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

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.

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

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

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??

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’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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.).

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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?

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.

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.

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.