Refusing to be vaccinated or tested

[WTFCanIDoAboutThis]

NC

Does anyone know someone who refuses to be vaccinated or tested and if so, how is it impacting their day to day life?

My SO worked with one, didn't affect him in the slightest until him and his pregnant partner and his kids caught covid.
She ended up in the hospital, he booked a vaccine spot the second he was allowed back to work!

My colleague in local authority adult social care has been told she will be redeployed if she doesn't get vaccinated. She has needle phobia plus has fears around long term side effects or blood clots

I'm sorta in this category? I would do a PCR if I had one of the indicated symptoms and I will isolate when required. So I have isolated a few times briefly when awaiting PCR test results for DD and/or DH. I've had one PCR test from when I had a high temperature once when I was unwell. Other than that I do not test - I'm autistic with sensory and dexterity issues related to that, Im therefore unable to carry out the swabbing on myself and I also find the process painful and distressing. I'm due DC2 and Im not sure if I will consent to the hospital testing me - not because I want to be a dickhead because I can see why they do it, but it really is a distressing experience for me and the idea of that whilst in active labour is scary. I'm also not vaccinated - I'm under 30 with no comorbidities so not convinced the risk/benefit analysis justifies vaccination and given this vaccine is still quite new with no long-term data it doesn't seem worth the risk for me. Whilst pregnant I particularly felt uncomfortable about it. I may get vaccinated after the birth but I may not, I haven't decided. I wouldn't say my choices so far have impacted my daily life, apart from a handful of days isolating recently awaiting DD's PCR test results as if I was vaccinated then I wouldn't have had to isolate. But in reality it's unlikely I would have left the house those days anyway given I had DD to look after.

I've not had a pcr test, I had suspected covid in March 20 before tests were widely available. I am double vaccinated. I've done a couple of lft's for specific meetings on demand and been clear. I've not had the 3 main covid symptoms since my original (very mild) brush with it last year.

Personally I ignore any very minor symptoms anyway, I have lots of allergies and some of the many covid symptoms on the Zoe app overlap!

What do you mean refuse to get tested, you have to be told to get tested to refuse, no one is going to come round my house and demand I take a test for me to refuse

@SandAndSea

The wording in the op here speaks volumes.

Why use 'refuses' when you could use 'chooses'?

That is a good point. I always say I have declined the vaccine, not refused.

@SandAndSea

The wording in the op here speaks volumes.

Why use 'refuses' when you could use 'chooses'?

Because my DS (20) wants to travel but refuses to be vaccinated (so can't) and wants to get a job but is scared he's going to be told he has to be tested and says 'no one is sticking anything up my nose'. He has sensory sensitivities. He's also fallen down a YouTube rabbit hole and all his fears are being fed by people who are more influential than me right now.

Two good friends have debilitating long COVID. Neither were seriously ill with the virus. One is early 30s, the other 50. It’s not all about whether it kills you, it’s about the long term health impact.