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Original poster

What do you do if a family member is an anti-vaxxer?

379 replies

BrutusMcDogface · 01/08/2021 15:17

I’m so angry with my sibling for putting my parents at risk. So very, very angry.

WWYD? Avoid him? Avoid them?!

Can’t believe he’s being so selfish!

OP posts:
riveted1 · 01/08/2021 19:15

But genuinely @bumbleymummy, it seems that even if it was found vaccination still reduced transmission in infectious people with delta and this finding was replicated and generalisable, you'd simply jump onto another argument that non-vulnerable people should not be vaccinated against COVID?

Sadsiblingatsea · 01/08/2021 19:16

You just have to try to understand that many people do not agree with you.
If you and your parents have been vaxxed, why are you so worried? Unless you think they don’t work of course.

MuchTooTired · 01/08/2021 19:19

I just agree to disagree with the anti vaxxers in my immediate family. It’s horrible, because I feel that I can’t be around them for long periods of time indoors as it’s not safe, won’t go and stay with them etc. Other than that, I’m not sure what I can do! I respect their right to have a different opinion to mine, and they mine, but it’s horrible really as it’s come as a bit of shock their thinking on things.

bumbleymummy · 01/08/2021 19:20

@riveted1

But genuinely *@bumbleymummy*, it seems that even if it was found vaccination still reduced transmission in infectious people with delta and this finding was replicated and generalisable, you'd simply jump onto another argument that non-vulnerable people should not be vaccinated against COVID?
Should not be? Where have I said that? I don’t think young, non-vulnerable people need to be in order to lift restrictions. I don’t agree with coercing people into having a vaccine they don’t necessarily need or want and I don’t agree with vaccine passports.

Do you have those links to the other studies you mentioned?

Narutocrazyfox · 01/08/2021 19:23

Don't worry about it. It's none of your business what he or she chooses to do with regards to vaccines.

The vaccine does not stop you catching the virus, or spreading it to others, so even vaccinated people are still a risk to those around them.

This hysteria around it is so incredibly OTT!

TheLovelinessOfDemons · 01/08/2021 19:26

@bumbleymummy It is exactly that choice for some people, and my DS1 will die from it even if he catches now, after being double vaxxed.

riveted1 · 01/08/2021 19:28

Here is a summary of the most of the studies looking at transmission in infectious people:
www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02054-z

As I have said twice, but you seem to have misunderstood, we need further studies on delta before making definitive conclusions. You have taken a single report to state "there is no difference in transmission", when that's not the view of anyone scientifically literate who has read it, or indeed the actual authors. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence (especially in an underpowered study) etc etc.

And yup, you have repeatedly claimed vaccination is those non-vulnerable is not necessary, jumping on all the usual bandwagons regarding COVID-minimising and misinformation regarding vaccine effectiveness/safety to do so.

riveted1 · 01/08/2021 19:28

^ to @bumbleymummy

Flowerlane · 01/08/2021 19:29

@Wolframhart

I won’t socialize with anyone who is unvaccinated. They do have the choice to skip the jab, but should be staying home as much as possible to avoid endangering other people.
Do you ask every single person that you mix with if they are vaccinated? If so how rude of you to ask someone’s medical information. Hmm

And as for your last line that the unvaccinated should be staying at home as much as possible…that’s one of the most ridiculous lines I have read on here! Well done👏👏

quizqueen · 01/08/2021 19:32

What are you going to say if you- the double vaccinated- are the one to pass covid to your parents! Look at the statistics at how many of those in hospital have had both jabs.

bumbleymummy · 01/08/2021 19:37

@riveted1

Here is a summary of the most of the studies looking at transmission in infectious people: www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02054-z

As I have said twice, but you seem to have misunderstood, we need further studies on delta before making definitive conclusions. You have taken a single report to state "there is no difference in transmission", when that's not the view of anyone scientifically literate who has read it, or indeed the actual authors. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence (especially in an underpowered study) etc etc.

And yup, you have repeatedly claimed vaccination is those non-vulnerable is not necessary, jumping on all the usual bandwagons regarding COVID-minimising and misinformation regarding vaccine effectiveness/safety to do so.

It would be hard for me to misunderstand something you didn’t actually say.

*This isn't true

One study from the CDC failed to find a significant difference in transmission (the one that is being widely touted right now), however there was a reduction.

Several other studies have demonstrated reduced transmission so I'm not sure why you're picking up the one that shows the opposite.*

Those ‘several other studies’ are based on data irt other variants, as I’m sure you’re aware.

And yes, I have said that it is not necessary for non-vulnerable groups to be vaccinated in order to lift restrictions (which is clear because we lifted restrictions before the most vulnerable groups were vaccinated and cases and hospitalisations and deaths still dropped) but that’s not the same as ‘non-vulnerable people shouldn’t have it’, is it? :)

Greenbather · 01/08/2021 19:38

I would just avoid being with him as much as possible.

FflosFfantastig · 01/08/2021 19:39

Look at all the posts that say I'm double 'jabbed' and still got covid of which there have been loads in recent weeks, then get some perspective.

Flowerlane · 01/08/2021 19:40

If your parents are happy to continue seeing him then that’s their choice.

TheGirlWhoWantedToBeGod · 01/08/2021 19:41

Some of the responses on here saying OP should cut contact with her family, or that the unvaccinated should stay at home, are absolutely ridiculous. What is it about covid they has caused people to lose all sense of rationality?

Humans live in societies and our actions impact each other, for positive or negative. In your life you might have given someone the flu which then killed their 90yr old grandmother. Your long haul plane flight might have been the tipping point that caused a village in Bangladesh to flood due to climate change. Your smoking 20 years ago might’ve caused someone passive smoking to develop lung cancer etc.

I really think the ‘personalisation’ of blame when in comes to covid is damaging a lot of people’s mental health. Unfortunately we are all damaging each other in a myriad of ways, and to focus on covid at the expense of all the others seems short-sighted, if not hypocritical, to me.

Ridingthegravytrain · 01/08/2021 19:42

It’s outrageous. I’d go NC if I were you. I mean how selfish they decided not to vaccinate themselves in order to protect your vaccinated parents from the disease they are vaccinated against.

AbsolutelyPatsy · 01/08/2021 19:42

we were all pretty cross with a anti vaxxer family member, i said they must have been living under a stone!
then regretted my outburst and no more was said.
it was an awkward time, i decided less said the better,
then they had the vaccine.

ChloeCrocodile · 01/08/2021 19:43

It’s horrible, because I feel that I can’t be around them for long periods of time indoors as it’s not safe, won’t go and stay with them etc.

Fair enough that it's your choice, but your post seems to come across like you are still very worried about getting ill despite having had the vaccine. If you and your immediate family are vaccinated and don't have compromised immune systems then the vaccine you yourself have taken means you almost certainly won't get particularly ill even if you do catch it. For the vast majority of vaccinated people covid is no more than a mild cold type illness.

As I said, if you just don't want to take any risk at all that's fair enough.

spooney21 · 01/08/2021 19:44

I have 2 family members refusing to take the jab. One a sibling and the other a parent. I respect their decision even though I don't agree with it. Parent has also become a conspiracy theorist though, was before Covid, even more now. Now that things are opening up I have booked and event for parents to attend and organisers are now saying proof of jab or lft. Parent refusing to take lft which to me is ridiculous. They're also due to have a medical procedure in 2 weeks where a pcr is needed, they're saying that they're not sure if they'll have procedure as don't believe in the test 🤷‍♀️

I'm not going to stop seeing my family members but I'm also not going to limit what I do and where I go just because they won't get jab or take a test.

Dustyboots · 01/08/2021 19:51

In real life everyone I know has been vaccinated and trusts that it will protect them from serious illness

Not the case. There are many unvaccinated who are terrified of the judgement and vitriol - so keep schtum or pretend they’ve had it.

I’m one of them.

urghicba · 01/08/2021 19:52

He's not selfish at all. He's made a decision about his own body. It's his choice.

EmmaOvary · 01/08/2021 19:56

Why are people still claiming, after all this time, that the vaccine doesn't reduce transmission when we know that it does?

Spotthedog91 · 01/08/2021 20:01

@EmmaOvary really? Most people I know are vaccinated and caught and spread it amongst them all. The media says it reduces transmission... But just look around you.

RolloTomassi · 01/08/2021 20:01

It's entirely his choice, it's irrelevant whether you agree with his reasons. He probably doesn't need it medically, and the rest of your family are protected by your own jabs so all good. Blows my mind that siblings would fall out over it.

EmmaOvary · 01/08/2021 20:04

@Spotthedog91 The media? Or...the science?