How do I convince a dearly loved family member to get the vaccine?
Young person and very very intelligent and researches everything so is knowledgeable and sensible but has been bombarded with links to anti vaccine theories from supposedly reputable sources. But I am truly shocked and dreadfully upset to even think of this lovely person contemplating the scenarios that will unfold as a result of the vaccinations. I've had my two vaccinations and would still get them again. I've been rational and explained that these theories can't possibly have any truth but I'm open minded and I'm still able to ponder the scenarios raised. Honestly gave me goosebumps as truly awful. This person has tested positive and is quite poorly right now but has been led to believe that by autumn in order to go to festivals or concerts a 'passport' will be mandatory. I do feel quite upset that people are being coerced into getting vaccinated, especially as I would imagine their immunity will be on a par with a vaccinated person but also that these theories are so plentiful and seemingly plausible.
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(23 Posts)Nothing, they are brainwashed with crackpot theories, it’s difficult to have a relationship with them, so I don’t meet up inside and never mention it or we would be estranged,
Sorry to hear he or she is so poorly, hope they recover very soon, I don’t really think you can say anything as it’s up to them to make their own mind up regarding the vaccination,
I dont think it's up to you to tell them what to do. In the same way I dont think it would be up to you to tell a smoker what to do.
You might like to encourage them to watch this video of Dr Sarah Gilbert giving the Rosalind Franklin lecture earlier this year.
Dr Glbert is head of the Oxford University team which developed the ChAdOx1 vaccine which, as you will see, was based on vaccines already developed for the earlier coronavirus epidemics such SARS, MERS and others. That's why they were able to develop the vaccine against SARS-Cov2 so quickly once they had the gene sequence. Much of the work had already been done years before.
She explains very clearly why the vaccine has to be something "foreign" to the body - the argument that many anti-vaxxers use as a reason for refusing to be vaccinated.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U290Fk2BpvA
You could get him or her to read Professor Gilbert & Dr Catherine Green's book called "Vaxxers". I'm ploughing through it, but it's a bit too sciencey (if that's word!) for me. Not giving up though.
If this person is an adult, you do not try to convince her or him.
You have presumably made it clear that you are vaccinated and find the thought of deliberately choosing to say no to the vaccine irresponsible.
Now, you neither do nor say any more on the subject.
The person may well change their mind, if they don't they don't.
You may well feel that you no longer can invite them when you have other friends in your house, but trying to convince anyone to do something they for some reason have decided against is a sheer waste of time.
If I were responsible for a minor, which I am not, I would simply say, "Nonsense, of course you will be vaccinated, I wouldn't dream of letting you run the risk of dying of corona any more than run the risk of dying of TB."
There are a lot of appalling theories out there mostly from the anti vaxx communities - including that children will be "forcibly" vaccinated or that military police will come along on vaxx buses and help arrest and vaccinate people who aren't. It is all anti democratic rubbish.
It is true you can still contract Covid after 2 vaccinations. You are much less likely to need hospital care or die though it may still be a bad bout of flu. So you are saving valuable medical input and leaving beds for those with other diseases or accidents who need ICU.
You can still pass it on if you have active Covid, so I won't be seeing friends who aren't vaccinated.
The young person is my daughter and she works from home, lives independently so is fairly insulated from the world but has been bombarded with links from an antivaxx boss with this all being a mass 'cull'over the next five years (80% of all humans)!!! I was truly horrified and so angry that someone would fill my sensitive daughters head with such horror. She hadn't said anything to me until recently so I knew nothing of this. Thankfully she's recovering though was very poorly, she's had a shock but now believes and is willing to take the vaccine.
I often think I can't be shocked any more by people, events etc but they still catch me out.
You can't convince them of anything. You can have a conversation with them, respecting their right to decide for themselves, and then leave it with them.
I started reading Vaxxers today. Really interesting and full of detail.
My daughter 34, has had the vaccine, neither of my sons one is 36 and one is 27 have had or intend to have the vaccine, now the elder one has Covid. I asked awhile ago if they would have the vaccine and they both said no and as they are adults I would not try to persuade them…
did you daughter like Barbie dolls when she was a child.
they have just invented one based on dr sarah gilbert.
unfortunately some people will see that as part of the global conspiracy to take us over...
now they're coming for the kids, the reptiles ! eek.
on a more serious note, there have been several sad stories recently of people who refused the vaccine, who have died of covid.
some were very fit and active, aged in 40s.
i wonder if that might give people pause for thought.
they all said they wished they'd had the vaccine, and urged others to get it. sadly it was too late for them.
JAM, if your daughter’s boss is bombarding her with anti-vax nonsense that is disgraceful as she can’t block his emails. He is probably contravening employment legislation. Can your daughter look for another job? He sounds dreadful and positively dangerous.
I’m pleased she is recovering and I hope she is vaccinated soon.
Take-up of the vaccine hasn’t been great amongst younger people and I have no problem whatsoever with entrance to events or the ability to go abroad on holiday being dependent on having both vaccinations. In the circumstances I wouldn’t call that being coerced. It’s common sense. I don’t know where you get the idea that young people would have the same level of immunity as vaccinated people. Surely the fact that your daughter caught covid shows that not to be the case?
Absolutely right welbeck, there are well-publicised cases of fit and healthy unvaccinated people dying from covid, some of them young. I despair that those who refuse to be vaccinated either don’t pick up on these sad stories or choose to ignore them. Some I’m sure don’t listen to the news or read newspapers but others, like JAM’s daughter, are intelligent people who surely hear of these cases but nevertheless choose not to be vaccinated. On the news yesterday I heard about the death of a solicitor (58 I think) so obviously an intelligent man but chose not to be vaccinated.
welbeck
on a more serious note, there have been several sad stories recently of people who refused the vaccine, who have died of covid.
some were very fit and active, aged in 40s.
i wonder if that might give people pause for thought.
they all said they wished they'd had the vaccine, and urged others to get it. sadly it was too late for them.
Yes, there was piece in the Times the other day about a formerly incredibly fit and healthy ‘iron man’ who died at 42.
Sadly I don’t think anything’s likely to convince those who’ve been so completely brainwashed by online conspiracy theorists.
I know Ive mentioned this on a thread before.But doesn't anyone else remember the Swine flu and SARS outbreak? 2002 and then 2009? I was told to take my 2 younger children to a mass Vaccination centre,I got jabbed almost without being asked,I'd agreed to my children getting it,so I was content to go along with it.My point being that 12 years later,we are fine.That Epidemic could have spiralled into a Pandemic and its long been known that a Pandemic was inevitable. Why aren't these outbreaks and then Vaccines being used as evidence and backup,educating us and showing the vaccines worked and haven't had any ill effects.No one queried how long they took to make,we didn't have much of a voice back then.Its the same virus,but mutated.Thankfully my 4 children all got the Covid vaccine through their jobs.Ive only 1 Neice and a brother who won't take it! Sighting stupid theories! It's frustrating and sadly the unvaccinated are the ones keeping the virus going.I don't know how I would have handled one of my adult children being anti Vax.The minute my youngest son got vaccinated,I was amazed at how relieved I felt,like a massive weight had been lifted.On a plus,those who haven't taken it can change their mind and get vaccinated at a later date.I do empathise with the OP 
PurpleStar Exactly why I posted the link upthread about to Professor Gilbert's lecture and would recommend everyone watch that and read Vaxxers.
The ChAdOx1 vaccine for SARS-CoV2 is based on the work that had already been done to develop vaccines against SARS, MERS etc. It's why the Oxford team were able to develop this vaccine so quickly. All they needed was the gene sequence for this particular coronavirus.
And, yes, the pandemic was inevitable. The team were already waiting for 'Disease X' as they called it. Zoonotic diseases transmit through animal/human interaction whether it's from pigs, fowl, camels, horses. Most seem to emanate from bats in interacting with other animal species in the first instance or in some cases more directly with humans through "sharing" date palm sap in South Asia.
According to the nhs's own website vaccine passports are available for either people who have had both jabs or have fully recovered so I might have taken this to mean protection was similar? I would like everyone to receive the vaccine though I'm not sure how this is possible with the levels of paranoia at the moment. I've never had time for conspiracy theories but surely there must be some way of debunking them? especially those that stop people from protectng themselves and others.
Maybe vaccine-deniers should have a chat with this man. Three out of his family of four are now dead, after listening to anti-vaxxers. 
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-58153416
I am passionately pro vaccination having weighed up the risks and decided it is much better to protect and take the small risk of side effects. But I do have some sympathy with those reluctant to take it, after the debacle over the SARS vaccine which did give an unfortunate few narcolepsy. The BMJ article summary is here. www.bmj.com/content/362/bmj.k3948.full
I do believe that Italy will not let kids start school unless they are vaccinated for various types of immunisation. I on the other hand, cannot get my second jab. Surgery has forgotten me as usual.
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