I have to have the vaccine or I loose my job

[wingingmumlife]

I am absolutely prepared to get flamed for this but I am really worrying.

I am 22 year years old, healthy and unvaccinated (by choice).

I am not anti-vax, I have had every single vaccine from being a child to now and my daughter is up to date with all of hers too.

I work in dentistry and myself and 4 other colleagues have been told we have to be fully vaccinated by April 2022 otherwise, we lose our jobs.

I just can't believe it has come to this. I feel like my human rights have been taken away. I'm not a conspiracy theorist and I am a big believer in science but as a genuine question ... Can someone please tell me why this vaccine is being pushed so much to the point where soon we probably won't be able to even go into a restaurant without having this vaccine?

I have to wear AGP PPE every single day for every single patient but this still isn't enough?

I test myself every single day, but this still isn't enough?

Can someone please help it make sense to me? That is a genuine question.

Im not looking for an argument and I'm not wanting anyone to tell me "how stupid I am" I just want this to make sense.

For anyone wondering why I haven't had the vaccine - the main reason being, I have severe health anxiety, ironic I know since most would think I'd jump for the vaccine, but at the moment I'm more scared of this vaccine then I am of catching Covid itself.

I just feel sick to my stomach at the thought of not having a job unless I have this vaccine, it really doesn't sit well with me but everyone on here seems to be supporting it?

I just don't get what people are so worried about. I was a little bit hesitant at first, sure. Brand new vaccines, developed faster than any others before. I've taken others in my life but they've all been around for years or decades even.

Now though? They've been giving them for over a year (including the trial times) and in the general population for 11 months. Seven BILLION doses have been given worldwide to BILLIONS of people. How can you still be worried. 99.999999% of these people are totally fine.

It’s not about being selfish, it’s about being scared.

But the vast majority of people have reservations / fears.

However they look at the alternative (everyone being too scared to get vaxxed, unmitigated covid overwhelming our health system) and know they have to do the right thing.

In the OP's case that might involve medical help for her anxiety.

Not expecting everyone else to get over their fears so they don't have to.

Only got to page 5 and it’s hugely disheartening to see how much store people set by comments from @User3443525643 who seemingly has so much knowledge of medicine and dentistry but never learned the definition of anecdotal evidence….

OP you are such a valued member of the dental team and nurses are in such short supply and we NEED you to stay in the profession due to huge shortages so I really hope you can work through this anxiety and keep the job! You sound lovely x

Also @User3443525643 tell me more about how my job is like working in a beauty salon when I’m surgically removing impacted molars with huge infections for a band 2 on the NHS while greedy principles like your husband exploit poor nurses like the OP by paying them peanuts.

OP is right - we don’t have enough dental nurses or other healthcare staff to be choosy about vaccine status!

people with health anxiety are not mad they struggle in an area that unfortunately at the moment people have little sympathy for and think it’s fair game to give abuse to.

Saying someone might need a mental health assessment is not saying they're 'mad' or being abusive. You were the one who made that leap. If someone is struggling with any kind of anxiety to the extent that it impacts their daily lives then there is nothing wrong with seeking assessment and help.

If I think I might be developing a UTI I go to the GP. If I have a persistent physical ailment that won't clear up on its own, I go to the GP. If I injure myself badly I go to A&E. If I can feel my depression and anxiety levels rising I go the GP. It's the same thing.

If you want sympathy for this, talk about it openly to help destigmatise it. Don't clam up, live with it crippling you and then tell people asking if you want help that it's fine, you're not 'mad'. You're not fine, you're ill. And I know that trying to get medical help when the source of your anxiety is your health is exceptionally difficult, but people suggesting you might benefit from help are not calling you 'mad'. You made that leap.

@BertramLacey

people with health anxiety are not mad they struggle in an area that unfortunately at the moment people have little sympathy for and think it’s fair game to give abuse to.

Saying someone might need a mental health assessment is not saying they're 'mad' or being abusive. You were the one who made that leap. If someone is struggling with any kind of anxiety to the extent that it impacts their daily lives then there is nothing wrong with seeking assessment and help.

If I think I might be developing a UTI I go to the GP. If I have a persistent physical ailment that won't clear up on its own, I go to the GP. If I injure myself badly I go to A&E. If I can feel my depression and anxiety levels rising I go the GP. It's the same thing.

If you want sympathy for this, talk about it openly to help destigmatise it. Don't clam up, live with it crippling you and then tell people asking if you want help that it's fine, you're not 'mad'. You're not fine, you're ill. And I know that trying to get medical help when the source of your anxiety is your health is exceptionally difficult, but people suggesting you might benefit from help are not calling you 'mad'. You made that leap.

I think you may be confused here. I was responding to a poster who suggested that the OP needed a mental health assessment explaining that it’s not the case, I did not say that poster was personally being abusive for saying it I was referring to the responses on this thread.

In terms of health anxiety it’s not as simple as addressing symptoms, yes indeed I would also go to the GP for a UTI, I might not like it but the symptoms would cause me to seek help. In terms of vaccines because the short/longer term data is still emerging, for someone with health anxiety it’s too much as they might end up in a very bad place from the worry of it and certainly won’t be helping the NHS with the cost that would result from multiple GP visits, tests and referrals. It’s not something that can be fixed overnight and if you look at the NHS advice on the condition the most that’s on offer is CBT.

This is the future, "You do what we tell you" OR ELSE

1. We sack you;
2. We make it difficult, in some cases, impossible for you to travel;

Just like announcements these days "For your safety and security, CCTV is in use in all London Underground"

Prepare to lose friends, we have, as we question the vaccine. Having had COVID and displaying a certain count of Antibodies, while Vaccinated people having no clue of their Antibody levels. I think it may make more sense for people who are worried, to go and get their Antibody count tested. Tried in U.K. on NHS, not easy. Did the Antibody test abroad.

@HarrowToCroydon

This is the future, "You do what we tell you" OR ELSE

1. We sack you;
2. We make it difficult, in some cases, impossible for you to travel;

Just like announcements these days "For your safety and security, CCTV is in use in all London Underground"

Prepare to lose friends, we have, as we question the vaccine. Having had COVID and displaying a certain count of Antibodies, while Vaccinated people having no clue of their Antibody levels. I think it may make more sense for people who are worried, to go and get their Antibody count tested. Tried in U.K. on NHS, not easy. Did the Antibody test abroad.

We do not know what levels of antibodies indicate a level of immunity that would prevent infection/transmission/you getting severely ill

This cannot be used to inform policy and recommend that someone doesn't need to be vaccinated (yet)

@HarrowToCroydon

This is the future, "You do what we tell you" OR ELSE

1. We sack you;
2. We make it difficult, in some cases, impossible for you to travel;

Just like announcements these days "For your safety and security, CCTV is in use in all London Underground"

Prepare to lose friends, we have, as we question the vaccine. Having had COVID and displaying a certain count of Antibodies, while Vaccinated people having no clue of their Antibody levels. I think it may make more sense for people who are worried, to go and get their Antibody count tested. Tried in U.K. on NHS, not easy. Did the Antibody test abroad.

The antibodies count is a scam. Tell me what the acceptable level of antibodies to be declared "immune" is. You can not because no one knows. They can tell you if you have some antibodies, definitely, but they cannot tell you what it means, if you will catch covid or if they will last.

PS: and you do not believe CCTVs are useful?? Shocking.

It's CCTV and dash-cam footage that caught Sarah Everard's murderer. Yet you feel it's a problem, @HarrowToCroydon ?

18 pages later and, to me, the cause of concern of this post is mainly the idea of a nurse, a person who should have some medical knowledge and interest in data and scientific facts, is actually following the fears spread by no-vax groups....
OP, from the bottom of my heart, please try to do some research, read scientific books and papers, talk with medical doctors, follow scientists on social media...
Your fear of x-rays considering you work in a dental surgery is a bit random, and the fear of the vaccine but not of LONG COVID is puzzling.

*This is the future, "You do what we tell you" OR ELSE

1. We sack you;
2. We make it difficult, in some cases, impossible for you to travel;*

(1) This isn't a question of sacking everyone who does not have the vaccine. It's a question of sacking/ not employing people FROM JOBS WHICH INVOLVE REGULAR CONTACT WITH VERY VULNERABLE PEOPLE (hospital and care workers) or extremely close contact with people's noses and mouths (dentists).

(2) People talk about restrictions on their freedom to travel or attend events if they are unvaccinated - but what about the freedom of people who are even slightly vulnerable through age or chronic conditions, to travel or attend events or indeed to go to the dentist?Those who cry 'freedom at all costs!' are probably not going to kill or seriously injure vulnerable people, unless they work directly with them, because most vulnerable people will choose to avoid travel and events and possibly even the dentist, rather than risk their lives. But the Freedom posse ARE restricting the more vulnerable people's freedom!

I have some sympathy with the OP, because severe anxiety is indeed a medical condition, worse than many cases of Covid. But I do not have much sympathy with those who value Not Being Told What to Do by the government, over other people's health needs. And I certainly don't have much faith in our current government!

It's truly puzzling to me just how many Covid minimisers appear to suffer from hypochondria.

@Dishhh

It's truly puzzling to me just how many Covid minimisers appear to suffer from hypochondria.

How has covid been minimised on this thread?

Keep on calling it hypochondria if it makes you feel better.

All this thread demonstrates the lack of understanding of the condition.

@userperuser

How has covid been minimised on this thread?
Keep on calling it hypochondria if it makes you feel better.
All this thread demonstrates the lack of understanding of the condition.

This board in general has plenty of covid minimisers. I wasn't talking about this thread in particular, although I found an amusing correlation between minimisers and hypochondriacs.

Where I live, 'health anxiety' is medically termed 'hypochondria', so I'm only being accurate. Sorry if it offends you. My mother suffered it from severely, so don't lecture me about lack of understanding. Thanks.

I found an amusing correlation between minimisers and hypochondriacs

Feel free to post the link to your findings on this study.

When somebody uses the term hypochondria it’s usually due to their advanced years which makes sense at the unwillingness to accept this as a genuine reason for not wanting the vaccine.

@closedown

I just don't get what people are so worried about. I was a little bit hesitant at first, sure. Brand new vaccines, developed faster than any others before. I've taken others in my life but they've all been around for years or decades even.

Now though? They've been giving them for over a year (including the trial times) and in the general population for 11 months. Seven BILLION doses have been given worldwide to BILLIONS of people. How can you still be worried. 99.999999% of these people are totally fine.

The thing is these vaccines are not "brand new" as is suggested . They do not sit about and wait for viruses to happen . They plan these things for years and the Oxford Team eg have been working so that it is a tweaking of an existing vaccine .

@DontWantTheRivalry

I'm not getting why people have this selfish attitude its beyond me.

It’s not about being selfish, it’s about being scared.

Such a lack of empathy on this thread.

People have lost children, spouses, beloved grandparents before their time. People have lost livelihoods, had their mental health left in tatters, missed important milestones and life moments.

I don't have empathy for someone who's bought into conspiracy theories and is a bit of an idiot.

@ddl1

*This is the future, "You do what we tell you" OR ELSE

1. We sack you;
2. We make it difficult, in some cases, impossible for you to travel;*

(1) This isn't a question of sacking everyone who does not have the vaccine. It's a question of sacking/ not employing people FROM JOBS WHICH INVOLVE REGULAR CONTACT WITH VERY VULNERABLE PEOPLE (hospital and care workers) or extremely close contact with people's noses and mouths (dentists).

(2) People talk about restrictions on their freedom to travel or attend events if they are unvaccinated - but what about the freedom of people who are even slightly vulnerable through age or chronic conditions, to travel or attend events or indeed to go to the dentist?Those who cry 'freedom at all costs!' are probably not going to kill or seriously injure vulnerable people, unless they work directly with them, because most vulnerable people will choose to avoid travel and events and possibly even the dentist, rather than risk their lives. But the Freedom posse ARE restricting the more vulnerable people's freedom!

I have some sympathy with the OP, because severe anxiety is indeed a medical condition, worse than many cases of Covid. But I do not have much sympathy with those who value Not Being Told What to Do by the government, over other people's health needs. And I certainly don't have much faith in our current government!

Oh, they really don't care. They think the vulnerable will die anyway and it's no skin off their nose if someone ELSE's freedom is restricted. As long as they can do whatever they want without obstruction, they really, really don't care.

I completely feel for you after reading your posts. I understand your thoughts on health anxiety, I myself have general anxiety and can tie myself in knots worrying about various outcomes and which one is the "least frightening" of them all.
If I have understood you correctly here, you are under stress because the vaccine obligation is pushing you to make a decision, when you felt "safer" in your non proactive stance. You feel backed into a corner. You do sound self aware of your anxiety though. Are you? It's not a critical question just one that I have found helps me. I am aware of what my personal rational thoughts are on a given topic, and also aware of how I would like to be/ choose/do things if this awful anxiety weren't holding me back. For example can you separate what you believe is best from what you feel capable of right now? In your case, if you personally didn't suffer from anxiety would you take the vaccination? This type of thinking helps me separate what I push myself to do. I wouldn't push myself, knowing all the energy it requires to do something I don't believe in. Seeing as you have had all your other vaccinations it seems like you believe they are the right thing to do in general. I do know that anxiety is not rational, but sometimes it can help me to think like this. Personally I wouldn't be able to overcome my main anxiety like this, but I still use it to try to push myself on the issues I struggle slightly less with. Best of luck. I live abroad and have had both vaccinations as have both my children.

@userperuser

I found an amusing correlation between minimisers and hypochondriacs

Feel free to post the link to your findings on this study.

When somebody uses the term hypochondria it’s usually due to their advanced years which makes sense at the unwillingness to accept this as a genuine reason for not wanting the vaccine.

I wrote "on this thread". This thread has shown the lengths some people will go to avoid vaccines - even fake anxiety 🤷🏻‍♀️ That would be disgusting, if so, wouldn't it?

And the use of the term 'hypochondria', I already said, is common where I live in both social and medical circles. I accept it is not in the UK.

It would also be disgusting to accuse somebody of ‘fake’ anxiety without evidence wouldn’t it?

My health anxiety is not fake. My family joke about the fact that if my doctors surgery moved they would need just one lorry to transfer all of my records.

I can make fun of it myself but that's only because it sounds absurd to those who don't understand it or find it "puzzling".

@wingingmumlife

My health anxiety is not fake. My family joke about the fact that if my doctors surgery moved they would need just one lorry to transfer all of my records.

I can make fun of it myself but that's only because it sounds absurd to those who don't understand it or find it "puzzling".

I think a lot of posters have empathised with your health anxiety and why that is a valid reason to choose to not to be vaccinated.

But your recent posts seem to give many other (classically anti-vaccine) updates, and you don't seem to have any understanding towards why it is benefical for healthcare staff to have it included in the vaccines required for roles with close patient contact.

@Tealightsandd

Care is holistic. Mental and physical. It's not just about washing, dressing, medicating.

Our most vulnerable should be and feel safe in care homes and hospitals.

And now here we are. The consequences of relying for far too long on the exploitation of cheap labour.

It needs to change. We need to attract the right people for such important jobs. Decent pay and good working conditions.

Unsafe care (whether staff shortages or unvaccinated staff) is not care.

Best post on the thread!