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

There's an interesting piece by a professor of risk in today's Spectator. He says that the increased transmissibility of the delta - Indian - variant (about twice as infectious as the original) means that by this autumn we will be in a position where EVERYONE who hasn't had the vaccine will have had the disease.

I'm jolly glad I've had both of my jabs, even though I was quite ill for 24 hours after the first.

My friend has refused it but apart from me telling her I had my vaccine we don't discuss it. She posts such rubbish on FB about all sorts of conspiracy theories and half her family no longer speak to her because of this.
She's not like this in RL she's a really nice person very down to earth, kind and generous but I do wonder what goes on really in her mind to believe and promote so many nonsensical theories.
I find if you don't talk about it the friendship can continue unharmed so that's what I do.
It wouldn't do for us all to be the same

I totally agree with you LuckyGirl. I know we have the choice, but by some people not getting the vaccination they are taking away the choice of life of others that they might infect.

Yes, I have one friend who refuses because she says there’s not sufficient evidence that it works and is safe.

All the vaccines for covid 19 give remarkably high levels of protection and those who refuse to be vaccinated should be aware that their chance of getting blood clots is much higher if they are not vaccinated. to say nothing of their chances of becoming seriously ill or dying.

General chat with friend, have you booked yourselves in for the vaccine - no we arent having it. I was completely shocked but didnt say another word about it, nothing to do with me but still shocked....

I have no friends who are unvaccinated (or have different political views) so consider myself very lucky. Family - extended not immediate- that's a different matter!

I respect their right to choose, but at the moment I’d have to avoid their company. I’m not aware of anybody amongst my family and friends who refuses the vaccine.

Yes greenlady I noticed as soon as I posted. I couldn’t be bothered to do a third correction

Not friends per se but neighbours. The thing is they are all nurses and members of the BAME community.

In my opinion, if doctors and nurses are expected to have hepatitis vaccinations then surely they should be expected to have this vaccine

If nurses are refusing, then other people do and end up in hospital, how on earth can we expect to eradicate this?

Oh yes. She's inba highly vulnerable group too. She believes every bit of nonsense on twitter, that's posted by loonies. Even when one bit of nonsense contradicts another bit of nonsense, she manages to believe them both. Some of the conspiracy stuff she spouts about the vaccines is so absurd I wonder if she's truly lost her mind. I can barely tolerate it.

Imagine how ill you’d feel if you got Covid, a few days of mild flu like symptoms, that I have experienced, is nothing compared to possible death. It’s no different to having the flu jab

Yes I know quite a few families who aren’t, but I respect their choice there are some that are unable to have the vaccine, everyone has a choice in life,

Two of my friends husbands won't get it. Their wives have tried and tried to change their minds, but they aren't shifting. They got their flu jabs, but not the Covid ones so I really don't understand them at all. Other than those two eejits, everyone else I know is jabbed and luckily twice.

I lost 2friends to Covid during the first lockdown. I'm afraid that I'm not as tolerant as some people in this respect and think that it should be made compulsory. I don't understand how people are scared of a vaccine that has already been given to millions safely but don't seem to mind the far greater risk of severe illness, long Covid or death, let alone infecting others.

I have lost nursing friends to this virus who were not given the choice to remain home as they were needed to care for those suffering from its effects, so for me it was a no brainer as soon as I could I got vaccinated. I was a qualified nurse for nearly 40 years who was too high risk to return. The side effects are far less than having the illness, but it has to remain with the individuals choice.

My son in his 30’s won’t have it. He thinks it’s pointless and won’t work. The rest of the family have all had it. No adverse reactions for any of us. I’ve tried everything to change his mind, but it’s his choice.

Due to health conditions, no one knows if the vaccinations have had any effect on me, or if I have any immunity. This means that DH and I are still VERY careful about who we meet or where we go. I get that everyone has the right not to be vaccinated, but don’t I have any rights? Why can’t I refuse to be served or nursed by a refuse-nik?

Not friends, but my son and daughter in law have declined it. I feel annoyed with them but it is their choice. I wont be inviting them into my house anytime soon which is a shame as I wont get to see my grand daughter but thats a price I have to pay for my health and wellbeing

CafeAuLait

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?

Sorry, I missed that. At first I though, perhaps this could work.

But then, it is a clear no for me. Many patients or elderly in care homes are not well enough to make a judgement and choice. And in hospital, people can arrive in a state of shock, serious illness, heart failure, stroke, whatever- and again, not able to make that informed choice.

Unless there are good health reasons I think people should have it, just because it’s not just about them but about us all.

I understand people’s fears, especially as there has been so much “misinformation” spread

There is always a risk with any medical procedure or drugs or vaccines.

For those that say this hasn’t been properly tested, NEVER before in any part of our world or medical history has so much money, resource and scientific knowledge been invested in creating, testing and producing vaccines, we should look upon this as an amazing situation and count ourselves lucky to be offered it so easily

Agree totally with anna7 all hospital workers and care workers should be vaccinated if having any dealings with patients.

I appreciate it is their choice as to whether they have it or not just as it is my choice as to whether non-vaccinated persons enter my home. I refuse now to allow the son of a friend (living in the wilds of the countryside without transport) in my car due to his chosen lifestyle of parties and non distancing.. This is his choice and all choices have consequences.

What about the health visitors and district nurses themselves being able to ask if the family they are going to visit has been vaccinated. A lot of patients won’t open the windows in advance of a visit because they may get cold or they expect the carer to do their work in a room full of relatives and get quite uppity when they are asked to leave the room.

To be honest, I haven't had the vaccine either and I'm definitely NOT a conspiracy theorist. It is a personal choice based on a philosophy I have developed over many years which is important to me on a personal level. Having said that, I don't go out much at all and live quite a reclusive kind of existence. It may be that, for the sake of others perhaps, I would change my mind if I was out and about, but I'm really not so am not really harming anyone by refusing the vaccine.

I remember when I was expecting my first child, reading in a book about posterior births occurring in a very small percentage of cases and I remember thinking 'Oh, that won't likely happen to me; it's such a small possibility'. Wrong! It happened to me! Like the illness I developed which happens to a very, very, very small percentage of people. It happened to me! So, whether popular or not, I stick to my guns and say, It's my choice and on this occasion, I choose not to be vaccinated.

I happily accept that others might not want to come near me and I tend to keep away from others but can't say the same for some who happily move around me after being in contact with someone who was concerned they had the virus. There are many of those people around too.

I have a friend who is a conspiracy theorist. She thinks she has had it anyway. My DH won't have her in our house! Personally I don't think we should have the choice, we should all have it and be done with it!