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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhat to Do about Someone Who Refuses to be Vaccinated against COVID-19
That's simple: Avoid any close contact with that person completely and tell that person why you are doing that.
Such a person is not your friend. What kind of friend exposes others to danger?
If the person is a co-worker, you may have to alter your work habits to avoid close contact. If questioned about that, simply explain that you are not willing to risk being close to someone who refuses the COVID-19 vaccination, and that you will only communicate with that person using the telephone, email, or texts.
"For my safety, and the safety of others" is the only explanation you need.
Could this cause some discomfort? Yes, and that's the idea. By explaining why you are avoiding that person, you will make that person uncomfortable and the person will understand your reason. Will that get the person to get the vaccine? Probably not, but you will still be protecting yourself and others.
Baltimike
(4,126 posts)In fact, the last time she left her house was June 19, 2014. She lives with my special needs nephew who is 27, but will only ever be about 7.
She is waiting for variant conquering meds. I got my first "Fauci ouchie" yesterday, and she seemed pleased.
I told her she was going to have to get one and she agreed...but it isn't so cut and dry when someone is already isolated.
Getting a shot in my state is like playing whack a mole. So she's waiting...
Omnipresent
(5,620 posts)Then say, you just got hit by covid!
MissB
(15,800 posts)The consequence of that decision is that my siblings and I (who all live less than 15 minutes away from each other) will not see her. She wont be able to see her great grandchildren either (my niece lives on the street behind me). Two out of three of us siblings will soon be fully vaccinated.
Mom lives about an hour and a half north of me. She keeps telling me that strangers keep yelling at her to stay at least 6 away. She finds that rude. Shes in her early 80s and seems unwilling to accept science. Shes the type that thinks you only go to the dr when youre really sick- she doesnt understand the preventative care model at all.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)It's very unfortunate for both her and your siblings.
Rorey
(8,445 posts)One of my daughters-in-law has always been wary of vaccines. After my granddaughter was born, there were words exchanged between her and my son about getting her the normal vaccines. My son simply insisted it was going to happen, and it did.
When the COVID-19 vaccines started coming out my DIL expressed that she wasn't going to get it. I'm hoping that at some point she'll change her mind. My son recently told me that they're planning an vacation to Hawaii, and that he told her that if she tested positive and ruined their trip it would definitely be a problem. I think she'll probably now get it.
I'm a week and a half past my second shot of Pfizer, and may go visit them this weekend. They do wear masks and do the social distancing things, and I desperately miss my granddaughter. Of course I also follow all of the rules.
Side note: I don't agree with their decision to take this vacation at this time. It's actually a few months away. My son asked me if I wanted to go too, and I told him I'm not at all ready to do those kinds of things.
Voltaire2
(12,626 posts)no interstate public transportation (planes trains and busses) without one.
requirements ought to include all major viral diseases that have effective vaccines.
I'm done with the bullshit brigade.
Exceptions of course for people with verified medical exclusions.
USALiberal
(10,877 posts)Voltaire2
(12,626 posts)It is what is needed.
womanofthehills
(8,584 posts)And now have natural antibodies. Do you want these people to carry around their proof of antibodies card?
maxsolomon
(32,992 posts)that some people may have gotten Covid twice and the antibodies wear off?
Sorry, but I want those people to get a jab too.
fescuerescue
(4,448 posts)When it happens it makes the news.
I've heard of dozen or so. Hardly the millions that have gotten Covid.
While the science is undetermined, it seems pretty good considering that we have a year of experience on this now.
Voltaire2
(12,626 posts)And quite frankly I no longer give fuck about the vaccine averse.
womanofthehills
(8,584 posts)Some scientists claim natural antibodies may be superior because you were exposed to the entire virus not just a piece of virus.
2 Meow Momma
(6,682 posts)Moderna vaccines. I dont know about the other vaccines, though.
womanofthehills
(8,584 posts)A spike protein which would be on the surface of the virus. When you see pictures of the coronavirus it looks like a ball with spikes. The virus uses these spikes to enter your cells. The Moderna & Pfizer both use the same technology.
Voltaire2
(12,626 posts)and are also easier to adapt to new variants.
womanofthehills
(8,584 posts)In fact Merck pharma said the opposite.
Voltaire2
(12,626 posts)And again I just don't care about the 10,000 bullshit excuses for why people don't want to bother getting vaccinated. If you have a real medical reason, that is fine. If you are an anti-vaxxer, that's fine too, just don't use public transportation, be prepared to not be allowed back to work, and most likely as soon as children are qualified for the vaccine, be prepared to home school your kids.
womanofthehills
(8,584 posts)Vaccine or natural immunity - people over 65 lose their antibodies much quicker than younger people. In just 3 months some scientists believe older peoples antibodies can drop significantly.
Voltaire2
(12,626 posts)It is not that complicated.
NickB79
(19,114 posts)And Dr. Fauci wiped the floor with that libertarian douchebag in response.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/anthony-fauci-rand-paul-masks-covid-vaccine/
In summary: if you had COVID in much of 2020, the rise of new variants in the last 6 months renders your natural antibodies anywhere from substantially less effective to entirely worthless. Modern vaccines have been tested and found effective against the new variants.
Don't be like Rand Paul. Get your damn shot.
Maybe we can't make them get the vaccine, but we can make them wish they had.
Ocelot II
(115,280 posts)Treefrog
(4,170 posts)never know.
Aristus
(66,096 posts)Right now, the opposite seems to be happening here. We always have a full house here for vaccine clinic.
They start before medical clinic every day, and are sometimes still going by the time I see my last patient. So at the end of the day, I pitch in to help get everybody vaccinated.
fescuerescue
(4,448 posts)I'm guessing that while a handful will proudly announce their private business to everyone, most will just quietly let others assume they got the shot.
Even if you ask, they can lie.
And I don't think I'm going to demand that people carry papers.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)They will make a point of telling you, "I'm not getting that shot. It's fake." Or they'll come up with some other reason. But, they love to tell people about it.
fescuerescue
(4,448 posts)They always seems to over-represent. I guess because they are loud.
But right now wee are at around 25% vacinnated.
But I can't agree that 3/4's of the people I know are being loud about it. Much less.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)early on. That's about to change. In Minnesota, at the end of the week, the Governor is going to announce a general opening of vaccinations to everyone. You will see those numbers jump quickly after that.
I get my second Moderna shot on Friday. I'm 75 years old. My wife got her first one just before her 65th birthday at the end of the day at a local Walgreens.
Once the age restrictions are removed, you're going to see people flocking to get their vaccine. Most people are eager to get it and get back to something close to normal.
In the end, it will be more likely that about 20-25% will refuse the vaccine. Mostly Trump supporters, I'd guess.
In Minnesota about 80% of over-65ers have received at least one shot.
fescuerescue
(4,448 posts)We just choose age as way to rate limit capacity. We could have used other criteria.
Honestly I don't think it's going to be a problem. Enough people want it and will get it, that the small % that don't won't be a factor.
No more of a factor than any other vaccine that they have been refusing to get for decades that is.
And honestly, if THAT person doesn't have it, and I do. It's not really a problem for me either since I'm protected.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)of dying. Good decision. But, now, the vaccine is flowing into most places, so the limitation now is having enough people and places to administer the injections. That's changing fast, too. Now that pharmacies have started giving the vaccine in large numbers, primary care clinics will join them and it won't be so hard to find a shot.
The worry is that the pool of unvaccinated people will allow new variants to evolve, perhaps evading the vaccines' effectiveness.
HipChick
(25,485 posts)To encourage them all to get it
To let them I didn't turn into Bill Gates zombie on the way home
Hekate
(90,202 posts)Hubby and I got our Moderna #2 day before yesterday. By April 5 all our immunities should have kicked in (or however they put it). Hooray.
At that point we heave a huge sigh of relief and let our (unvaccinated) daughter and her 3 (unvaccinated) boys know we are open for visits. Yeah, well cross our fingers. But these are our only grandkids thats all there is, there aint no more, as the old slang goes.
That said, well continue the basics while shopping & such masking & handwashing.
Also, can hardly wait to see my dentist and ophthalmologist, too. Woot!