I can’t take up the offer of the Flu Jab

[EndeavourVoyage]

Earlier in the year I discovered I had a condition that made me eligible for the flu vaccine but I am a vegan so cannot bring myself to have it. Will the doctor think I am really ungrateful to refuse it?

Have the vaccine. Honestly. There are principles and then there’s principles.

Don't most electronics such as tablets, phones, laptops etc have components that have animal derivatives in them? If so presumably you are ok with using them to post on Mumsnet? If you'd want it otherwise, and it would definitely lower your risk of being very ill then I think this is a case of putting principles aside and I can't imagine anyone giving you grief over it.

I've had flu once and thought i was dying it was that bad.

Oh no, I can’t have it, i don’t have HRT neither. I am very proud of my vegan principles. I am just thinking how I tell the GP so she doesn’t think I am ungrateful, that’s all.

Yeah, flu can be horrendous. But if you're happy to quarantine yourself should you get it, and the 'at risk' group you're in isn't 'very at risk', your doctor won't be interested enough in you to wonder about your motivations/principles.

I'm eligible for the flu vaccine and I'm pretty sure my doctor doesn't have very much to do with it tbh. You get reminders sent out en masse and then file in like cattle for your shot at the correct time.

Now, if you don't get the vaccine and have to drag your sorry ass to the doctors with the flu then they may have some thoughts about it but will be professional enough not to say anything.

But ignoring all that, if you are eligible for the vaccine then I think you are putting yourself at needless risk to decline it.

If you end up on ITU then the feed they give you through a naso gastric tube wont be vegan

So you wont be taking any medicines or supplements in capsule form?
No heparin or insulin?
Better make sure you never get admitted to hospital for more than 3 days. Never have surgery.

Don't tell your GP. They don't have the time to check the jab register, so it's fine to just not go for it.

Best you go into isolation if you catch flu nobody else wants it thanks

ADastardlyThing
Not sure about that, I have never thought about what my phone is made of but I will find out.

You do know that the reason "at risk" groups get the flu jab is because having the flu and surrounding symptoms can potentially kill you due to your pre existing conditions?

The NHS doesn't make these offers for fun - they are severely stretched and only provide it to those who would be at risk of serious illness/ death if they caught flu. I would take the jab.

All muslims in the UK are covered by a special islamic dispensation in order that they can have heparin and insulin.
Thank goodness.

Your choice but flu can be really dangerous for some groups of people.

endofthelinefinally
No I don’t take any capsule tablets or anything that isn’t vegan friendly. If I discover something isn’t suitable for me I will research for an alternative there is always one but not a flu jab apparently. Not sure what you mean about being in hospital for more than three days though?

ADastardlyThing I didn't know that! Just googled and there are animal products in so much stuff you wouldn't expect!

OP, get the flu jab. It's there for a reason. If you have an illness which makes you eligible, that suggests that your body may not be able to fight off the flu as well as a 'healthy' person (sorry, want a better word, but baby brain!)

Bedrest and surgery puts you at risk of dvt. Prophylactic anticoagulant injections are routine.

Will you be issuing an advance directive to ensure you're not given animal products should you become seriously ill?

Your GP will think you're a bit ridiculous but will be too busy doing their job to care much.

I don’t think the doctor will worry too much about it to be honest, they have thousands of patients of which some will be eligible and many will not want. They don’t really question the why’s I wouldn’t of thought

Well, tbf it's won't, not can't.

But, if you're proud of your principles why not just tell the doc why you won't have it?

Just say no thanks. Don’t have the jab. Job done.

All the vegans I know give life saving medicines (which a flu jab potentially is) a pass. Being vegan is about causing the least harm. Putting yourself and those around you danger goes against those principles.

Medical issues are my biggest worry and I hate the thought of getting ill and being given stuff that is either tested on animals or contains animal products but I suppose I should just do what I can reasonably do. My DH says I am daft to not accept the jab or HRT but it makes me feel so bad to think of what it contains or how it’s made.

Your GP won't care about your principles, please don't waste an appointment to tell them about it. Let reception know and they'll simply read code 'seasonal influenza vaccination declined' into your notes. NHS is dragging its heels so much in deciding how many vaccines and when they're going to deliver them to surgeries I'm sure that a vaccination can be used by someone else instead.

MMR and some other vaccines have gelatine in them. Muslims have special dispensation to have them as the Muslim.Council recognises how important they are. Maybe the Vegan Society or whatever it is called could make a similar announcement.
OP don't have it if you don't want to but don't moan if you get flu. The GP hasn't got time to quiz everyone who doesn't bother, you will just get some automated reminders.