Unhappy about our long awaited spa day due to non vaccinated therapist

No, I don’t think you are OTT.

She should have been vaccinated.

I would have been horrified too. I have stopped seeing an alternative therapist myself for food problems because she has refused the vax. You should have been told when you booked in order to give you the option of cancelling.

I would have been horrified. I hope you’re both testing to make sure you’re ok. With the benefit of hindsight, I expect if you do this again anywhere else you will phone ahead to check. Presumably this ‘therapist’ wasn’t wearing a mask either. Unfortunately nothing illegal given the relaxation of restrictions but it obviously ended up being anything but a relaxing experience.

Fine this seriously difficult. Whilst you have a right to ask as to the vaccine situation of the therapist he\she equally has the right to personal confidentially. The whole thing is a can of worms in my opinion and we just have to work our way through it as best we can. Very interesting the holistic thinking. I hadn't thought of that.

If I was going to have some sort of treatment and the ‘therapist’ refused to say whether they were vaccinated I would take that as a No. I don’t think confidentiality is relevant. Duty of care is. I hope you’re not thinking there’s anything in this holistic rubbish Kim. If there were no-one would have died from covid (or any other disease) would they?

OMG, I certainly would not have been happy. Fine, if that is the way she feels but she certainly should not be allowed to be working there in such close proximity.

I do hope your DH is okay.

I would have been extremely unhappy. If she had refused to say I would have taken that as a no.

I wouldn’t have a therapist treat me who hadn’t t been vaccinated and I think we do have to ask about these very hands on invasive treatments I wouldn’t dream of asking anyone sitting near me in a bus or a shop assistant but if someone was going to be touching and breathing on me I would and I don’t think she should be doing that job without
I hope she wore a mask

Going against the general consensus here it wouldn’t bother me. There are many who are still unvaccinated and we will come across them without knowing as we don’t usually check a person’s personal medical records. Even if she was vaccinated she still could have Covid.
There are no rules in the uk to insist employees are vaccinated apart from health care workers

I think I would be tempted to put a review on the spa's website mentioning this.
It might not bother many of their potential customers, but they should at least know in advance so that they can make an informed decision. Unfortunately, it might not even occur to them that someone working in such a job wouldn't be immunised.

That said, what is the law on this, regarding confidentiality - do all employers even have the right to ask their employees if they are vaccinated (and the right to an honest answer/proof)?

I recently discovered that my hairdresser and colourist have neither been vaccinated either. I didn’t like to ask why. I am double jabbed so just hope I don’t catch it. Only visit once every eight weeks so hopefully if they do catch it, it won’t affect me. They haven’t so far….

It wouldn't bother me but that's mainly because it would never occur to me to go for spa 'treatment', or whatever it's called.

One does have a choice in such things. Don't go if you think the risk of contamination is too high. The therapist deserves some points for honesty even if her outlook is seen as misguided.

mrsgreenfingers56, I think you really should have checked in advance - as vaccination isn't compulsory.

A surprising number of therapists, gym instructors, hairdressers, beauticians etc. - people who get really up close, are anti-vaccine, thinking it's 'unnatural'. I just despair!

I wouldn't be happy going on a spa break yet, either, as it's hardly relaxing if we're worried about infection.

Mmany nurses and care staff are not vaccinated. And yes, I think it is wrong, irresponsible and dangerous!

I just wonder if this holistic therapist would seek treatment for cancer if she was to discover a warning sign. I think most would if they are being honest with themselves. So isn't it double standards to refuse preventative medicine that protects clients as well as themselves?

I have visited a doctor, nurse, dentist, hairdresser and physio. It did not occur to me to ask if they were vaccinated and if I had they had no obligation to tell me.

I think we just have to accept that some people will not have had one.

All I can say is that most therapists would put their clients first.
I am so careful and keep my clients as safe as I possibly can. I leave time to clean down my salon between clients and always spray with a product called Virusend between treatments.
I always wear a mask although this can be difficult when doing
Perhaps the therapist is doing a lot of lateral testing? I hope so even though that’s not 100% reliable.

I have been double vaxxed and will have my booster soon and I can’t think why anyone working in such a closed environment wouldn’t. It’s not as though we can keep windows open in the colder weather. Not much fun having a massage when you are freezing.
I went to a spa on as a birthday treat and never thought to ask if the therapist had had her vaccines. It didn’t occur to me that she wouldn’t. IMO if you work closely with the public you must take care of them. I will ask if the occasion arises again.

Hetty I don’t know any therapist, and I know a few, that wouldn’t have the vaccine but no doubt there are some who are as daft as others in the general population. I bet my clients are glad I’m not ‘holistic’!

When doing electrolysis! Where did that word go?

Thanks for all your replies.

I very wrongly assumed that the therapist involved would have been vaccinated and that is my error. I honestly thought it would be without question but I was wrong and no the therapist didn't wear a mask. Yes, I should have checked but thought staff would be vaccinated and didn't think I needed to.

This spa day was only meant to be a treat for ourselves and it had to go on the back burner for so long and we had to keep renewing the voucher we thought we ought to use and left as long as possible. Think I haven't been forward thinking enough.

I haven't received the courtesy of a reply from the manager of the spa which is at a very well know hotel chain and not at all impressed with that.

My DH is fine and I wonder now if the therapist who treated me thought the same and not had the vaccine but it never came up in the treatment room as she didn't make conversation.

The body heals itself. Tell that to the marines!

Many therapists have unusual beliefs. I have stopped acupuncture after the lady tried to persuade me of her anti-vax nonsense.

I'll also go against the grain. The therapist has a right, as we all do, to decide whether to be vaccinated or not. If a client is concerned about this, they need to ask if the practitioner is vaccinated so they can decide if they want to see them. I am seeing the dentist this week and aren't asking if the staff have been vaccinated. I won't ask my massage therapist either. Maybe I should think about whether I want to do that or not.

Good grief she could catch covid off you!

Biscuitmuncher is right, she could catch Covid from you but since you are vaccinated the fact remains that you are much more likely to catch it from her. I think clients have a right to know whether a person treating them in such a way is vaccinated. Treatment rooms at spas are small and closed usually, and an unvaccinated therapist is much more likely to pass on infection if she’s infected, to any client she is treating.