People who think they are covid safe after one dose of AZ

[Aquawaters]

I'm not in the UK where the vaccine rollout was much quicker. I'm in an eu country where the rollout was so slow. My own parents in thier 60s. I would consider them to be vulnerable in relation to the virus. They got one dose of the AZ vaccine and the other will be due in July.

Their behaviour since getting the vaccine has been shocking. They are behaving as if they are covid safe and bulletproof against covid with house gatherings and parties with their peers, public transport journeys every week, etc. Its just the level of mixing that they are doing and each time putting themselves at risk for contracting the virus and putting others at risk for passing it on. They are not fully vaccinated and they know its a two dose vaccine. I know many people here would argue and defend them here. In my opinion it's the level of mixing that they are doing without a care in the world for others and consequences of they contract the virus or if they pass it onto unvaccinated people. There's several different mixes going on every week instead of living life with some sort of a balance and perhaps one piece of mixing per week instead of the several they are doing. Just until they are fully vaccinated.

I am vaccinated due to my work and in the number of weeks that I was waiting for the second dose I continued to follow the guidelines as much as possible so that I didn't want to jeopardise the vaccine that I already got. It made sense to give the vacc3as much chance as possible.

Perhaps they feel it's time to get on

Are they following the laws of the country?

Some people use public transport daily for work, including people in their 60s.

Maybe they just want some normality.

They probably think they have wasted enough time. They are probably right. Hope they are enjoying themselves.

Maybe they’re making their own risk assessment and want to finally have some enjoyment in their lives?

Depends on what is open in your country but bars/ restaurants are open here. You can mix indoors.
Many people have been on public transport throughout.

Good for them.

I decided a couple of weeks after onendose I'd rejoin civilisation and shop etc! Im now hugging family and seeing friends within the rules. Its great!

@Ratatattatpat

They probably think they have wasted enough time. They are probably right. Hope they are enjoying themselves.

Me, too.

It depends how high the cases are in your area. Very high cases and you might worry a little about them, but low cases I'd just be pleased they are living their lives again. I feel a bit uncomfortable from your tone that it's less about you worrying, and more about you wanting to control what they do. They are adults; you can let them know your concerns once, then you need to back off and let them live their own lives while you focus on yours.

The first dose is roughly 2/3s of the protection. The second dose is a booster but will never be 100%.

People have to crack on and live. Life is never 100% safe from anything so we may as well enjoy it while the going is half decent.

They're adults, responsible for making their own assessment of risk (as are the people they're meeting up with presumably).

It's highly unlikely we will get to a zero rate of infection, even when the entire adult population has had both doses.
If we're lucky, we'll get to a reasonably low rate of serious illness/hospital admissions.

Self-isolation cannot continue for much longer - many simply cannot afford to miss work for weeks on end.

Children missing school cannot continue for much longer - hundreds of children in our area alone will be off school for nearly 3 weeks, instead of one, at half term.

So, how do they justify what they are doing when you ask them?
Perhaps they really don’t understand that they need to remain cautious until 2 weeks after their second dose. If that’s the case, inform them.
If not, we’ll they’re adults so there’s not much you can do other than expressing your concern and keeping your distance until they are fully vaccinated.

Research last week found one AZ dose gave 30% (ish) protection against the Indian variant (Pfizer was similar). I imagine that was after 3 weeks.
The second dose brought it up to 60% (and 80% for Pfizer).
One dose of either vaccine does not offer adequate protection against the Indian variant to behave as if fully vaccinated and plenty of people in hospital with the Indian variant had received one dose (not two).
That is why second doses are being brought forward.

I guess there are only two possibilities - they don't understand the science, or they do and don;t care. If it is the former you can try to explain why they should follow the national restrictions despeite being vaccinated. If the latter, there is no point saying anything.