OhHaiMark

Couldn't say it better!

Yikes, I read about Manaus after I read your comment, and the situation there is very sad and alarming.

I think it is a little premature to say "it's not the same" as a vaccine as far as "contribution", since it isn't known with certainty if individuals who receive the mRNA shots will be able to still pass the virus on. This issue is further compounded by the question of efficacy against variants, especially the Brazilian one another poster mentioned. As far as my personal efforts, I have been masking from the beginning, and distancing as well. I avoid areas where people don't mask, and those individual people. I live in the hardest-hit area of my city, and we are fortunate to have free testing, which I am taking advantage of more and more often. I hate to be a pessimist, but I don't see a vaccine being the solution most people seem to hope for. I read several months ago in the (NY Times op-ED I think) that it was likely COVID would become an endemic disease and any successful vaccine would be more akin to a flu shot, and require updating due to the type of virus that it is. That is another reason I am hesitant...if the vaccines have to be updated over the long-term anyway, I am less willing to take something experimental and prefer to wait for more data. The flu shot on the other hand, I get because it's been around for a long time and deemed safe, even if not always very effective.

WOW, great job writing this comment ? I feel the same as you do. I work with the public. At this point, I am waiting too. I have not gotten COVID yet, which I attribute part to luck and part to careful diligence. I think what your comment very eloquently details is a hypocrisy that many people, in social media and in the news media, have approached the other side with. People that are hesitant are stereotyped, then subsequently attacked. Never mind the fact that me declining the vaccine gives someone else, perhaps someone more at risk of severe complications, the opportunity to receive it. Never mind that there are major questions as far as ethics (see comments from the WHO director) about the distribution of this vaccine. Those are whole other separate conversations, but they reflect the fraught nature of this rollout. This is all to say, I appreciate this comment and you for taking time to write it, because IMO it reflects the feelings of many people who currently are vaccine-hesitant.

I was following another thread about this, but that one got a little out of control! So instead I'm posting my thoughts here. I feel the need to explain my reasoning, because it seems like a lot of vaccine-hesitant individuals are getting dumped on and their views dismissed outright. Don't worry, the initial offer of the vaccine that I declined no doubt went on to another person. First, I think context is absolutely missing from a lot of these discussions. For example, I work out in the community. I am exposed to COVID yes, but not in the same way someone who is working in an acute care setting is. I do not see people suffering from COVID-19 on a daily basis, and in fact none of my close friends or family has had it. I participated in an antibody study, and as of December I had no antibodies. I also do not have any pre-existing conditions that make me more at risk for a bad outcome. Finally, I'm getting up in years and my partner and I would like to try for a kid, which makes me more nervous about a new vaccine. So, my risk-benefit ratio is very different from an acute care nurse, perhaps with a pre-existing condition. Add all this to the fact that I am very consistent about wearing a surgical mask, distancing, and not gathering with people like I normally would. The last issue that I have is the inconsistent messaging from the CDC and health authorities in general. There have been numerous instances now where the public has been told a "noble lie" because it was assumed we couldn't handle the truth. This includes Fauci and Trump, among others. Fauci admitted he advised against masks because he was afraid there would be a run on them, not because the science not there. Then, he changed his numbers on herd immunity, because he said he thought people would be more amenable to getting the vaccine if the herd immunity numbers seemed doable (he then increased them). Trump acted like the virus was no big deal, because he didn't want people to panic. Don't forget all the "great leaders" who beg the public to stay at home, shut down businesses and ruin livelihoods, and then are caught maskless, vacationing, sometimes both. I can't take these people seriously anymore. So, while I would love a vaccine, there is not enough long-term science for me to feel comfortable with mRNA vaccines as someone whose trying to et pregnant. Or for mRNA vaccines to be given to kids. I am hopeful that all will prove well, and healthcare can be revolutionized with this mRNA technology. But I'm not going to take some politician or doctor who might be under the influence of politics or money and wants me to get it. I'm not a virologist or immunologist, and even among those groups it seems there is not complete agreement. If my employer decides to use "soft force" and attempt to coerce me into getting a vaccine I don't want or am not ready for, I would take them to court, or just find another job.

Thanks for your thoughtful comment cowboyardee. I will say that a lot of the article you linked is beyond my level of true understanding. But essentially, while I am reassured by the data that has been put forth so far (that I can understand), I simply do not feel that enough time has passed for me to feel comfortable with the vaccines using new technology. It's not really a concern for me that the data have been manipulated. Rather, they are not as complete as I would like given the short time frame. Of course, there are lots of people who are willing and ready to take a vaccine now, and for them I am glad that one and soon another are available. You mention that the way vaccines work should ensure being vaccinated stems the spread. I know what you mean and I hope in this case it is true and we can eventually have this vaccine-induced "herd-immunity". But, we don't know for sure yet. If we are to be consistent in our treatment of this virus as a very serious, potentially-life-threatening matter, the masks had better stay on until we know more, even while some among us are vaccinated. I think that it is reasonable for people to be hesitant in this situation, and they should not be ridiculed for that (not saying you are, I'm speaking in general). In my view, this is different than other "anti-vaxxer" issues. This is a new disease and a new technology, and the burden of proof is not on the public, but on those who would ask us to get a vaccine. Also, we need information presented in a way that is easy to understand and addresses some of the most pressing questions - even if the answer is "we don't know that yet."

All of the disrespectful comments on this thread, especially directed at those who say they don't want the vaccine (at least not yet) is really disappointing. The respect for autonomy we are to practice as nurses with our patients should also extend to each other, especially when we are patients ourselves. Add the fact that we must all continue to mask and distance to protect each other regardless of whether we get the vaccine. The vaccine is for your own - not others - protection - until science can prove otherwise. The U.S. government has done several things which make me leery of believing the attestations that the vaccine is safe, on top of the fact that the long term effects of the mRNA technology simply can't be known at this early juncture. Remember when masks were not recommended when this all began? Then suddenly, they were - the CDC didn't trust the public not to make a run for masks. I think that was a legitimate concern, but it doesn't change the fact that the recommendation was manipulated. Remember when 14 days was the quarantine recommendation? Now it's 7-10 days. Not because the science has changed, but because the thought is more people will comply. The pharmaceutical companies and the U.S. government have a lot riding on people taking these vaccines, and stemming the spread, monetarily and politically. People are going to continue to die from this even with the vaccine, unfortunately. If less people are masking and distancing because they think life its back to "normal", that's even scarier. For me, it is a risk-benefit calculation. If I was really at risk of death from COVID, I would want a vaccine, even one of these using the new technology. But since I'm not...I think I'd rather wait and see.

I am in a similar boat as you. I think part of what has put me here, is that this disease has been full of surprise after surprise. It seems like every time the public was told one thing about it, we learned more information. Plus, the mRNA technology has never been used before in a widespread manner. I'm not worried about short-term side effects, I'm worried about the long haul. Even more so since this disease, for most people, is mild. I also take a BIG issue with people guilting you for not taking the vaccine because you could spread it. This is a false premise. WE DON'T KNOW YET. Time and again, material I have read indicates one of these vaccines may protect the vaccinated person from developing the illness, but NOT prevent them from spreading it to others. If you don't want to spread COVID, you're going to have to keep wearing a mask and distancing appropriately. Maybe in the future the question of whether vaccinated people can be infectious will be answered, but I have seen nothing that settles that question so far. No, employers will want employees to get it so they don't lose money on sick time.

I'm a big proponent of vaccines, but rushing to get a vaccine with new technology seems sketchy. I see lots of people on this thread talking about how irresponsible it is to not receive the vaccine, but we don't know if you will still be able to transmit the virusI yes, even after being vaccinated, you might be able to pass it on! My concern for younger people, and especially pregnant women and kids (I know they won't get it first anyway) is whether mRNA vaccines will have unintended effects on the immune system long-term. A few other concerns...do I trust those dispensing the vaccine to have stored it properly? Do I trust that my fellow Americans will follow through and get their second shot, on time? Aside from the anxiety over the vaccine itself, I also worry that the media will be shaking their heads in the near future, wondering why this is still spreading when *so many* have been vaccinated ? As a final note, here is an interesting article on toxicity with mRNA therapeutics. Most of it is beyond me, but scroll near to the bottom: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/7/2/37/htm