Will I get an exemption from the doctor?

[Snowmanslippers]

I’m 32 and I’ve not had any jabs yet. The main reason being my extreme anxiety about anything going into my body. I don’t take the contraceptive pill because of my fear of medication, it takes me hours, if not days to take antibiotics when I’ve been prescribed them. I even avoid medications such as ibuprofen or codeine.

I’m not an anti vaxxer, but I’m genuinely terrified, I’ve got a real phobia of things entering my body.
I also have a fear of needles which doesn’t help.

I’m aware that vaccine passports are going to become a thing soon and that you’ll need them to enter most venues. I have a 4 year old son and I don’t want him to miss out on things because I’m unvaccinated. But I physically can’t do it.
I don’t think it’s a conspiracy theory or 5G or anything like that…

I’m just wondering if they’ll allow me an exemption on mental health grounds. But I’m not hopeful. Feeling really low and scared today.

I have had covid, I was obviously unvaccinated and it was just like a mild chest infection for me, with some nausea.
But I know that won’t be enough when it comes to the vaccine passports.

Please don’t judge me, I’m not an anti vaxxer, my son has had all his jabs.

Talk to your GP and see what they can do regarding providing an exemption for you. No one on MN can say either way.

In the mean time, a negative LFT is still accepted.

I hear you though, OP. I am in a similar situation (needle phobia).

I’m not unsympathetic but how did you manage to give birth. Did you have no medical assistance at all? Assuming that you did , could you try and channel whatever helped you then .

Why are people going on about how she gave birth?
Giving birth is horrendous but a completely natural process. Loads of people manage to get through it without any pain relief or intervention.
On here people pull apart someone's life to see if it tallies with their post, it's ridiculous.

Op I'd suggest an appointment with your GP to speak through your feelings and fears, none of us would know if this is an exemption but the pp did highlight the exemption for autistic individuals so your GP may know if you fall into this category.

I don't think it's to see if it tallies; it's to see how she managed to cope with childbirth and to ask if she could use the same strategies here. You have to give blood numerous times during pregnancy and even the least medically interventionist birth involves some intervention.

You are lucky enough to have good health but illness or accident can affect anyone at any time. Better to try and tackle your phobia now while you are healthy than wait until something happens.
Covid for example, can land anyone in hospital and even if you are not in ICU you would need cannulas, blood tests and a long list of drugs.

See your GP now and get a plan in place to help you deal with this.

The wording in the act mandating vaccines in care homes is "that for clinical reasons B should not be vaccinated with any authorised vaccine"

I appreciate this isn't about care homes but we haven't seen the vaccine passport legislation yet, so I think that's the nearest guide we have.

Whilst your anxiety sounds really difficult to manage i think it would be hard to argue that 'for clinical reasons you should not be vaccinated...' so I think that an exemption is unlikely.

I echo those who have said speak with your GP.

@Ontopofthesunset

I don't think it's to see if it tallies; it's to see how she managed to cope with childbirth and to ask if she could use the same strategies here. You have to give blood numerous times during pregnancy and even the least medically interventionist birth involves some intervention.

Yes this was exactly it . Its difficult to give birth, receive antenatal care in this country without having to have some medical intervention. i was just wondering if the OP could use some of the same strategies/thought processes.

You need therapy and you need to have it done. God help you if you become ill and you need urgent medication that you can’t say no to . I used to have a massive and I mean massive needle phobia so much that I couldn’t even let them use the so called numbing cream on me it was a Straigjt up no, then I got ill and had no choice I had to have constant blood tests and blood transfusions for 8 months. Believe me they’ll be a trigger you just need to find it.

I used to be pretty sympathetic to people not having the vaccine due to anxiety but having now seen so many phobic people struggle through and eventually mange at our vaccine centre I am becoming less so. If you don't feel able to have the vaccine then at times when we need to impose restrictions you will need to stay away from crowded places where a passport is needed.

Anxiety, even severe anxiety, isn’t on the list of exemptions so it’s very unlikely your GP will feel it’s appropriate to provide one.
However I’d still get in touch to see what help Is available - have you tried CBT, desensitisation etc? There may be a wait but it sounds like this is having a big affect on your life and going forwards you’re likely to need more health tests, interventions, medication etc so it would be good now to start getting some help.

I should have added - a lot of patients at our surgery with health phobia / needle phobia have been nudged by the Covid situation to get some help and have had really good outcomes - it just getting their jabs etc but engaging much better with healthcare more generally.

I would forget about the vaccine per se right now (as you are young and hopefully healthy) and focus on getting some therapy / hypnosis/ whatever it takes to allow you to take anxiety meds as otherwise this must behaving a huge impact on your life and will therefore impact your child's as he grows up. He will probably learn your fear from you.

Plus if you were in an accident or needed an operation or heaven forbid developed cancer it could needlessly shorten your life. Life must already be harder for you every time you are I'll if you struggle with ibuprofen and antibiotics.

If you can get to the point you can take anxiety meds that will open the door to better treating any illnesses you get with ibuprofen and make vaccines, dentist trips, smears? Etc seem less worrying. Please see your GP and be honest with them about how this affecting you.

"Anxiety, even severe anxiety, isn’t on the list of exemptions so it’s very unlikely your GP will feel it’s appropriate to provide one."

There isn't an exact list of exemptions. ASD can be in some circumstances.

Your best strategy is to try to get covid, then you'll get a pass without having to put anything dangerous in your body, other than the SARS-Cov2 virus.

Every GP surgery in our local area (and others I have worked in) have it as a rule that we don’t write exemptions for Covid vaccines.

Exemptions are not legally needed yet because people can self cert but when they are, will be done via a form obtained from 119 and given to the GP, midwife or relevant specialist who will decide. There will be some people who cannot be vaccinated.

@Ontopofthesunset

I don't think it's to see if it tallies; it's to see how she managed to cope with childbirth and to ask if she could use the same strategies here. You have to give blood numerous times during pregnancy and even the least medically interventionist birth involves some intervention.

Absolutely this. On here, people (PP….) like to think the worst of people.

@MrsBillyNoJagNoMates

OP Here are the possible reasons for medical exemptions as per government website. If you feel your ASD fits into description below please go an discuss it with your GP Actually I think you should discuss it with your GP anyway, he might help with your anxiety.

The possible reasons for exemptions are limited. Examples that might be reasons for a medical exemption are:

people receiving end of life care where vaccination is not in the person’s best interests
people with learning disabilities or autistic individuals, or people with a combination of impairments where vaccination cannot be provided through reasonable adjustments
a person with severe allergies to all currently available vaccines
those who have had an adverse reaction to the first dose (for example, myocarditis)
Other medical conditions could also allow you to get a medical exemption.

Short-term exemptions will also be available for those with short-term medical conditions and as an option that some pregnant women may choose to take.

This list is actually quite broad and vague, plus it specifically mentions autism, so I think you should qualify for an exemption OP.

So sorry you are going through this. It’s truly awful. Vaccine passports are a human rights abomination. Nobody should have to undergo any medical procedure they do not consent to for any reasons. End of story.

Anyone who is legitimately unable to have a vaccine should absolutely be exempt. I hope this is sorted for you, OP. Take care.

I do agree with the others that you’d benefit from discussions with your GP because this must be impacting upon your life and you deserve help.

A friend with a horribly severe, lifelong needle phobia (she once had a panic attack so bad she was in hospital for three days when she took her son to a secondary open day and accidentally walked into a DT room where they had students seeing) was told by her GP that as it wasn’t a clinical reason she wouldn’t be exempt.

She ended up getting a prescription for a sedative, taking that and some CBD oil, then arranging with her GP that she’d go into a room, face the wall and wouldn’t have to see the needle at all. She used tattoo numbing cream on her arm in advance so she felt the bare minimum - but she has a great GP who worked with her on this!

@PinkDaffodil2

I should have added - a lot of patients at our surgery with health phobia / needle phobia have been nudged by the Covid situation to get some help and have had really good outcomes - it just getting their jabs etc but engaging much better with healthcare more generally.

I am glad to hear that. I can't even get help for my suicidal ideation, let alone needle phobia. There is not a lot of help there at the moment.

It’s not on the list of exemptions OP so you won’t get one on those grounds. But you should talk with your GP about how best to manage your anxiety around the vaccine if you are in theory keen to have it done but struggling to make yourself do it,

No your GP won’t give you an exemption for this. But they will help you with your anxieties so it’s definitely worth seeing them for that. You don’t have to live like this.

I work in a clinic and the number of people coming in saying they are needle phobic or have anxiety so can’t get the vaccine, but they have tattoos, have had kids (so had blood tests and possible cannulas) and have piercings

Sorry OP - I don't really want to put it in my body either or my kids but the fact is without it life is going to be difficult. I'm afraid I don't see any justification for you getting a pass