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

I just don't think the two choices are equivalent. A family member who lives abroad and is coming over this summer turns out to be an anti-vaxxer. We won't be meeting them.

maddyone

whose not who’s
I’m being a pendant, but don’t like the mistake. Apologies.

That truly made me laugh- thanks. And I am not mocking, but it is funny (and we all do it- but in this instance, it did make me giggle.).

If one of my friends refused to have the vaccine it would make me think twice about meeting up with them I think. I can't see any reason for not having it unless it is a health reason. As for side affects. I had none and no one I know has other than a few saying arm a bit sore...same as flu jab.

Yes and I do and I worry for them but also understand their hesitancy, the vaccine is very new and no one knows the long term issues that may arise from it. I think it’s very much a personal choice and I respect that.

Only two friends who have valid medical reasons not to. We only associate with them outside, and one has tests instead.

If just an acquaintance or stranger started off on not having one then they would get the full blast from me. everyone else I know is sensible enough to have the vaccine.

Yes everyone has a choice, the majority of us have the right to refuse to have any refusniks in our vicinity. Also worse case scenario is that they are taking away my right to live.

It's so selfish and sometimes I wonder if it is not an attention seeking gimmick. Foolish, foolish people.

A few days feeling unwell, however extreme, is nothing to suffering the virus, long covid or death. Man up.

My closest friend has decided not to be vaccinated. She is an intelligent woman who initially wore a mask and maintained social distancing. I understand totally how she has come to her decision. Due to her job, she was very aware of the government's lies misspeaking, especially around care homes and therefore didn't trust them; I don't either tbh. She then started following certain scientists who didn't think Covid was any more serious than flu. This led to the softer end of the conspiracy theorists which led to other articles misrepresenting real research and disputing the efficacy of testing and claiming that vaccinations were more harmful that Covid. We had to agree to differ as otherwise we would have lost our friendship.

The awful thing is that she too has underlying conditions so catching Covid could well be fatal for her but it's her choice and I have to respect that.

River cross

Firstly so sorry for your loss and I understand how this can influence your decisions

I am sorry though, your are mistaken in your view that only “true” vaccines have to be administered once !

Flu vaccines need to been administered every year as flu mutates, the same is thought of corona viruses, it mutates therefore vaccines may have to be tweaked

Once again, condolences x

I’m right with you Luckygirl. I work for a london NHS ambulance service and we have lost 5 staff to this dreadful virus.

It’s all very well for people to say they are ‘terrified’ or respect people’s decision not to have the vaccine, don’t you think health care professionals are terrified of going to work only to have to treat people who are selfish enough not to have taken the vaccine. Did they think like that over polio, TB etc! Their attitudes are sickening at times.

I don't know anyone who has refused the vaccine but I see a lot of them online. I watched the documentary about anti vaxxers in the USA and was pretty horrified at the cult like approach. If these people had been alive before vaccines for terrible illnesses and had seen the toll they took on human lives I wonder if they would feel the same. Having said that there are obviously some who believe that all NHS staff are liars and working in empty hospitals when they emerge exhausted every day from covid wards. I don't know how to explain that - logic doesn't come into it.

I've had the vaccine because the side effects from it are not as bad as the virus. I had a temperature and shivers and flu like symptoms , not nice , but it only lasted 24 hours. Most people I know had hardly any side effects at all. Give me my side effects any day rather than the virus!

I've had the vaccine so as a world we can get herd immunity faster to stop it mutating to a nastier virus. Therefore I am protecting my children and grandchildren.

I've had the vaccine so that those that are unable to, through no fault of their own, can have their risk of getting Covid lowered.

I've had the vaccine because having the nasty effects of long Covid or organ damage is much worse to go through.

I've had the vaccine because I have taken away another risk of me dying prematurely.

I've had the vaccine because I want my children and grandchildren safer by living in a world where the virus is not winning.

I've had the vaccine because I've had a jab for everything offered to me before. This is no different. I am free of many diseases that killed or left long term damage to many people before me.

I have had the vaccine because in history there are people who have been the first to be immunised for Polio, measles, diphtheria, small pox ........and so many more. They now no longer affect us. It is my turn now to take this immunisation for the generation to come.

I've had the vaccine because I am at the front fighting the Covid war. I want us to win. You can't help by standing watching and doing nothing.

I've had the jab because I want restrictions to be lifted, I want the world to be safer and I want my grandkids to start having a relaxed childhood again.

The covid jab isn't just about me, it's about society and humanity. We owe it to ourselves, our family and our human race to have that jab.

I do know of older people who have chosen not to have it. Freedom of choice is allowed. I really struggle to understand why when so much good can be done by having it.

My neighbour smokes 20 cigarettes a day, drinks alcohol regularly, eats junk food and yet won't have the vaccine be because she's scared if what it will do to her body ......em??

Biscuitmuncher

I'm not having the vaccine. In fact having it terrifies me. I've had a lot of friends who have felt very unwell after it

But surely you accept that you would feel even more unwell if you caught Covid?

Yes we have two friends who have not had the vaccine simply because they do not want it. One says “if your number is up your number is up” and the other one lives on a farm and says “I don’t get near anyone to catch Covid so I’m not having it”

Biscuitmuncher

I'm not having the vaccine. In fact having it terrifies me. I've had a lot of friends who have felt very unwell after it

The alternative, catching the virus, would make you and your friends feel much worse.

Biscuitmuncher

I'm not having the vaccine. In fact having it terrifies me. I've had a lot of friends who have felt very unwell after it

I was very unwell after the first (AstraZeneca) vaccine - physically sick/diarrhoea/fluey - for 3-4 days. I was dreading getting the second but put the big girl pants on and had it last week. And all good apart from a sore arm.
And so very grateful to get it.
My three in their 20s children were online at midnight to book their jabs - I’m very proud of the way the younger generation are stepping up.
I feel that by having the jab I’m protecting myself, my family and my colleagues and I’d like to think they care enough about me to do the same.
I do have a friend who has come out as a non mask wearing, conspiracy theorist, anti vaxxer. Whilst she is entitled to her views I totally fail to understand and would actively avoid talking to her.

PurpleStar
"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!"

I may have misuinderstood, but I thought that the very low risk was associated with only one vaccine (Astra Zeneca) and was related only to relatively young women? It is simple enough to choose to have another vaccine.

Jennyluck

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.

My son (also in his 30's) initially said that he reckoned that we would all catch a mild dose in the end so there was no need to be vaccinated. However time has gone by and we've realized how serious the illness can be. As the death toll mounted, he changed his views and had both doses.

Laurensnan Exactly!

One of the best known psychological tactics known is to deliberately start a conspiracy theory yourself when putting out something that people may not agree with, and then leave it to do its job. Works incredibly well, apparently.

Nightowl I agree with you.

rivercross

My husband and I have not gone for the vaccine and neither have several of our friends. A true vaccine protects you for like and doesn't need regular boosters - not the case with Covid 19 sacs

My brother in law died from clots after the Astra Zenica one.

I am, of course, very sorry for your loss.

Sad thought it was for you and your family, many more people die from blood clots who have not had the Covid vaccinations than those who have. In fact I understand that the risk of blood clots caused by having Covid is higher than the risk of blood clots from the vaccination.

As regards vaccinations requiring more than one dose or needing later boosters: what about the polio vaccine which has virtually eradicated the disease and saved so many lives? Or the other childhood vaccinations which reduce the occurence of deafness, blindness and death (rubella, measles, whooping cough etc)? These need more than one dose in most cases.
Tetanus, which is often fatal in those who are unvaccinated, also needs a couple of boosters during a person's lifetime.
The flu vaccination saves lives and needs to be updated and boosted annually.
There are many other examples of diseases conquered by vaccinations requiring more than one dose.

DS1 texted yesterday to tell me he'd just had second vax. He had been asked to bring it forward to 8 weeks rather than 12. DGD1 and DGS1 are fully vaccinated because they are vulnerable and now only the teenagers in the family are still to be 'done', and all keen to have it.

Interesting topic !
Only this morning I was talking to someone who hasn’t had it and does not want it. Her elderly mother says she won’t see her unless she does have it. She feels very angry that she is being forced into having it so she can see her mum. She said she didn’t understand why people were cross with those choosing not to have it, if you’ve had the vaccine you’re safe she said!
She went on to talk about holidays and where she hoped to go next....I bit my lip, but did want to ask how she would feel if countries will only accept those fully vaccinated. I agree with being able to choose for yourself and can’t get too het up about it, but I do find it somewhat selfish. If everyone chose not to have it...we’d be stuck for ever.

My daughter knew a woman who died after having the Astra Zeneca vaccine. It's incredibly sad but her family has urged everyone to get vaccinated. They recognise that what happened to her is extremely rare and that the risks of serious illness or death from Covid-19 are so much greater. There is always a risk of a reaction with any medicine which you have to weigh against the risk of the disease.

My sister-in-law refuses to be vaccinated even though her son, who is a doctor, has tried to persuade her. She is very religious, a vegan and practises kinesiology. Her husband, who has had the vaccine, says "Oh, she knows what is in it. She knows more about it than we do." I don't know how she has acquired this inside knowledge, as she is a retired graphic designer with no scientific knowledge. She is also blind, which must make it difficult to do social distancing.

Fortunately we never see them, partly because of restrictions but mainly because her husband, my husband's brother, is loathsome. She has a nicer personality than him, but so does everyone.

I feel that anti-vaxxers, unless they have a genuine medical reason, are selfish. If enough people refuse the vaccine, we won't achieve herd immunity. If we do, then anyone who hasn't had the vaccine will benefit from the actions of those who did have it. Either way, I think it is a selfish decision.

I am aware that it is a matter of choice. However, in some situations individual choice should be weighed against the common good. We are fighting a war against this disease. In WWII, what would have happened if people had said, "It's my decision and I don't like the dark, so I have decided to leave my curtains open during the black-out?"

aonk

One of my SILs informed me he wouldn’t be having the covid jab. I told him he couldn’t come to our house or to any family gatherings until he had had it. My DH told him we’d have to consider carefully whether we could look after his child once a week. Guess what? He’s had it! Only because he wants to travel abroad to visit family though!

Looks more like he was being coerced into having it...and then having it in order to travel abroad seems to have been a pointless exercise.

I am thankful that all my friends have been doubly vaccinated. Even one whose doctors were on the fence about her getting it due to a medical condition. No one has had anything other than the listed side effects and we feel lucky to have some protection now. I feel if you gave millions some everyday medications you would have a few with significant, maybe fatal issues but folk are happy to take that risk. Seemingly not with a vaccine! My DCs are also starting to get the vaccine too which I am delighted about. Locally there was a drop in clinic for the vaccines and the wait at one point was over 2 hours. It was amazing to see how determined the younger generation in our area were to get their vaccine.
I am afraid I wouldn't have anything to do with anyone who didn't have the vaccine for selfish reasons. We have to think about others. There are people with medical conditions who can't take the vaccine and children who are still having to isolate due to this illness. I despair for their mental health and the anguish they and their parents are suffering. Given this, how can any caring person not have the vaccine. When working for NHS I complied with any medical requirements and feel strongly that all medical staff and carers should put their patients/clients first and get vaccinated.
I am sure ongoing a lot of people will feel very differently about those who have chosen not to be vaccinated.