Vaccine - "Vulnerable" Husband

[eve1974]

Not a question as such but interested to hear opinions....


Husband (as I've mentioned on here lots) is in remission from AML. He is still classed as "vulnerable" and thus will be eligible for the vaccine soon.

He doesnt want it. He feels his system is working so well atm and doesnt want to jeopardise things. Im with him on this.

The body is a finely tuned machine and we figure it's working well post AML lets not jinx it!

Interestingly he began taking Vit D long before Covid as there is (anecdotal) evidence that people who develop blood cancer have low vitamin D and also leukaemia is (slightly) higher in northern hemisphere (less sunlight?)

[eve1974]

And before anyone starts saying he's irresponsible please bear in mind that having had leukaemia his priority it to ensure that his own health system stays ok...this doesnt mean he doesn't think of others - he's just scared that the leukaemia may come back if vaccine etc starts playing about with his immune system, (he is also hyper responsible with hand washing etc etc etc...throughout )

[anneasquith]

I’m sure no one would argue with the decision you and your husband have made.

[jno]

nobody's suggested it will be compulsory, so he's well within his rights thinking the cure might be worse than the disease. But he may find that as vaccination becomes widespread, many more people will go out and about without masks and without hand-washing, meaning your husband may be at greater risk of contracting it than he is now if he's anywhere near other people. I'm sure he's aware of this already.

[Canary42]

I sympathise Eve, the vaccine testing obviously doesn't necessarily cover extreme cases and in your husband's place I too would have strong reservations. Not a nice dilemma tone faced with.

[Canary42]

*to be

[drmorgans]

Pre-covid what was his attitude to the flu vaccine? I think (over time) they will be seen as similar sorts of risk / benefit.

[Sqad]

In the same situation that you and your husband find yourself, I would not come to the same conclusion.
I respect but do not accept your reasoning and I would have the vaccine.

[Buenchico]

I'm still classed as 'vulnerable' too, even though the chemotherapy that got me put onto that list ended several months ago. So my system is also doing its best to recover from cancer.

With the exception of the very small minority of people who might suffer an allergic reaction to its components, an mRNA vaccine can't harm anyone. (There might be a few people for whom the vaccine is unsuitable simply because it wouldn't work for them but it still wouldn't harm them to have it). I'll certainly be taking up the opportunity to have the vaccine, as soon as it's made available to me.

As I see it, your husband's reasoning is totally illogical. He's rejecting something that can't harm him, while leaving himself vulnerable to something that most definitely could!

[BTW: The NHS has been recommending that everyone should consider taking Vitamin D supplements during the autumn and winter months for many years now. I certainly do: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d ]

[bobbinwales]

Its up to each of us whether to have it, you and your husband after make the decision thats right for him. But its worth having a word with your doctor and taking there advice into account.

[dave50]

If he won't have the vaccine then he needs to isolate the best he can and hope for the best.

[Barsel]

I thought I was ok until recently when a routine blood test threw up a problem with my liver. To cut a long story short, I was taken into hospital on Christmas Eve, and they stopped some of my tablets, one of them being Vit D. They sent me home yesterday because I need a MRCP scan and there was no-one working the machine over Christmas so I have to go back for it next week. I'm telling you this because a lot of us take vitamins without getting advice from our GP's so perhaps it would be a good idea to check with them?

[Sqad]

Naaaaah! no evidence at all that Vitamin D will damage your liver.

[Barsel]

I didn't say that sqad, I said they stopped some of my tablets which included all my over the counter vitamins which include Vit D. and my prescribed Adcal which contains VitD. The point I was trying to make is, it's always best to check with your GP if the tabs we buy over the counter are suitable for us.

[Sqad]

Barsel...indeed I miss interpreted your post.

[Peter Pedant]

if you and husband dont want it - then dont have it

just dont tell the others in the clinic it is the wisest course of action and they should be refuseniks toobecause they will obviously live longer un vaccinated

having had chemo - I cant wait!

just in passing - if you DO get covid - are you planning not to accept admission into Hospital ? or is that not part of the refusenik thing?