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Original poster

Arguments amongst friends over the vaccine

156 replies

janicewheeler · 30/12/2021 14:14

Is anyone else's friendship group starting to see a divide regarding the vaccine ?
I've noticed it between my close friend circle. Out of 10 of us only 4 are vaccinated. The other 6 are dead against it for their own beliefs. Which is fine. But it's really starting to bubble over recently I've noticed. I'm worrying that this is just the beginning for a massive divide in society. Being labelled a sheep and worse than the government for being vaccinated... or that anyone who has had Pfizer will be dead within 3 years.

It's got to the point I don't want to tell anyone I've got my booster booked in!!

OP posts:
nojudgementhere · 30/12/2021 14:53

@janicewheeler - I'm really surprised that you're being harrassed for having the vaccine as I haven't seen any evidence of this kind of behavior in real life. I've more seen people keeping very quiet about being unvaccinated as they tend to get blamed and othered for their viewpoint. I think you're always going to find extremists on either side of the argument, so if you've honestly got friends like that in your immediate circle then I'd be tempted to make some new ones!

BertieQueen · 30/12/2021 14:54

@Flapjacker48

Anti vaxers are airheads.
How is that even relevant to what was asked? 🙄

‘Airhead’ seems to suit you more.

MaxNormal · 30/12/2021 14:55

I've been even more reclusive than usual IRL and not spoken to many people as a way to avoid the whole situation.

nojudgementhere · 30/12/2021 14:56

@MaxNormal - Yep, same here. Keeping my head down until this madness passes!

Shedmistress · 30/12/2021 14:57

No. I have one friend who hasn't but she said it once and we have never broached the subject since.

ifonly4 · 30/12/2021 14:58

We're very lucky in that all our family, friends and work colleagues are all vaccinated, as well as DD's friends. However, a couple we know and one set of their parents refused to go to family over xmas as someone wasn't vaccinated.

Cakeandcardio · 30/12/2021 15:00

I've experienced this with a friend. She hasn't had the vaccine (which I would never say anything to her about even though I've had mine) but she seems like she's on a mission to say how stupid everyone is and she's being so brave taking a stand etc etc. It's tiring because she brings it up all the time and it's like a mist comes down and she's trying to convert me to her beliefs etc. I try to avoid her now. So I completely understand and it isn't nice to be treated like an idiot.

Suzi888 · 30/12/2021 15:00

Do you always discuss your medical history with friends? It’s so divisive, don’t discuss it- the end.

2022beesknees · 30/12/2021 15:01

I don't bring the subject up with anyone. The circle I mix in aren't really that bothered about Covid.
But isn't it odd the way some people feel entitled to ask others if they've had the vaccination?!
I saw two strangers talking on the bus the other day and it came up straight away, with one asking the other 'you've been fully jabbed right?' and then this woman proceeded to complain about unvaccinated people killing cancer patients because they're taking NHS resources away from cancer patients.
People are usually so reticent when talking about medical issues but Covid seems to have become the new weather.

IcedCoffeeMilkshake · 30/12/2021 15:02

I have twon friends, a married couple. He is violently anti vax. She is just going along with it as says she could not cope with being brow beaten every day if she had it. Both in their 60s with health conditions and aged parents.

We do discuss it, but they respect me saying that I am desperately keen for my vulnerable under 12 to get vaxxed and I just say they can do what they want with their own body. Over christmas they asked us to theirs on 3 separate occasions and each time I said we were not comfortable being indoors with them (one occasion was a birthday lunch with 12 others). It's never been an issue for them. We catch up for dog walks outside and there is no angst. I think they are wrong, and worry vaguely about what happens if they get it but largely think this is their lookout.

RachC2021 · 30/12/2021 15:04

If someone doesn’t want the vaccine then whilst I’m disappointed about that, I’d not stop speaking to them or anything unless they were also being a twat.

Being a twat is any or all of the following: spreading conspiracy theories, calling those who follow the rules “sheep”, referring to face coverings as “muzzles” or “nappies”, generally trying to persuade others to ignore the rules/guidance/law and/or not get vaccinated.

Omicrone · 30/12/2021 15:05

Funnily enough, the only person I know who hasn't been vaccinated and is quite staunchly anti-Covid vaccine, is also the only person I know who was a staunch Brexiteer. Is there a correlation I wonder?

It doesn't bother me too much, if either subject comes up from her I just smile and nod and change the subject. Some of my other friends get a bit heated about it, but it's just not worth it.

TheCatShatInTheHat · 30/12/2021 15:05

No, all my friends and their partners / kids are vaccinated.

Work is a different story though. Fuckwit's galore there. One doesn't believe Covid even exists let alone talking about the vaccines. Only 5 out of 18 are vaccinated.

Wallywobbles · 30/12/2021 15:05

In my wider group of friends the original divide was brexit. Vaccination seems to have more of a reuniting force. (Along with menopause).

Zilla1 · 30/12/2021 15:06

Have your friends said whether it's three years from first vaccination, completing the primary course or boosters? Is it only Moderna, Pfizer or AZ or some esoteric sequence of these? The reason I ask is that every conspiracy theorist I have to speak to has convenient sequential amnesia about their predictions. Pension firms will presumably be happy though do the Life Assurance companies know and have they factored it in to their actuarial projections?

TheVampiresWife · 30/12/2021 15:15

I know someone who has always seemed eminently sensible. However, she thinks that vaccinations do absolutely nothing and have only been 'invented' so governments and their 'big pharma cronies' can make money. She's hinted that she thinks covid is also made up, for the same reasons.

Happily she's not a close friend. I couldn't be doing with close friends like that.

HereticFanjo · 30/12/2021 15:17

Happily my family and friends have all had their vaccine so it hasn't been an issue.

BringBackThinEyebrows · 30/12/2021 15:24

No because I'm only friends with decent people. One of my colleagues has been kicking off about unvaccinated people though, he believes you should show proof of vaccination to enter the office.

Thievesoil · 30/12/2021 15:25

You might now know of course.

Most of my acquaintances and colleagues don’t know my views - I’m unvacced. I test a lot and wear masks etc. I just happen to think that the vaccine presents more risk to me than covid (and I have had covid).

I don’t generally discuss it and laugh in my own head when I hear people going on about “stupid anti vaxxers”. I know several and we are all quietly minding our own business!

samyeagar · 30/12/2021 15:25

@2022beesknees

I don't bring the subject up with anyone. The circle I mix in aren't really that bothered about Covid. But isn't it odd the way some people feel entitled to ask others if they've had the vaccination?! I saw two strangers talking on the bus the other day and it came up straight away, with one asking the other 'you've been fully jabbed right?' and then this woman proceeded to complain about unvaccinated people killing cancer patients because they're taking NHS resources away from cancer patients. People are usually so reticent when talking about medical issues but Covid seems to have become the new weather.
Yeah, casual discussion about vaccine status started by strangers can usually be derailed pretty quickly..."Oh, no dear, but I did just receive a new prescription for my occasional rectal bleeding..."
2020in2020 · 30/12/2021 15:29

I’m fully vaccinated and boostered, but in my direct personal experience all the aggression comes from people aggressively asking if people have had / will have their jabs, rather than people being aggressively anti-vax. Both IRL and on MN.

2020in2020 · 30/12/2021 15:30

Wow I don’t usually overuse the word aggressive Grin

nojudgementhere · 30/12/2021 15:30

@HereticFanjo

Happily my family and friends have all had their vaccine so it hasn't been an issue.
I'm always surprised that people can say this with such conviction!

While I've spoken openly to my family and close friends about being unvaccinated, I would certainly not tell anyone I worked with or only knew casually, as I see my medical history as being none of their business. Also, some of them have made their divisive and judgemental viewpoints only too obvious and I would not welcome the thought of a public argument. So if you ever find yourself expressing these kinds of views, while thinking the people with you are agreeing, I wouldn't be so sure!

HereticFanjo · 30/12/2021 15:38

My friends and family were openly enthusiastic about getting their vaccines. We all were tbh. Casual acquaintances are not the same as friends - I don't claim to speak for them. They can do what they want.

Hand on heart, I'm completely confident my friends and family are vaccinated. Acquaintances - meh. Don't know, don't care.

BonnesVacances · 30/12/2021 15:45

Luckily I don't know anyone with these views, but I do think opinions around Covid and vaccinations have been as polarising as Brexit. I see the same level of misinformation and dismissal of verified facts, and absolute frustration on the part of those on the other side.

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