What to do about those who refuse a vaccine?

[PeterM, Southwell]

Vaccination seems to be going very well. Much better than many of use dared hope. Unfortunately there are a good number of people refusing to be vaccinated, usually, in their eyes, for very good reasons, albeit misinformed ones. We hear of medical and care home staff refusing, and in Nottingham an area with a population of around 25,000 only around 700 have come forward. Nobody is going to advocate compulsory vaccination, so what do we do?

[annie, Glasgow]

To quote a nephew, if you decline a Covid 19 vaccination, you forfeit the right to medical treatment for covid 19. Harsh?

My sister is repeatedly asked if her son who is a day care centre service user will be vaccinated or has been vaccinated? Interestingly 80% of the day care staff have declined the vaccination.

if you wish to work in the NHS, you must have a Hepatitis B vaccination. JMO during a pandemic, I think the vaccination should be compulsory. No I won't hide behind any sofa either.

Annie

[Smith7]

To quote a nephew, if you decline a Covid 19 vaccination, you forfeit the right to medical treatment for covid 19. Harsh?

My sister is repeatedly asked if her son who is a day care centre service user will be vaccinated or has been vaccinated? Interestingly 80% of the day care staff have declined the vaccination.

if you wish to work in the NHS, you must have a Hepatitis B vaccination. JMO during a pandemic, I think the vaccination should be compulsory. No I won't hide behind any sofa either.

Annie

Whilst I agree with you Annie, I also think that we can't force people to have the vaccine ;however those that refuse it should not be allowed to care for vulnerable people.

That said, there are shortages of care staff, so who would step into those jobs?

[annie, Glasgow]

Whilst I agree with you Annie, I also think that we can't force people to have the vaccine ;however those that refuse it should not be allowed to care for vulnerable people.

That said, there are shortages of care staff, so who would step into those jobs?

We can't conflate 2 different issues. Maybe the Government, ultimately us, will have to pay care staff more??

I admit my views are coloured by an elderly housebound relative contracting the virus twice - once from social work staff; 2nd time whilst in hospital. On the subject of covid infections contracted in hospital:

NHS faces questions over Covid infections contracted in hospital | World news | The Guardian

Annie

[carol, welwyn garden city]

The vaccine doesn't stop you spreading it, or catching it, but stops you from getting really ill from it. So if you've had it, I don't see why we have to worry about those that haven't. If they catch it, that's their fault surely! .................................................. ......................Carol

[Mrs M]

Vaccination seems to be going very well. Much better than many of use dared hope. Unfortunately there are a good number of people refusing to be vaccinated, usually, in their eyes, for very good reasons, albeit misinformed ones. We hear of medical and care home staff refusing, and in Nottingham an area with a population of around 25,000 only around 700 have come forward. Nobody is going to advocate compulsory vaccination, so what do we do?

To quote one of my own comments

I think we have to accept culture comes into vaccine rejection for some rather than uninterested. Fake news on social media and anti vaccine publicity doesn't help. Educating the fake news out of the equation will help and hopefully those of the ethnic backgrounds who haven't or won't take up their jab as they're worried about vaccine content and effects, will come around to accepting their turn in the jab queue.

That said, vaccination in this country is not mandatory and it's everyone's right to refuse a jab. However, when I started teacher training, I had to show proof of a BCG jab. Maybe if something similar for Covid is introduced for job applicants especially in the health and care industry, more might take up their jabs?

[Topdeck, London]

To quote a nephew, if you decline a Covid 19 vaccination, you forfeit the right to medical treatment for covid 19. Harsh?

My sister is repeatedly asked if her son who is a day care centre service user will be vaccinated or has been vaccinated? Interestingly 80% of the day care staff have declined the vaccination.

if you wish to work in the NHS, you must have a Hepatitis B vaccination. JMO during a pandemic, I think the vaccination should be compulsory. No I won't hide behind any sofa either.

Annie

Pick a random NHS trust vaccination policy(top of a a simple google)


https://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/Ea...icetype=Inline


Immunisations are not mandatory under Trust policy (except for those performing Exposure Prone Procedures)

[lucy, sutton]

We can't conflate 2 different issues. Maybe the Government, ultimately us, will have to pay care staff more??

I admit my views are coloured by an elderly housebound relative contracting the virus twice - once from social work staff; 2nd time whilst in hospital. On the subject of covid infections contracted in hospital:

NHS faces questions over Covid infections contracted in hospital | World news | The Guardian

Annie

But care homes are quite often private businesses, so the care staff employed are nothing to do with the government, as they are employed by private companies. These companies pay care staff very poor wages as their main aim is profit. If they paid their staff better, made sure they were fully trained and not just anybody that walks off the street willing to work for minimum wage, then perhaps the residents would be safer. There is usually a trained nurse in charge and the rest of the staff are not fully trained care staff, so who knows how they manage on infection control procedures.

[Topdeck, London]

The vaccine doesn't stop you spreading it, or catching it, but stops you from getting really ill from it. So if you've had it, I don't see why we have to worry about those that haven't. If they catch it, that's their fault surely! .................................................. ......................Carol

Problem is the extent of how "not ill" you get is yet to be established as the measure being used is hospitalisation


A proportion of people that don't end up in hospital have long term effects, some with permanent damage to the body across all ages.


I have no idea which way it will go but the schools opening is creating a massive new hole in the current household contact/isolation lockdown gives.


I heard(background on the PC) they are opening up testing to all school families that might help.

[PeterM, Southwell]

The vaccine doesn't stop you spreading it, or catching it, but stops you from getting really ill from it. So if you've had it, I don't see why we have to worry about those that haven't. If they catch it, that's their fault surely! .................................................. ......................Carol

There is some evidence it reduces transmission. The area I referred to has a "rolling rate 4 times the national average, and still rising in spite of 2 months' lock down. To some extent you're right, it is their fault if they catch it, but it's the NHS that has to pick up the pieces, probably resulting in yet more people being unable to get treatment for non-covid issues because resources have to be channelled to treating covid patients. The area I mentioned has around 50% non white people who are the very ones likely to suffer the worst consequences.

[annie, Glasgow]

But care homes are quite often private businesses, so the care staff employed are nothing to do with the government, as they are employed by private companies. These companies pay care staff very poor wages as their main aim is profit. If they paid their staff better, made sure they were fully trained and not just anybody that walks off the street willing to work for minimum wage, then perhaps the residents would be safer. There is usually a trained nurse in charge and the rest of the staff are not fully trained care staff, so who knows how they manage on infection control procedures.

How many care home residents have part of their fees funded by the government??

Annie

[Smith7]

We can't conflate 2 different issues. Maybe the Government, ultimately us, will have to pay care staff more??

I admit my views are coloured by an elderly housebound relative contracting the virus twice - once from social work staff; 2nd time whilst in hospital. On the subject of covid infections contracted in hospital:

NHS faces questions over Covid infections contracted in hospital | World news | The Guardian

Annie

Such issues cannot be tackled overnight. I was referring to the here and now.

The data on the success of the vaccines, transmission, efficacy is still rolling in it would seem.

[Mason, Altrincham]

My feeling is “no jab, no job”
especially for those working in the health care sector. As has been pointed out , if you work in the NHS you’ll need a Hep B vaccination so why should Covid be any different. I’m not hiding behind a sofa either. I’ve had Covid and it is not nice. I know of too many people who have died from it and I really hope that I won’t hear of any more.

Take care and stay well. Helen😷

[annie, Glasgow]

Such issues cannot be tackled overnight. I was referring to the here and now.

The data on the success of the vaccines, transmission, efficacy is still rolling in it would seem.

Hire staff from overseas.

Annie

[annie, Glasgow]

My feeling is “no jab, no job”
especially for those working in the health care sector. As has been pointed out , if you work in the NHS you’ll need a Hep B vaccination so why should Covid be any different. I’m not hiding behind a sofa either. I’ve had Covid and it is not nice. I know of too many people who have died from it and I really hope that I won’t hear of any more.

Take care and stay well. Helen😷

There may be an easier way - there is a distinct probability that a 'green card' may be required for pubs to holidays. To obtain such a card, you have to supply evidence of vaccination or produce evidence of a negative PCR test. I know which route would choose.

Annie