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

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.

Very depressing times we're living in.

Weirdly enough since Covid swept through my father in law's care home killing a high proportion of the residents and the manager's partner, I have felt a certain amount of concern about this condition. As if, our choices do actually have significant impact on one another.

But not in the deeply selfish world of Mumsnet trolls it appears. I pity some of you. And I fear for you.

Wow, there are some absolute arse-wipes on here.

Your colleague should not be discussing their limited knowledge of someone else's medical history.
You shouldn't be making assumptions from a Google search based on uninformed gossip.

The vaccine is not mandatory.

To the poster who said they lied, yeah I can understand that.
I was thinking of straight out lying, too, but I think it's easier to make up a medical condition.

Better make it a good one, though as some busybody will be bound to look it up. As evidenced here.

I really don't see what you're going on about, OP. You've had it so you're protected.

You know what? I think a lot of people are now getting anxious about having it when perhaps it CAN harm them and are taking it out on the more cautious.

The vaccine companies have got indemnity.

Money talks. And I'm telling you this if you CAN'T sue 'em if something goes wrong, then they aren't 100% confident in their product.
.
I really don't care if someone's vaccinated or not but please don't pretend you're more sensible than someone who hasn't been.

You're all part of a medical experiment and you're all too pig-headed to see it.

The general advice for people with my immune system disorder is to have the vaccine, yet due to that same condition I have horrendous allergic reactions to vaccines , which is quite rare for people with my illness, so I have been advised not to get it. Even before that advice knowing my history I had already decided not to get it, so unless you know the ins and outs of her medical history I don't think you can really judge here. No two people with any medical condition are the same

I think the question is how do you work safely for prolonged periods with/alongside someone who has opted not to have the vaccine and who is in a public-facing role.

From a public health point of view I think it's a reasonable question, and one which management has a responsibility to deal with for the sake of all employees, as well as the wider community.

I never comment on the corona threads but I am getting to the point now where if anyone mentions it again, I will want to know their lifestyle, exercise, diet, size and weight. Then I can make a decision on what sort of risk to the NHS they might be.

@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?

Because we don't live in a country that requires those things 🤷‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

You certainly shouldn't be searching their condition and 'deciding' they should have it!

@JennieLee

Weirdly enough since Covid swept through my father in law's care home killing a high proportion of the residents and the manager's partner, I have felt a certain amount of concern about this condition. As if, our choices do actually have significant impact on one another.

But not in the deeply selfish world of Mumsnet trolls it appears. I pity some of you. And I fear for you.

I think you're the only one here to be feared - trying to bully people into having a vaccine they don't want. It's her body and her choice. Or have you forgotten that?

In this case I would really say let it be, someone's medical condition is not your concern

In terms of people who have anxiety they should really get proper medical advice and perspective, and not from social media

And then there are those who think we are all part of an experiment as above ,who are simply beyond help

Vaccine refusal is becoming less tolerated and viewed as anti social. As demonstrated by this thread. So people who refuse the vaccine are creating what they see as acceptable excuses to avoid confrontation.

This may or may not apply to your colleague, you said she was clearly anxious. She may be anxious because her health condition prevents her from having the vax or because she is worried about scrutiny from colleagues.
There are very few people who cannot have the vaccine for medical reasons but there are many whose condition such as auto immune disease makes it less effective.

To the poster who said they lied, yeah I can understand that. I was thinking of straight out lying, too, but I think it's easier to make up a medical condition

I'm the liar. I have a medical condition, which is why I'm not having it.
As you can see though, that's not good enough for some to prevent discrimination

@JennieLee

Weirdly enough since Covid swept through my father in law's care home killing a high proportion of the residents and the manager's partner, I have felt a certain amount of concern about this condition. As if, our choices do actually have significant impact on one another.

But not in the deeply selfish world of Mumsnet trolls it appears. I pity some of you. And I fear for you.

Oh FFS - you do not work in a care home, you do not work with elderly frail people, none of whom had been vaccinated because there wasn't a vaccine. Calling people trolls because they do not agree with your bullying tactics towards a colleague is indicative of the kind of person you are - not the kind of person your colleague is. Your "concern" has no connection to the science, so stop looking for reasons to bully your colleague. You are being utterly irrational and unreasonable.

@JennieLee

I think the question is how do you work safely for prolonged periods with/alongside someone who has opted not to have the vaccine and who is in a public-facing role.

From a public health point of view I think it's a reasonable question, and one which management has a responsibility to deal with for the sake of all employees, as well as the wider community.

You wear one of these OP. HTH.

Flip it.

'How do I work safely alongside someone who's had a rushed out vaccine that the manufacturers have indemnity for thus proving they aren't confident in the product?'

I don't give a monkey's proverbial if you've had the vaccine, OP. But you are not neccessarily the sensible one here.

Mind your own business @JennieLee
Who the hell do you think you are ?

@JennieLee
Her body, her choice. You have no right to even know about any medical history.

If a company has indemnity they're not confident in their product.

That's so obvious. How can anyone think otherwise?!

The vaccine is an experiment. They're basically saying 'Well yeah you can have this vaccine but don't blame us if it goes tits up'.

But I think my concern is also for the colleague. If her immune system isn't good, if the vaccine is less effective for her, why has she been put back in the front line?

If she picks up Covid it is also likely to have a more serious effect on her...

Why did you research her condition? Did she indicate that she would have liked the vaccine but was advised not to because of her medical condition? Or were you just hoping she was wrong and you could 'prove it'?

Its none of your business. You do you, and do what you can to keep yourself safe. Let her worry about herself, if she's choosing not to have the vaccine.

Certainly do NOT involve managers. I would think she could have a legal case to argue if she started getting treated "not so pleasant" by managers (and other staff, like you!).

*disclaimer- certainly not an anti-vaxxer, am 2 weeks post my 2nd dose.

🙄if I say what I want to my post will be deleted.

@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.

So are you abusive and force people to do something against their will off in real life then?

It’s none of your business . Amused about why you think you have the knowledge to deem they should have it or not. Can’t see your employer doing anything as they would leave themselves open to a grievance. The vaccine isn’t mandatory

@Nerdygirl take no notice of @strangeshapedpotato no one else does 😂