Do you have friends who have declined to be vaccinated.........h ow do you deal with this (stay polite!)

An ex colleague of mine won’t have it, but he’s the sort of person who won’t even take paracetamol for a headache anyway.
Another ex colleague and I will be meeting him for lunch next week anyway - we both had 2nd jabs some time ago so are fairly relaxed about it.
I won’t get into an argument with him about it, no point, probably won’t even mention it.

Luckygirl

People who do not get vaccinated are not "asking" me to get vaccinated to keep them safe - but they are reliant on it and no doubt this is part of their "reasoning."

I do not know any non-vaccinators who are relying on anyone else's vaccination status. They simply don't care if you get vaccinated or not. If they were that worried, they'd get vaccinated themselves.

* Fewer people right now are ending up in hospital.* - exactly - and this is because so many people have been vaccinated.

The vaccine is not wholly new - research into coronavirus vaccines has been ongoing for many years but the pandemic provided the incentive to bring it to fruition speedily. The vaccine is the result of decades of research and testing.

I think that as a society, we have grown too used to being protected by good healthcare and because an understanding of the value of vaccination seems to have been lost.

I find it upsetting when people refuse to be vaccinated if they don't have a reason such as a serious allergy/condition. As knowledge disappears of the effects of illnesses we currently vaccinate against, false information grows. For example - polio (years in iron lungs and disability/death), measles (blindness), diphtheria (paralysis/death), chicken pox (shingles), rubella (miscarriage), smallpox (disfiguration/death), TB (lung disease/early death) and lately the vaccination against cervical cancer protecting young women.

Bill Gates hasn't spent millions on vaccination in Africa for no reason. And btw, I haven't yet come across anyone who has apparently now become a zombie of his after being vaccinated!

I think it's very serious and vaccination should be compulsory unless there is reasonable cause. Sorry.

We had a neighbour in the 70s who told us she would not get her kids MMR vaccinated. Her pov was that as we were prepared to take the risk (as she perceived it) with our own children, then hers would be covered by default. We were furious and found it hard to communicate after that!

Same one who came to borrow our wine glasses for a party, because ours were not so valuable as hers. Yes!

“ As I’ve posted before DH has an old school friend and his wife , no health conditions, but they are not having the Vaccine, unless they need it for foreign holidays”. Wow. Why are they not having it ? Why for foreign holiday then ?

Nowthat I do find selfish !

People who do not get vaccinated are not "asking" me to get vaccinated to keep them safe - but they are reliant on it and no doubt this is part of their "reasoning."

CafeAuLait

"it’s about the health of the world"

The world isn't going to do anything for me if I have a serious adverse reaction to the vaccine and can't work or live a normal life. I know that's rare but it does happen. The individual is important too. They are the one that has to live with the consequences of 'doing the right thing' if they are one of the rare unlucky ones. So I very much support people making their own decision about what they want to put in their body.

Agreed.

The long term effects of these vaccines cannot be known just now. The vaccines will be thoroughly reviewed for the first time in 2023.

I just remember that having had the vaccine I’m much less likely to have a serious Covid infection and much less likely to pass it on. Current information suggests that the Delta variant is more prevalent in the younger population and is less likely to be severe. Fewer people right now are ending up in hospital.

So far the only people,who I know,aren't getting vaccinated are men,smokers I might add who are concerned about blood clots.Funnily enough they have no issues with the clots that smoking can cause! Also no issues with their partners going on the pill or hrt! Because it's "for the best" I read an article that indicated that the conspiracy lot and no vaccine people,are more likely to be people who smoke drugs and Tobacco and can't hold down jobs and have issues with authority.It 100% represents the people I know! I thought it was interesting.Like others have said,we don't necessarily get vaccinated just for ourselves,it's for those around us too...

"It is apparently OK for me to take what they perceive as a "risk" on their behalf, so that they can be protected from a virus running rife in the community. "

I think this is mistaken reasoning. I haven't heard or seen any non-vaccinators ask people to take the vaccine to keep the non-vaccinators safe. Those I am aware of are not particularly concerned about Covid (but that's another topic). The only people I have seen asking others to take the vaccine to protect others are those who have had vaccines themselves.

I don't expect anyone to take what they feel is a personal risk to themselves for me, whatever that perceived risk might be.

I do have a vulnerable person in my household. I asked someone who was visiting if they would consider getting a flu shot to protect that person. They didn't want to. I accept that decision and they accepted my decision to say they could only visit if they had no symptoms that even hinted at illness.

As I’ve posted before DH has an old school friend and his wife , no health conditions, but they are not having the Vaccine, unless they need it for foreign holidays.
We have tried to persuade them (on the phone) as they have a newborn Grandchild and we thought they might reconsider.
I doubt that we will see them in the near future, however if we go out to restaurants etc. we won’t know who we are sitting next to or whether or not they have had the jab, so I guess we will have to get used to it.

My cleaning lady won’t have the vaccine, her cousin had both dose , but still got the virus
I open all doors and windows and leave the house while she is here and have no conversation except to tell her why !
I guess she will have to get the vaccine when she wants to fly to her home country

She is relying on the vast majority of the rest of us having the vaccine to protect her - this is exactly what bugs me. It is apparently OK for me to take what they perceive as a "risk" on their behalf, so that they can be protected from a virus running rife in the community.

The issue arose in relation to my singing group where two members have chosen not to be vaccinated. So they will be absent from our first garden meet for over a year as the rest of the group have decided that they do not want to include those who have not been vaccinated. I understand why as several of the members are clinically vulnerable but it is sad to see such a cohesive and happy group being broken apart for no good reason.

Slightly off topic but I am due to have a small operation next week and I very much hope those treating me will have been vaccinated. I am thinking I may ask before I go in. I have had both vaccinations and been self isolating in preparation so I would be very concerned if I am treated by an unvaccinated person, grateful as I am to be having the procedure.

I was very unwell for three weeks after my first vaccine and two weeks after the second one. However, I would rather experience that, than die. If I didn't have them, I would have to spend the rest of my life shielding and I certainly don't want that, I want some quality of life.

Every single one of my friends have had both and my children are about to have their second. My children were able to have them early to protect me.

I often wonder if those who refuse the vaccine, will refuse treatment if they catch Covid. We have to respect their views, but totally selfish , in my opinion.

Knowing you had unwittingly infected a vulnerable person person, would be a terrible thing to have on your conscience.

The science proves the more people who have the vaccine, the weaker the virus becomes.
Of course there are people who are unable to have the vaccine for medical reasons. I had convince my GP to give me the second one, but I insisted and after weighing up things and speaking with my consultant, he agreed. Thank goodness!

From what I’ve learned listening to advice on this, best not to challenge but to ask questions and see what the basis is for their concerns. Questioning and letting someone work through their own reasoning can be more enlightening for both parties. Cool it, be a good listener?

I’m speaking from the happy place of not having any vaccine-anxious among my family and friends.

I know one person who I have contact with quite regularly but it’s their choice I have now had both doses and expect it to do it’s job
The new delta variant seems to love the unvaccinated so it’s a risk they will have to take

Kali2, maybe those health workers who go into homes should have to disclose their vaccination status ahead of the first visit so that the client can make the choice whether they are comfortable with that or not?

I have a facebook friend who believes in natural remedies for everything. She thinks that if you eat well and take supplements your immune system will do the rest. She is also a conspiracy theorist. She has posted a lot of fake news on facebook.
I ignore it all but others, including her family, come on to tell her it is fake. Inside however, I am boiling. She is relying on the vast majority of the rest of us having the vaccine to protect her.

I've not come across anyone who has been a refusenik; maybe they're just keeping schtum. But if someone did tell me that they'd refused it, I'd just think "what a twit" and carry on. I cannot control what others do.

They have that right, but should then accept those of us who are vaccinated have the right not to see them. Vaccinated people are still catching covid and dying.

It is a difficult one. The right to make your own decision, yes, I respect that. That immunity for our society at large depends on a significant proportion being vaccinated. If sais proportion is too low, herd immunity will not work.

I certainly do feel that those wor work in care homes, or care in the Community, and health workers in close contact with patients, and especially vulnerable patients, should have to be vaccinated. If one of my loved ones was infected by a care or health worker, I would not be 'annoyed' but more than furious and would sue.

I have this problem with my son who is in his 40s He is worried about blood clots. I am so surprised by his attitude as his children have had MMR etc. without him voicing any worries.

He is off work at the moment with MH issues so I am giving him a bit of slack. I'll keep nagging though!

I always try and explain the reasons I think everyone should have the vaccine to anyone who says they are not having it.

One friend and her husband wont be vaccinated. I don't understand their 'reasoning' but it's their choice.

I was very concerned when she was persuading her elderly parents not to have theirs and was relieved when I learned that they'd gone ahead and have been vaccinated now.

"it’s about the health of the world"

The world isn't going to do anything for me if I have a serious adverse reaction to the vaccine and can't work or live a normal life. I know that's rare but it does happen. The individual is important too. They are the one that has to live with the consequences of 'doing the right thing' if they are one of the rare unlucky ones. So I very much support people making their own decision about what they want to put in their body.