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Original poster

If you are a HCP what do you think about the vaccine rules coming in?

109 replies

CitrusPocket · 27/01/2022 18:13

Does it bother you that colleagues are unvaccinated? Or is it more worrying about the potential staff shortages?

OP posts:
WhenTheDragonsCame · 30/01/2022 13:25

I started more recently than that and I had to send my vaccine list to occupational health before I had confirmed job offer. I had all my required vaccines so I’m not sure about work arounds if you don’t have them.

I’m not really bothered personally if someone has the vaccine or not. I understand that some people will have genuine concerns or anxieties that prevent them from having it. Each to their own it has no effect on me.

I am concerned on the staffing levels if lots of people lose their jobs. Often we are short staff across the wards for all roles already. Any less abs it would be potentially dangerous!

rambleonplease · 30/01/2022 13:46

I work in A&E. I work with unvaccinated colleagues and have no problem with it. Their body, their choice.

I think the fact that the vaccinations are not actually very effective at reducing transmission makes it less necessary for clinical staff to be jabbed. Vaccines are doing an awesome job at reducing severity of disease and reducing the risk of death, but transmission not so much, possibly the 3rd jab reduces transmission of omricon for approx 4 week after the jab.

The main reason the government wanted to mandate this was to reduce transmission now we know more, they need to change their angle or risk loosing 80,000 staff. Who is that going to benefit?

vodkaredbullgirl · 30/01/2022 13:51

Op are you coming back to your post?????

Original poster
CitrusPocket · 30/01/2022 15:00

^ yes, I just didn’t have much to add. I don’t work in healthcare so I was interested in opinions of those who did.Not a journo before you ask.

OP posts:
ColdToTheBones · 30/01/2022 15:37

@rambleonplease

I work in A&E. I work with unvaccinated colleagues and have no problem with it. Their body, their choice.

I think the fact that the vaccinations are not actually very effective at reducing transmission makes it less necessary for clinical staff to be jabbed. Vaccines are doing an awesome job at reducing severity of disease and reducing the risk of death, but transmission not so much, possibly the 3rd jab reduces transmission of omricon for approx 4 week after the jab.

The main reason the government wanted to mandate this was to reduce transmission now we know more, they need to change their angle or risk loosing 80,000 staff. Who is that going to benefit?

Thanks for clarifying how long the efficacy of a booster is for transmission reduction. 4 weeks is nothing. That was kind of my point earlier. It worries me that society needs a common enemy and can be so black and white about who is in or out. Bit like Brexit!
rambleonplease · 30/01/2022 15:41

@ColdToTheBones
Yes everything seems to be black and white white these days!

Yes and it's this reason why they are not bringing forward vaccinations for 5-11 years olds apart from CEV. A reduction in transmission would be the main benefit.

AgathaMystery · 30/01/2022 15:42

I don’t care if my colleagues are vaccinated or not but as someone who teaches the kids recess and theories of informed consent I would not receive consent from someone who came to me for their vaccine BECAUSE they would otherwise lose their job.

That’s not informed consent. It’s coercion.

I wouldn’t do anything to or with a patient without informed consent. I won’t do it to a colleague either.

PAFMO · 30/01/2022 16:00

@rambleonplease

I work in A&E. I work with unvaccinated colleagues and have no problem with it. Their body, their choice.

I think the fact that the vaccinations are not actually very effective at reducing transmission makes it less necessary for clinical staff to be jabbed. Vaccines are doing an awesome job at reducing severity of disease and reducing the risk of death, but transmission not so much, possibly the 3rd jab reduces transmission of omricon for approx 4 week after the jab.

The main reason the government wanted to mandate this was to reduce transmission now we know more, they need to change their angle or risk loosing 80,000 staff. Who is that going to benefit?

Obviously, and by definition, very little research has yet been carried out as to the length of the efficacy of the booster in preventing transmission of Omicron, and as we've seen in the number of infections, it's likely to not be very long.

Though the fact that it's efficacy against hospitalisation, severe illness and death even in the most vulnerable patients (going from 90%+ efficacy to around 75% efficacy after 2-3 months (and beyond, depending on which booster is given) is a cause for quiet hope that any further variants can also be kept under control (in terms of severe effects) maybe with tailor made boosters.

www.gov.uk/government/news/boosters-provide-high-level-of-protection-against-death-with-omicron

NeverForgetYourDreams · 30/01/2022 16:09

I'm not a HCP but I can't see the reluctance to have the vaccine. Surely it's better to have it than not have it.

Fully vaccinated here and if my job depended on having it then I would. I just can't see why you wouldn't.

ancientgran · 30/01/2022 16:15

@FflosFfantastig

When isolation is scrapped they will technically be able to work whilst positive. Not that many would actually do that I'm sure, but technically, won't be against the law. We need to get all this worrying into perspective.

There's every possibly people may be being treated by someone with actual Covid. Yet everyone is worrying more about unvaccinated HCP's.

I am not saying that compulsory isolation shouldn't end. I believe it should actually. But let's get things into perspective when we think about risk...

Are they more likely to be positive if they are vaccinated or unvaccinated?
AColdDuncanGoodhew · 30/01/2022 16:20

I'm a nurse in Scotland where the mandate isn't coming in. Fully vaxxed but don't agree with the mandate at all, I've no idea who has had the vaccinations and who hasn't in my work, not my business. I've also recently had Covid which has likely become long Covid and I'm off work just now, so I've been affected by Covid both at work and home, still don't agree with the mandate. Staffing levels are absolutely awful just now, the NHS can't afford to lose more staff and it'll put patients at risk.

RichTeaRichTea · 30/01/2022 16:22

I am fully vaccinated. Don’t agree with mandates but would encourage everyone who can to be vaccinated. On the balance of risks I think it is worse to be (even more) severely understaffed than not all vaccinated. I don’t buy the “I don’t want someone who can’t make the right decision based on clinical data” stuff because HCPs make decisions for themselves re healthy behaviour and treatment that are contrary to advice all the time, it doesn’t mean they aren’t good HCPs who aren’t treating patients well.

Tippexy · 30/01/2022 16:24

@Wellbythebloodyhell

From a patient perspective, I'd rather have an unvaccinated HCP looking after me than no HCP at all
Really? I would question their clinical judgement and decision making.
ancientgran · 30/01/2022 16:29

@jetadore

XenoBitch

Wandda
There are a number of vaccinations that are already mandatory for anyone working in healthcare so I’m not sure I understand the problem with have the Covid vaccination

They were known prior to people applying to those jobs. And none were mandated by law.

Can someone please direct me to a source for these claims? Which vaccines are already mandatory, does it apply to all staff, is it by law or not? Thanks

(For the record I’m pro-vax but anti mandate. )

Could I add a request for what happened when other vaccinations were introduced. Say a vaccine was introduced 20 years ago did existing staff have to have it or was it just new employees and did they have a date to get it.
XenoBitch · 30/01/2022 16:34

@jetadore

XenoBitch

Wandda
There are a number of vaccinations that are already mandatory for anyone working in healthcare so I’m not sure I understand the problem with have the Covid vaccination

They were known prior to people applying to those jobs. And none were mandated by law.

Can someone please direct me to a source for these claims? Which vaccines are already mandatory, does it apply to all staff, is it by law or not? Thanks

(For the record I’m pro-vax but anti mandate. )

I worked in the NHS for 10 years with no jabs, and no requests for proof of any. Some of my role was patient facing.

I then trained as an HCP, and had to have jabs to go on placement. My role was involving open wounds, blood etc, so I had to have Hep B, although that was to protect me, not the patients. If I had not had it, I could still train but my role would have been limited.

XenoBitch · 30/01/2022 16:36

Really? I would question their clinical judgement and decision making

Do you think the same when an clearly overweight HCP suggests that you need to lose weight?

NeverForgetYourDreams · 30/01/2022 16:47

@XenoBitch

Really? I would question their clinical judgement and decision making

Do you think the same when an clearly overweight HCP suggests that you need to lose weight?

I do. I always am a bit 'errrr' when a clearly overweight HCP comments on my BMI. It's like having a slimming consultant who is overweight
cptartapp · 30/01/2022 16:48

I'm fully vaxxed but the new rule doesn't sit comfortably with me, especially when the frail, CEV, elderly and those actually most at risk can refuse to be vaccinated themselves. Just as many millions do with the flu vaccine. I see it in practice year on year.
And existing mandatory vaccines are primarily given to protect the HCP. Not the patient.
I work in general practice and we have staff all lined up to leave over this.

PAFMO · 30/01/2022 16:54

@NeverForgetYourDreams

Or a dentist with bad teeth.

Physician, heal thyself etc.

kitcat15 · 30/01/2022 17:17

@Fordian

I was never asked for proof of my vaccination status when I started work for the NHS 15 years ago! I doubt I could find any proof, tbh!

I'm pro vax but anti mandate. I think this mandate is a stunt that with send the NHS ever closer to the edge of collapse then privatisation.

Be careful what you wish for.

I was asked to provide my vaccination record.... you just ask your GP to print you out one... simples 🙂
XenoBitch · 30/01/2022 17:23

My GP had nothing on me. No childhood ones, and none of the ones I had done in secondary school.

Tippexy · 30/01/2022 17:31

@XenoBitch

Really? I would question their clinical judgement and decision making

Do you think the same when an clearly overweight HCP suggests that you need to lose weight?

Absolutely. What's your point?
rambleonplease · 30/01/2022 17:53

@XenoBitch

My GP had nothing on me. No childhood ones, and none of the ones I had done in secondary school.
All HCPs have access to everyone's vaccination status for all vaccines. Including your GP.
XenoBitch · 30/01/2022 18:17

All HCPs have access to everyone's vaccination status for all vaccines. Including your GP

In my case, they really didn't. It caused a huge panic as I was due to start placement, plus I thought I was going mad as I clearly remember the ones I had in school.
Occupational Health were not worried though. I had blood tests to see what I had immunity to, and they said it was safe to have the MMR jab again. Still took ages to get TB test (then jab) and Hep B done, as my needle phobia meant I could only have one jab per session. The nurses were fab though.

XenoBitch · 30/01/2022 18:24

*Really? I would question their clinical judgement and decision making

Do you think the same when an clearly overweight HCP suggests that you need to lose weight?

Absolutely. What's your point?*

HCP's own personal medical decisions don't have a bearing on how they treat you.
Obesity is certainly not uncommon amongst staff in healthcare. That does not mean they should not be allowed to advise patients on weight loss, or that it is inappropriate to.