How Likely Are You To Take The Covid Vaccine?

ME14addick

peterreeves said:

Can I ask if any Lifers have come down with Shingles a few weeks after their Covid Booster please?

I ask because I did and theres been some reports issued in the medical journals about the possibility.

I'm not looking to make any accusations about vaccines in an RFK manner just genuinely asking for any information.

My husband and I haven't and I don't know of anyone who had had shingles after a Covid jab.

swordfish

Possibly. Never made that connection. A while back, but I'll check the dates. Gut feel is that I had it a few months later. Know a few who came down with PMR, which I'd never heard of, within months, but I don't think a link has been evidentially proven there either.

Edit @peterreeves - 5 month gap. Inconclusive at best 

ME14addick

I have read that the Sars Cov-2 virus may reactivate other viruses that lie dormant in the body, viruses such as the Epstein Barr virus.

peterreeves

Thanks fellow Lifers, thought this might be the case so clearly its just a few rare cases that are being reported.

 The Lancet had said there was nothing conclusive but they only related to the Pfizer and Moderna batches. 

I would say that Shingles has been by far the worse thing I've ever experienced, worse than chemo and my bone marrow transplant 3 years ago!

If you can get a Shingrix vaccine please do it. 

Thanks once again. 

Covered End

I’d like to recommend going out and enjoying your life before you’re dead.
Some people give the impression they’ve been partly living for 5 years now.
Life is not a rehearsal.

Arsenetatters

Covered End said:

I’d like to recommend going out and enjoying your life before you’re dead.
Some people give the impression they’ve been partly living for 5 years now.
Life is not a rehearsal.

There's not a lot of point going out if you're going to feel anxious about getting COVID etc. When I go out, which is much less than I did before COVID, I'm amazed at the number of people who are coughing and spluttering on the train, in pubs, and worse of all in hospitals waiting for appointments in packed rooms. If you're ill stay at home. If you've got to go out then stick a mask on. It's not difficult.

Arsenetatters

peterreeves said:

Thanks fellow Lifers, thought this might be the case so clearly its just a few rare cases that are being reported.

 The Lancet had said there was nothing conclusive but they only related to the Pfizer and Moderna batches. 

I would say that Shingles has been by far the worse thing I've ever experienced, worse than chemo and my bone marrow transplant 3 years ago!

If you can get a Shingrix vaccine please do it. 

Thanks once again. 

My friend who had a stem cell transplant a few years back still has access to COVID and FLU jabs but before Xmas last year she asked for the shingles jab and the GP said no. Unfortunately she got shingles and was v ill in hospital for a couple of weeks over Xmas and new year. She had been due to retire in June but was off sick for most of that so brought it forward to April. Oh and the GP has let her have the vaccine now. Having seen what it did to her I would absolutely have the jab if you can. Sadly I'm too young for once!

ME14addick

Covered End said:

I’d like to recommend going out and enjoying your life before you’re dead.
Some people give the impression they’ve been partly living for 5 years now.
Life is not a rehearsal.

For many that's impossible, their lives have already been blighted by Covid. I'm not in that category in case your comments are aimed at me.

peterreeves

Arsenetatters said:

peterreeves said:

Thanks fellow Lifers, thought this might be the case so clearly its just a few rare cases that are being reported.

 The Lancet had said there was nothing conclusive but they only related to the Pfizer and Moderna batches. 

I would say that Shingles has been by far the worse thing I've ever experienced, worse than chemo and my bone marrow transplant 3 years ago!

If you can get a Shingrix vaccine please do it. 

Thanks once again. 

My friend who had a stem cell transplant a few years back still has access to COVID and FLU jabs but before Xmas last year she asked for the shingles jab and the GP said no. Unfortunately she got shingles and was v ill in hospital for a couple of weeks over Xmas and new year. She had been due to retire in June but was off sick for most of that so brought it forward to April. Oh and the GP has let her have the vaccine now. Having seen what it did to her I would absolutely have the jab if you can. Sadly I'm too young for once!

Don't get me started on the GP I had exactly the same experience as your friend. Damn annoying. Crazy thing is our American friends have had access to the non live Shingrix vaccine since 2017! 

We only got it here in January this year and the criteria for getting it free now is pretty thin. The alternative is via private clinics for £240....however, having gone through shingles i would have paid £2,000 to avoid getting it!

cantersaddick

Covered End said:

I’d like to recommend going out and enjoying your life before you’re dead.
Some people give the impression they’ve been partly living for 5 years now.
Life is not a rehearsal.

I don't disagree with you, live your life and go out. But that doesn't mean some sensible mitigations shouldn't also be in place. If you're unwell with a contagious type illness avoid going out if possible, wfh if you can. If you have to go somewhere avoid crowds and avoid public transport. If you have to go to those places then a mask would be sensible to avoid passing what you have to others. Definitely don't visit any elderly people until you are past your illness. Hand sanitise after being on public transport. And wash hands when you return home. Those two are basic hygiene all the time but particularly important in winter and with the situation right now.

That's not preventing anyone from living their life, it's some very minor short term mitigations in place to prevent passing an illness to others particularly in enclosed spaces and the vulnerable. It makes a huge difference to our national health services and workers at pinch points like this. That and vaccines.

Frankly our society shouldn't just accept that people who are coughing, sneezing and sniffling can get close to others on public transport and in offices spreading infectious diseases and causing massive strain on health resources. Even today I was on the train home with someone coughing all over the place and not even covering his mouth. Unacceptable behaviour.

cantersaddick

ME14addick said:

I was watching Morning Live today and Dr Xand was talking about the high number of people hospitalised each day with flu. He struggled to mention the elephant in the room that is Covid, which had higher numbers of people hospitalised each day. 

It's bizarre that the media just doesn't want to discuss Covid, although it's clear it is still having a big impact.

Covid has still not settled into a seasonal pattern like flu, as it has several waves each year.

Probably because right now Flu is on the up and the one we are worried about rapidly increasing. Covid is in a relative lul. Still high but not in danger of escalating to the same extent in the very short term. 

cantersaddick

CMO made an excellent point about excess deaths today. Interestingly whilst we saw excess deaths during covid and a couple of years since we are now seeing the opposite effect with there being less deaths than expected. 

In short it's because the introduction of a new respiratory virus brought forward a few years worth of deaths causing excess deaths we are now seeing that return to the trend. 

It basically puts to bed the ridiculous notion that vaccines were causing illness and deaths leading to excess deaths. If that were true then excess deaths would continue.

ME14addick

cantersaddick said:

CMO made an excellent point about excess deaths today. Interestingly whilst we saw excess deaths during covid and a couple of years since we are now seeing the opposite effect with there being less deaths than expected. 

In short it's because the introduction of a new respiratory virus brought forward a few years worth of deaths causing excess deaths we are now seeing that return to the trend. 

It basically puts to bed the ridiculous notion that vaccines were causing illness and deaths leading to excess deaths. If that were true then excess deaths would continue.

When counting excess deaths what are we using as a base line for comparison?

I understand that flu cases are on the rise, but when hospitalisations for Covid are higher than for flu,  I don't understand why the effects of Covid are downplayed so much.

I know I've said it a lot,  but it isn't just the immediate effects of a Covid infection, it is what it is doing to the body in the long term. I've seen so many scientific and medical studies that point to this new virus being far more than just another respiratory virus.

ME14addick

I remember reading that the way excess deaths are now being calculated has changed and I found the following on a Government website. If we are no longer comparing with excess deaths from before the pandemic  it seems to be moving the goal posts:


the baseline period for estimating expected deaths will be updated every month, rather than being fixed on the 2015 to 2019 pre-pandemic period

estimates by cause are based on underlying cause of death rather than on any mention of a disease on the death certificate

reporting starts from January 2023

ShootersHillGuru

peterreeves said:

Can I ask if any Lifers have come down with Shingles a few weeks after their Covid Booster please?

I ask because I did and theres been some reports issued in the medical journals about the possibility.

I'm not looking to make any accusations about vaccines in an RFK manner just genuinely asking for any information.

Shingles is a virus called varicella-zoster and a Covid vaccine will not infect you with that virus. Think in terms of cold sores. The Herpes Simplex virus. Once you have contracted it, it remains dormant in your body and it can flare up due to any number of reasons. Feeling run down, during or after a cold, sun exposure etc etc. Having a vaccine triggers an immune response in your body and you might feel under the weather for a few days after the jab. This might if the conditions within your body are right trigger a bout of shingles as could any medical intervention or medication. The virus will already be within your body. Not great for the tiny percentage of those impacted but another example that vaccines do have unintended consequences and side effects which need to be weighed against the greater benefit.

buckshee

Covered End said:

I’d like to recommend going out and enjoying your life before you’re dead.
Some people give the impression they’ve been partly living for 5 years now.
Life is not a rehearsal.

This 100% 

Stu_of_Kunming

Arsenetatters said:

Covered End said:

I’d like to recommend going out and enjoying your life before you’re dead.
Some people give the impression they’ve been partly living for 5 years now.
Life is not a rehearsal.

There's not a lot of point going out if you're going to feel anxious about getting COVID etc. When I go out, which is much less than I did before COVID, I'm amazed at the number of people who are coughing and spluttering on the train, in pubs, and worse of all in hospitals waiting for appointments in packed rooms. If you're ill stay at home. If you've got to go out then stick a mask on. It's not difficult.

If you’re ill, don’t go seek medical attention? Seems off. 

I’m a primary school teacher, if I stayed at home everytime I felt sick, I’d be in a day a week, I’ve spent all day around kids coughing and sneezing, I know I’m going to feel it tomorrow but not going in simply isn’t an option. 

ME14addick

Stu_of_Kunming said:

Arsenetatters said:

Covered End said:

I’d like to recommend going out and enjoying your life before you’re dead.
Some people give the impression they’ve been partly living for 5 years now.
Life is not a rehearsal.

There's not a lot of point going out if you're going to feel anxious about getting COVID etc. When I go out, which is much less than I did before COVID, I'm amazed at the number of people who are coughing and spluttering on the train, in pubs, and worse of all in hospitals waiting for appointments in packed rooms. If you're ill stay at home. If you've got to go out then stick a mask on. It's not difficult.

If you’re ill, don’t go seek medical attention? Seems off. 

I’m a primary school teacher, if I stayed at home everytime I felt sick, I’d be in a day a week, I’ve spent all day around kids coughing and sneezing, I know I’m going to feel it tomorrow but not going in simply isn’t an option. 

The more that people go in when they are ill, the more that infection will spread. It is self perpetuating. Some people can fight infection better than others and some may end up seriously ill. 

It's time that this idea that you carry on spreading germs regardless, is stopped.

If you really must go in then the sensible thing is to wear a mask to protect others.

Stu_of_Kunming

But again, for many, not going in simply isn’t an option, who else is going to teach the kids I work with? 

As a language teacher wearing a mask simply isn’t viable either, for me or the students. In an ideal world with a line around the corner of substitute teachers I’d agree, the reality is if I don’t go in, kids end up with a far inferior local TA teaching them, that’s not ok, parents won’t keep a kid at home because they’ve got the sniffles as they can’t afford to take time off work either. 

ShootersHillGuru

The I must soldier on culture we have in this country is to blame for much of the spread of viruses. I worked for donkeys years in a cancer centre where we on a daily basis saw immunocompromised patients undergoing chemotherapy and still the culture persisted. Lost count of the times I saw colleagues rocking up absolutely full of a cold because they felt they had to. Where I was in charge I’d send them home but I wasn’t always in a position to do that. Until that changes (which it won’t) we’ll always have far greater than needed peaks in colds, influenza and RSV. 

ME14addick

ME14addick

ShootersHillGuru said:

The I must soldier on culture we have in this country is to blame for much of the spread of viruses. I worked for donkeys years in a cancer centre where we on a daily basis saw immunocompromised patients undergoing chemotherapy and still the culture persisted. Lost count of the times I saw colleagues rocking up absolutely full of a cold because they felt they had to. Where I was in charge I’d send them home but I wasn’t always in a position to do that. Until that changes (which it won’t) we’ll always have far greater than needed peaks in colds, influenza and RSV. 

Every day I see posts from clinically vulnerable people who are terrified of attending hospital appointments because there is no masking and nosocomial infection is very likely. Whilst most people have 'moved on', these people cannot move on and their lives are affected by the actions of others.

Arsenetatters

Stu_of_Kunming said:

Arsenetatters said:

Covered End said:

I’d like to recommend going out and enjoying your life before you’re dead.
Some people give the impression they’ve been partly living for 5 years now.
Life is not a rehearsal.

There's not a lot of point going out if you're going to feel anxious about getting COVID etc. When I go out, which is much less than I did before COVID, I'm amazed at the number of people who are coughing and spluttering on the train, in pubs, and worse of all in hospitals waiting for appointments in packed rooms. If you're ill stay at home. If you've got to go out then stick a mask on. It's not difficult.

If you’re ill, don’t go seek medical attention? Seems off. 

I’m a primary school teacher, if I stayed at home everytime I felt sick, I’d be in a day a week, I’ve spent all day around kids coughing and sneezing, I know I’m going to feel it tomorrow but not going in simply isn’t an option. 

I work long hours, 7 days a week. It's not sitting at a desk it's mainly outside, physical work. When I had COVID I was unable to do my job for about a week and had to rely totally on the help of friends. So I don't go out much as I really don't want another situation like that. I get fed up with people telling us to go out and live our lives. That's maybe what some people like doing but not everyone does. OK so you can't wear a mask at your job but at least stick one on in other circumstances.

clb74

Covered End said:

I’d like to recommend going out and enjoying your life before you’re dead.
Some people give the impression they’ve been partly living for 5 years now.
Life is not a rehearsal.

All this worrying people do.
Been over the hospital visiting someone last couple of days.
3 members of staff coughing without covering their mouth.

blackpool72

ME14addick said:

Stu_of_Kunming said:

Arsenetatters said:

Covered End said:

I’d like to recommend going out and enjoying your life before you’re dead.
Some people give the impression they’ve been partly living for 5 years now.
Life is not a rehearsal.

There's not a lot of point going out if you're going to feel anxious about getting COVID etc. When I go out, which is much less than I did before COVID, I'm amazed at the number of people who are coughing and spluttering on the train, in pubs, and worse of all in hospitals waiting for appointments in packed rooms. If you're ill stay at home. If you've got to go out then stick a mask on. It's not difficult.

If you’re ill, don’t go seek medical attention? Seems off. 

I’m a primary school teacher, if I stayed at home everytime I felt sick, I’d be in a day a week, I’ve spent all day around kids coughing and sneezing, I know I’m going to feel it tomorrow but not going in simply isn’t an option. 

The more that people go in when they are ill, the more that infection will spread. It is self perpetuating. Some people can fight infection better than others and some may end up seriously ill. 

It's time that this idea that you carry on spreading germs regardless, is stopped.

If you really must go in then the sensible thing is to wear a mask to protect others.

If only you had told us before 

stop_shouting

ME14addick said:

Stu_of_Kunming said:

Arsenetatters said:

Covered End said:

I’d like to recommend going out and enjoying your life before you’re dead.
Some people give the impression they’ve been partly living for 5 years now.
Life is not a rehearsal.

There's not a lot of point going out if you're going to feel anxious about getting COVID etc. When I go out, which is much less than I did before COVID, I'm amazed at the number of people who are coughing and spluttering on the train, in pubs, and worse of all in hospitals waiting for appointments in packed rooms. If you're ill stay at home. If you've got to go out then stick a mask on. It's not difficult.

If you’re ill, don’t go seek medical attention? Seems off. 

I’m a primary school teacher, if I stayed at home everytime I felt sick, I’d be in a day a week, I’ve spent all day around kids coughing and sneezing, I know I’m going to feel it tomorrow but not going in simply isn’t an option. 

The more that people go in when they are ill, the more that infection will spread. It is self perpetuating. Some people can fight infection better than others and some may end up seriously ill. 

It's time that this idea that you carry on spreading germs regardless, is stopped.

If you really must go in then the sensible thing is to wear a mask to protect others.

Do you include doctors, nurses, allied health workers etc in the “mustn’t go into work if you’re feeling a bit ropey” category?

ME14addick

blackpool72 said:

ME14addick said:

Stu_of_Kunming said:

Arsenetatters said:

Covered End said:

I’d like to recommend going out and enjoying your life before you’re dead.
Some people give the impression they’ve been partly living for 5 years now.
Life is not a rehearsal.

There's not a lot of point going out if you're going to feel anxious about getting COVID etc. When I go out, which is much less than I did before COVID, I'm amazed at the number of people who are coughing and spluttering on the train, in pubs, and worse of all in hospitals waiting for appointments in packed rooms. If you're ill stay at home. If you've got to go out then stick a mask on. It's not difficult.

If you’re ill, don’t go seek medical attention? Seems off. 

I’m a primary school teacher, if I stayed at home everytime I felt sick, I’d be in a day a week, I’ve spent all day around kids coughing and sneezing, I know I’m going to feel it tomorrow but not going in simply isn’t an option. 

The more that people go in when they are ill, the more that infection will spread. It is self perpetuating. Some people can fight infection better than others and some may end up seriously ill. 

It's time that this idea that you carry on spreading germs regardless, is stopped.

If you really must go in then the sensible thing is to wear a mask to protect others.

If only you had told us before 

That's the problem, we have the NHS overwhelmed every winter with people who have become infected with viruses. This year we have 4 in circulation and people taking up beds. We'll never sort out the problems in the NHS unless we take a different attitude to preventable illness. There is a lot that can be done to reduce infection, we just need the will to do it.

clb74

ME14addick said:

blackpool72 said:

ME14addick said:

Stu_of_Kunming said:

Arsenetatters said:

Covered End said:

I’d like to recommend going out and enjoying your life before you’re dead.
Some people give the impression they’ve been partly living for 5 years now.
Life is not a rehearsal.

There's not a lot of point going out if you're going to feel anxious about getting COVID etc. When I go out, which is much less than I did before COVID, I'm amazed at the number of people who are coughing and spluttering on the train, in pubs, and worse of all in hospitals waiting for appointments in packed rooms. If you're ill stay at home. If you've got to go out then stick a mask on. It's not difficult.

If you’re ill, don’t go seek medical attention? Seems off. 

I’m a primary school teacher, if I stayed at home everytime I felt sick, I’d be in a day a week, I’ve spent all day around kids coughing and sneezing, I know I’m going to feel it tomorrow but not going in simply isn’t an option. 

The more that people go in when they are ill, the more that infection will spread. It is self perpetuating. Some people can fight infection better than others and some may end up seriously ill. 

It's time that this idea that you carry on spreading germs regardless, is stopped.

If you really must go in then the sensible thing is to wear a mask to protect others.

If only you had told us before 

That's the problem, we have the NHS overwhelmed every winter with people who have become infected with viruses. This year we have 4 in circulation and people taking up beds. We'll never sort out the problems in the NHS unless we take a different attitude to preventable illness. There is a lot that can be done to reduce infection, we just need the will to do it.

Some people don't care ME14.
Seriously , 3 NHS workers didn't cover their mouths.

ME14addick

stop_shouting said:

ME14addick said:

Stu_of_Kunming said:

Arsenetatters said:

Covered End said:

I’d like to recommend going out and enjoying your life before you’re dead.
Some people give the impression they’ve been partly living for 5 years now.
Life is not a rehearsal.

There's not a lot of point going out if you're going to feel anxious about getting COVID etc. When I go out, which is much less than I did before COVID, I'm amazed at the number of people who are coughing and spluttering on the train, in pubs, and worse of all in hospitals waiting for appointments in packed rooms. If you're ill stay at home. If you've got to go out then stick a mask on. It's not difficult.

If you’re ill, don’t go seek medical attention? Seems off. 

I’m a primary school teacher, if I stayed at home everytime I felt sick, I’d be in a day a week, I’ve spent all day around kids coughing and sneezing, I know I’m going to feel it tomorrow but not going in simply isn’t an option. 

The more that people go in when they are ill, the more that infection will spread. It is self perpetuating. Some people can fight infection better than others and some may end up seriously ill. 

It's time that this idea that you carry on spreading germs regardless, is stopped.

If you really must go in then the sensible thing is to wear a mask to protect others.

Do you include doctors, nurses, allied health workers etc in the “mustn’t go into work if you’re feeling a bit ropey” category?

Yes we have to get infections down. There is so much sickness in the UK. Over a million more unable to work through disability & illness than there were before the pandemic. 

 Patients should be safe when visiting health care settings. Many people go to hospitals and end up with a hospital acquired infection, that is unacceptable. 

ME14addick

clb74 said:

ME14addick said:

blackpool72 said:

ME14addick said:

Stu_of_Kunming said:

Arsenetatters said:

Covered End said:

I’d like to recommend going out and enjoying your life before you’re dead.
Some people give the impression they’ve been partly living for 5 years now.
Life is not a rehearsal.

There's not a lot of point going out if you're going to feel anxious about getting COVID etc. When I go out, which is much less than I did before COVID, I'm amazed at the number of people who are coughing and spluttering on the train, in pubs, and worse of all in hospitals waiting for appointments in packed rooms. If you're ill stay at home. If you've got to go out then stick a mask on. It's not difficult.

If you’re ill, don’t go seek medical attention? Seems off. 

I’m a primary school teacher, if I stayed at home everytime I felt sick, I’d be in a day a week, I’ve spent all day around kids coughing and sneezing, I know I’m going to feel it tomorrow but not going in simply isn’t an option. 

The more that people go in when they are ill, the more that infection will spread. It is self perpetuating. Some people can fight infection better than others and some may end up seriously ill. 

It's time that this idea that you carry on spreading germs regardless, is stopped.

If you really must go in then the sensible thing is to wear a mask to protect others.

If only you had told us before 

That's the problem, we have the NHS overwhelmed every winter with people who have become infected with viruses. This year we have 4 in circulation and people taking up beds. We'll never sort out the problems in the NHS unless we take a different attitude to preventable illness. There is a lot that can be done to reduce infection, we just need the will to do it.

Some people don't care ME14.
Seriously , 3 NHS workers didn't cover their mouths.

They should care.