt out and mind your own business.

I'm pro vaccine and have had all my jabs - and I would personally encourage others to do so too. But it really is not your business to try to force someone, or even to decide that you know better than them about their own health and risks.

And @strangeshapedpotato - advocating the bullying of someone with a health condition, and someone who may well qualify as disabled, is beyond disgusting. I know you don't work for me because I don't have any despicably nasty people in my employ, but I do hope your own manager is akin to me, because I would take great delight in dismissing you and giving you the worst possible references I can imagine for the rest of your miserable life.

It would be possible for management to arrange for the person to work from home. Or for them to work in an area of the building where they had less proximity to colleagues and vulnerable members of the public. I am curious as to why this has not been done, despite the building been ventilated, PCs being sanitised regularly etc etc...

I see you are going down the Typhoid Mary course of action suggested by another poster. You do realise that this is bullying, quite possibly discrimination, and that you are being a total bitch. If you are that worried about being near them, perhaps you should ask management to move you?