Thoughts on the non-vaccinated!

[UnluckyMe]

Why have people been so critical of those who have chosen not to be vaccinated against covid 19?

I've read all sorts of comments about those, like me, who chose not to be vaccinated calling us selfish, uneducated and so on. There seems to be a massive lack of respect for what others choose to do with their body and I'm just curious as go why people feel the need to make comments about it. There are obviously many who don't and I do acknowledge that, my post is more directed to thoughts on why the other side do (feels very playground bully like to me).

The way I see it is everyone has a choice - respect that choice and move on with life rather than throwing insults at one another or dwell on something out of your own control.

I'd also like to confirm i do not own tin foil hat, expect the end of days soon or believe everyone will drop dead in 6 months / will transform into magneto from X-Men (all those coins sticking to people's arms!)

I have followed the rules down to a tee but have just chosen not to be vaccinated at present. Maybe I will change my mind, maybe I won't 🤷‍♀️ who knows.

I am genuinely curious - I read on another post "all vulnerable and sensible people have had the jab" as a comment which riled me a bit too! I like to think I'm pretty sensible but clearly this Mumsnetter thinks otherwise 😆😆

@LonginesPrime

Hell, one comment on this thread is someone refusing to see their unvaccinated friend for lunch.

Well, that's the person's choice, isn't it? They're allowed to determine their own boundaries, in exactly the same way that people are free to choose whether or not to have the vaccine.

I don't see the logic in refusing to see a friend for lunch because they know they are not vaccinated, yet happy to sit next to a stranger on the bus who they have no idea what their vaccine status is.

@MrsDThomas

Im vaccinated. DH isn’t nor is DD who is 19.

Both adults who can make their own decisions. Im not critical

...and that is how it is done!

I really don’t care if you choose to get vaccinated or not, your choice, all I ask is don’t come moaning when you catch it feel like shit, or need the nhs

I can only state why I had it and that’s because I have extremely vulnerable and just plain old vulnerable family members, because by having the jab I am helping towards herd immunity that will protect all, because I dont want to put others at risk, because I want the country to open up again, the nhs to start working again as it did before the pandemic, schools to open full time for kids

Just as a matter of interest what do you think would be happening on July 19th if we all thought like you?

To be fair, I have seen similar things from people who don't agree with a friend/relative decision to not get vaccinated

This is more understandable.

We have been inundated with news about covid for a year and a half now, and the dangers that go hand in hand with it. We have seen pictures from Italy, from India. We have heard stories from within the NHS. We have had our freedoms curtailed. I can see how some people might be so overwhelmed by it all, that they are genuinely scared.

Yes, it's an overreaction. But I can see why someone could easily get to that point.

Leaving your partner because they choose to protect themselves? Maybe there are similar amounts of fear-inducing anti-vax stories doing the rounds. I haven't seen it, but I guess it's possible.

@WitchQueenOfDarkness

I have one friend who has chosen not to be vaccinated and is struggling to understand why I won't have lunch with her.

It's her decision of course but I also have the right not to knowingly put myself at risk.

How are you putting yourself at risk if you have had vacs?

It's your choice not to get vacinated, the problem you face is that Covid will not dissapear so the herd immunity affect for those vaccinated will be just not being hospitalised, those that are unvaccinated though will have tougher conditions to face as the new variants take hold and everyone apart from the flat earthers have realised there will never be a zero covid situation.

It's your body, your choice, your choice in this situation doesn't rely on herd immunity though.

You are free to do whatever you like with your own body, OP.

Other people are free to try and make sure your choices don't damage them, or others, because you are putting them at more risk if you come into contact with them.

Clearly you want to change other people's opinions or you wouldn't have posted. I'm idly wondering if you're just having fun being provocative or paid for these types of posts. What else is there to gain?

The difficulty I have is that the people who choose not to do what's in their power to stop the transmission of infectious diseases are not always the people who have to face the consequences. It's not all about you.

We don’t know much about the long term effects of Covid 19 either. It hasn’t been studied for years either.
We do know the virus can kill, cause learn term impacts, is linked to a significantly higher rate of still births and other “side effects”

I decided to go with science and get vaccinated.

I don't understand the whole...this vaccine is causing adverse effects argument.

Has anyone here ever had a typhoid vaccine? That is an old vaccine ...First developed in 1896 over a century ago.

The current modern typhoid vaccine causes the following side effects: redness, or swelling at the site of the injection, fever, and headache, and general discomfort can happen after inactivated typhoid vaccine.

Exactly the same general side effects as the covid vaccine

Side effects aren't proof it is harmful.

I respect your choice not to have the vaccine. But that doesn't stop me thinking that you are utterly selfish.
All medical interventions involve an element of risk. You are relying on everyone else taking that risk to deliver the reduction in disease that will allow normal life to restart.
And then you will say "look - the vaccine wasn't necessary after all - I've been fine.".

So do you think less of those who choose not to be vaccinated?

It doesn't really matter what I think. You've made your choice and presumably you feel sure it's the right one for you.

But if I worked as a HCP or other keyworker, I'd feel this way - with bells on:

If you don't want to be part of the solution, fine, but don't expect me to be amazed with your decision, and if you used a wooden spoon and a saucepan to clap for carers, you can shive your spoon up your arse

How are you putting yourself at risk if you have had vacs?

Vaccinations don't offer 100% protection
They offer a significant level of protection, but when it comes to the Delta variant, only after having both. But not 100%

I've had my first vaccine, currently awaiting my second. I caught Covid a while back so for me I'd just rather do what I can to not catch it in pregnancy. I have no issue with people who choose not to have the vaccine. People are angry and fed up I get that but apparently from 19th July we can just waltz about like normal with no restrictions so that's not exactly going to encourage people who are on the fence to get their vaccine change their mind now.

As long as most people have the vaccine I’m not going to get upset about people who choose not to have it, as long as they don’t go on about “sheep” that can’t think for themselves. There seem to be more and more of these insulting, vocal conspiracy theorists around. I think covid and lockdown have driven a significant percentage of people mad.

@WitchQueenOfDarkness do you know how vaccinations work? She is unlikely to be putting you at risk if you are vaccinated, it’s completely the other way round!

How are you putting yourself at risk if you have had vacs?

Vaccinations aren't a magic cloak. They greatly reduce the risk, but they don't stop it altogether.

That's why it's important that everyone who can, gets one, because lots of people all having the vaccine is safer than one vaccinated person in a cloud of non-vaccinated people.

tl'dr if you don't get vaccinated, your choice, but you need to admit that everyone else who is vaccinate is doing the heavy lifting for you.

I have had my 2 doses, because I have booked my holidays and I am going!

I have no issue with people who decide not to get vaccinated, or not vaccinated yet. It's still a big unknown, we keep getting contradictory information (mustn't mix the vaccines, mixing different vaccines might give MORE immunity, some of the Astra-Zeneca are not on the approved list apparently. ), it's changing daily.

If we are happy with people not bothering with mask or any rule, it's so hypocritical to blame or attack the non-vaccinated.

tl'dr if you don't get vaccinated, your choice, but you need to admit that everyone else who is vaccinate is doing the heavy lifting for you

very true also.

So if you don't want to be part of the solution, fine, but don't expect me to be amazed with your decision, and if you used a wooden spoon and a saucepan to clap for carers, you can shive your spoon up your arse.

Totally agree, bloody selfish not to have it if you can, simple as that.

@Cherryana

The vaccination programme working is because people have to take a possible individual risk for the good of the ‘group’ or in our case, country.

It’s quite a different way of thinking than our individualistic society.

Because so many have had it, it’s entirely plausible that you will benefit from the risk taken by others and you will never had to take the individual risk.

I do think that because I have had the vaccine to suppose that I don’t concern myself with the risk of putting something alien into my body would be incorrect. Of course I do but on balance I think:

• vaccination programmes have saved lives and helped us immensely eg polio, measles etc
• the people first in the queue to have it were healthcare professionals
• same healthcare professionals are not ‘government loving drones’ but highly educated and experienced professionals
• that it works is self evident of because less people are dying since the vaccine has been administered- this is not some government coverup or hoax this is seen in the data.

Incredibly well said.

I firmly believe that in the instance of vaccination for a global pandemic, by choosing not to placing the individual over the greater good is not only selfish but you are choosing to risk the lives of others and the country's economy.

Obviously those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons are exempt.

@CrouchEndTiger12

I don't understand the whole...this vaccine is causing adverse effects argument.

Has anyone here ever had a typhoid vaccine? That is an old vaccine ...First developed in 1896 over a century ago.

The current modern typhoid vaccine causes the following side effects: redness, or swelling at the site of the injection, fever, and headache, and general discomfort can happen after inactivated typhoid vaccine.

Exactly the same general side effects as the covid vaccine

Side effects aren't proof it is harmful.

I think people mean complications such as blood clots and myocarditis when they refer to side-effects.

Depends really.

Those vaccinated where I live are no longer considered ‘high risk’ contacts and won’t be contacted by track and trace. And by proxy won’t be expected to isolate or be tested - they are free to carry on and go to work.

The unvaccinated will be track and traced abs expected to isolate for 10 days regardless of a positive or negative test - there families will need to isolate even if double jabbed.

So that will have an impact on work and the double jabbed will be picking up the slack.

@Valhalla17

It's because we need herd immunity, people refusing the vaccine are being selfish

But if you're vaccinated, why are you so bothered? It's not selfish at all. Those who are vulnerable, have underlying health conditions or those that just want the vaccine have had the jab. So you're all okay anyway after the jabs surely. .or what would be the point. I cant have the jab right now due to an autoimmune issue, but even if I could I probably wouldnt as I think bodies (in the main) have a working immune system. We are creating a future problem.. a bit like antibiotics overuse in my view. Every single person I know that's had the flu vaccine has been very ill with Covid...I dont think it's a coincidence. Ultimately people have a choice and their medical history is no business of yours.

I dont think you've understood what herd immunity is. For the virus to stop being a problem in society we need herd immunity. To achieve herd immunity we need as many people as possible be vaccinated to protect those who cannot be vaccinated (also vaccine isn't 100% effective so it helps protect those who are high risk). The longer the virus keeps spreading amongst people the more it'll mutate and could render the vaccine ineffective. So that's why it's not as simple as I've done it so why care. If we all want the world to go back to normal we should do our bit. Health reasons not to are fair enough, we already know not everyone can have it but we need as many as we can. So yes those that can but refuse I do think are putting their personal reasons above the needs of everyone in the world! Which is everyones choice of course, vaccine shouldn't be forced, but I'm still going to think people who just don't want the vaccine without good reason are being selfish.