Will you spend time with partially / un vaccinated people?

[roseyroses]

I have severe health anxiety and after a conversation with my Dr this morning I have decided against my second Covid Jab.

I had my first AZ but I’m severely anxious about my second one and it’s really interfering with my work / home life.

I don’t want this to get in the way of being able to spend time with friends or family (who will be fully vaccinated)

I have a small child and I want to be able to arrange plat dates and days out by I’m afraid people won’t want to be around me if I’ve only had one vaccine.

I had no idea this was even a thing?

!Are people monitoring each other’s vaccination status and deciding whether or not to socialise with them over it?

@justanotherneighinparadise

I had no idea this was even a thing?

!Are people monitoring each other’s vaccination status and deciding whether or not to socialise with them over it?

@justanotherneighinparadise

I’ve already heard a few people suggest this (IRL) so yes, I believe it’s a thing.

Wouldn’t go round asking. But in many cases it would tie in with a general shrugging attitude about the virus, lockdowns, mask wearing, rule following. In which case I would be actively avoiding you anyway

Do people realise that the vaccine doesn’t stop you from transmitting the virus??

Honestly, people think the vaccine is some sort of panacea and they’re going to have a forcefield against covid.

It’s also not fully protective.

That’s why restrictions are not easing for those who are vaccinated just yet.

Do people realise that the vaccine doesn’t stop you from transmitting the virus??

In the majority of cases, it does. The vaccines have been shown to hugely cut transmission.

We know that all our friends, family and my work colleages (not sure about DHs) have been vaccinated. Other than one whose not having it for health reasons at the moment (wants to be careful in the meantime and meet outside SD), we've all been so excited and happy to have ours, it's been a talking point.

I wouldn't have the nerve to ask a dentist, hairdresser etc if they'd had the vaccine, but I'd actually prefer to go to someone who had it as vaccines don't protect you 100%. Having said that, I do want to avoid covid as I'm worried about getting pneumonia - had it a couple of times before and it's totally debilitated me for a few weeks - also fighting for breath is no joke.

@JassyRadlett

Do people realise that the vaccine doesn’t stop you from transmitting the virus??

In the majority of cases, it does. The vaccines have been shown to hugely cut transmission.

But it doesn’t stop it completely.

I think it’s a bit off to treat those who aren’t vaccinated as lepers. Especially as younger children, who are unlikely to be vaccinated yet will be going to school and mixing and spreading - will not be vaccinated.

@ifonly4

We know that all our friends, family and my work colleages (not sure about DHs) have been vaccinated. Other than one whose not having it for health reasons at the moment (wants to be careful in the meantime and meet outside SD), we've all been so excited and happy to have ours, it's been a talking point.

I wouldn't have the nerve to ask a dentist, hairdresser etc if they'd had the vaccine, but I'd actually prefer to go to someone who had it as vaccines don't protect you 100%. Having said that, I do want to avoid covid as I'm worried about getting pneumonia - had it a couple of times before and it's totally debilitated me for a few weeks - also fighting for breath is no joke.

This is also my situation. All my family and friends are happy and excited to have it, so have gone out of their way to get it. ( half are in India and have actively fought and queued and struggled to get it).

I find it quite odd that there is more criticism on this thread of people who are careful about who they want to see, than those who do not want to get the vaccine. It is up to you to get it or not. But you can't control how other people socialise, especially those with CV or CEV people in their families. If health anxiety is valid, so is socialising anxiety.

I find it quite bizarre that people have such an issue with people being careful.

No-one has batted an eyelid my DD’s whole life about us being meticulously strict about not being in contact with anyone with a cough, cold or feeling unwell. We know we can’t protect her 100%, especially with siblings at school, but folks get it and have always been supportive.

Yet now we’re apparently being unfair or ridiculous to continue limiting her exposure as much as possible.

It’s quite baffling that people don’t get it.

I have to roll my eyes at the idea that meeting people outside is treating them like lepers, too.

As for hairdressers, I am not going to ask them, especially as most are young. However, my current hairdresser was talking excitedly about getting Pfizer this month, so that reassures me. There have been so many anxious posts about getting the vaccine on MN, that perhaps people do not realise that the vast majority are happy and excited to get the vaccine.

@Dyrne

The Covid vaccine is different from other vaccines as it doesn’t necessarily stop you getting it and spreading it; it’s more to do with limiting the severity of the disease if you catch it.

Therefore you getting vaccinated isn’t necessarily protecting me (or my children) in the same way.

So for day to day stuff it wouldn’t make a difference.

The only time I can see it coming up is in a future where vaccine “passports” exist - if we were planning a holiday I wouldn’t necessarily think it fair we could never go abroad just because you weren’t vaccinated, so I’d possibly go ahead with my own holiday plans and catch up with you for uk weekends away etc.

This is how vaccines work. It's not a vastly different vaccine to others.

I don't think there is any vaccine that is 100% effective for all people.

Since I am unvaccinated, it will be interesting to see what happens (not that I go out much at all). But if someone asks me 'are you vaccinated?' then I'll be replying 'that's personal medical information and none of your business'.

Re the vaccination/unvaccinated

I don't ask others about their vaccine status.

As far as I know I don't know anyone who is refusing the vaccine. A couple at work were undecided but have since had their first dose.

Almost all are very very pro vaccine and are eager to be vaccinated.

My anti-covid and conspiracy believing relative has since had both vaccine doses - strangely didn't post about it despite the constant 'covid isn't real' posts previously. I know through other family.

For me: I'm CV (arthritis and medication makes me CV, I'm late 40s) and I am now fully vaccinated. Was very keen to get it done ASAP.

I also caught covid in the autumn, 7 months ago. I still have long covid symptoms after getting a moderate case, which resulted in me being in hospital. I had an antibody test this week and I still have antibodies (from virus, it didn't check for vaccine borne antibodies) It wasn't an experience I want to go through again. I don't think my dh and teen Dd want to deal with me being rushed into a and e and being told I was an emergency due to a very real risk of heart attack/stroke but not being allowed to come with me. So getting vaccinated to severely reduce that risk again was important to me. Dh got his vaccine early by visiting the centre and asking for end of day left overs as he was so keen. Teen Dd is only 19y so not yet vaccinated but hopes to be as soon as she is able.

Re blood clots

If you catch covid you have a greater chance of the blood clot issue (same type as the AZ link) with covid as you do from the vaccine. When rushed to hospital it was one of the first things they checked me for, along with heart attack and stroke.

@Iggly

Do people realise that the vaccine doesn’t stop you from transmitting the virus??

Honestly, people think the vaccine is some sort of panacea and they’re going to have a forcefield against covid.

It’s also not fully protective.

That’s why restrictions are not easing for those who are vaccinated just yet.

No vaccine is fully preventative.

However the ones we are using have a very high effective rate.
They have been shown to greatly reduce the chance of transmitting covid. They reduce the chance of catching covid and massively reduce the chance of being seriously ill or death.

The covid vaccines are much more effective than a lot of the other vaccines we use. The flu vaccine is often only around 50-60% effective for example.

JustLyra

I find it quite bizarre that people have such an issue with people being careful.

No-one has batted an eyelid my DD’s whole life about us being meticulously strict about not being in contact with anyone with a cough, cold or feeling unwell. We know we can’t protect her 100%, especially with siblings at school, but folks get it and have always been supportive.

Yet now we’re apparently being unfair or ridiculous to continue limiting her exposure as much as possible.

It’s quite baffling that people don’t get it.“

I suspect that unless others have had to shield for 14 months, they really have no idea how difficult this has been for CEV people (and continues to be, even after vaccination).

But it doesn’t stop it completely.

No - and no one would expect it to. No vaccine is 100% effective. The vaccines we have are great at preventing serious illness, between pretty good and great at preventing symptomatic illness, and appear pretty good on current evidence at stopping transmission.

Given that in the majority of cases the vaccines do appear to stop transmission, saying it doesn't (rather than doesn't always, or completely) feeds the false narrative that the vaccines have no impact on transmission which is still doing the rounds.

I think it’s a bit off to treat those who aren’t vaccinated as lepers. Especially as younger children, who are unlikely to be vaccinated yet will be going to school and mixing and spreading - will not be vaccinated.

I agree, though I come from the POV of someone who is fully vaccinated and has immediate family members in this country who are all low risk.

@JustLyra

I find it quite bizarre that people have such an issue with people being careful.

No-one has batted an eyelid my DD’s whole life about us being meticulously strict about not being in contact with anyone with a cough, cold or feeling unwell. We know we can’t protect her 100%, especially with siblings at school, but folks get it and have always been supportive.

Yet now we’re apparently being unfair or ridiculous to continue limiting her exposure as much as possible.

It’s quite baffling that people don’t get it.

This. In reality I'm not going to go around asking, but ds shielded for a year and until he can be vaccinated himself, I am wary about prolonged contact with people who are unvaccinated. I know that working with vulnerable children was one of the reasons all of the teachers and TAs in his unit were vaccinated early.

The vaccine hasn’t reached my age group yet so I’m assuming that most of my friends also aren’t vaccinated yet. Those that are have only had their first because it’s not been long enough for them to have been offered their second yet.

My social life is very limited due to small children, friends moving away, etc so I’m not going to limit it even more by refusing to see unvaccinated people!

@roseyroses

If you read the whole thread you would see that there are concerns that people with my husbands condition aren’t getting antibodies from the vaccines. I really don’t care if a hairdresser thinks I’m crazy.

We will mitigate risk. We can’t eliminate it. We can reduce it. That’s all we can do. I’d like to keep him around. This isn’t actually new for us, it’s just bigger.

I have no issue with people still taking precautions because someone is ECV.
And some people who aren’t ECV are still extremely cautious.

However, to answer @roseyroses, not every ECV people take those precautions.
And few people are still extremely cautious NOW when by default a big part of the population hasn’t been vaccinated fully (NOT through choice)

There is a question to ask too if it’s ok to ask people about their vaccination status. Some people won’t be able to and they shouldn’t have to give their health status/problem to do so ‘just because’

@Minstermouse

JustLyra

I find it quite bizarre that people have such an issue with people being careful.

No-one has batted an eyelid my DD’s whole life about us being meticulously strict about not being in contact with anyone with a cough, cold or feeling unwell. We know we can’t protect her 100%, especially with siblings at school, but folks get it and have always been supportive.

Yet now we’re apparently being unfair or ridiculous to continue limiting her exposure as much as possible.

It’s quite baffling that people don’t get it.“

I suspect that unless others have had to shield for 14 months, they really have no idea how difficult this has been for CEV people (and continues to be, even after vaccination).

Yes perhaps.

People making snide comments about contacts with others are getting tedious as well.

Yes - my youngest has contact with my two other primary age children. Yes - they go to school. Yes - that puts her at massive risk. No - that doesn’t mean to say I should just take every risk and mix with every single person.

There’s a big difference between necessary contact and unnecessary contact and a lot of people don’t seem to get that.

I don't know anyone who has been called for the vaccine and not had it, but most of my friends are only half-dosed. I'm the same, as is my DP. I am happily meeting up with people now though - I did last summer and no-one had been jabbed then!

What confuses me is that if we are vaccinated, we can still carry the virus and transmit it to others. So we are as much at risk from a vaccinated as an unvaccinated person then, aren't we?
OP, sending empathy and understanding.

@Crackbadger

What confuses me is that if we are vaccinated, we can still carry the virus and transmit it to others. So we are as much at risk from a vaccinated as an unvaccinated person then, aren't we? OP, sending empathy and understanding.

@Crackbadger You are much less likely to transmit the virus if you have been vaccinated. You are not at equal risk from a vaccinated person. www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56904993

@Crackbadger

What confuses me is that if we are vaccinated, we can still carry the virus and transmit it to others. So we are as much at risk from a vaccinated as an unvaccinated person then, aren't we? OP, sending empathy and understanding.

Not really, no.

The vaccines have been shown to greatly reduce the risks to vaccinated people, from partially and a]increasingly so when fully vaccinated.

As said several times, the vaccines reduce your chances of catching covid, of being seriously ill with covid and reduces your likelihood of transmitting covid to others.