Am I the only one NERVOUS about the vaccine? And I’m very PRO-VAX

[leahgoogle]

My personal situation actually is particularly relevant to my anxiety. First, my Hashimoto’s thyroiditis was so severe when it started that it was diagnosed as lupus and then no one knew what the symptoms were - I was in and out of doctor and ER for over a year. Then I was diagnosed with fibroids but they were “no big deal”. I went on Nuvaring birth control and within a year they had grown so that I looked 3mo pregnant. The “simple” myomectomy to remove them took 4 hrs and I needed a blood transfusion. IVF gave me a textbook twin pregnancy and then a routine 2wk early c-section gave me 8lb and 7lb boys but left me hospitalized for two weeks, hooked to the wall and multiple IVs, having multiple x-rays and ultrasounds to see why my intestines wouldn’t start working again.

So yeah, I’ve seen that medicine may be a science, but it’s not a perfect science, So when a brand new drug comes along and it’s supposed to be the key to “the new normal” I can’t help but remember all the other supposedly easy things that were supposed to happen for me...

I do hope that everyone takes care and is protecting themselves and those around them no matter what they ultimately decide.

I am so sorry you went through all that! I have experienced doctor's that just want to push meds to cover up symptoms and not get to the bottom of a problem. I also know people who have followed their doctor's advice with dire consequences. So, I have learned to research and research some more when I have an issue and I don't blanketly follow the advice of medical professionals until I do my own research. This is how I feel about this new vaccine. So far, my research has not convinced me to get it. So, for now, I contribute to herd immunity with my natural immunity.

 

[AndreaA]

I am so sorry you went through all that! I have experienced doctor's that just want to push meds to cover up symptoms and not get to the bottom of a problem. I also know people who have followed their doctor's advice with dire consequences. So, I have learned to research and research some more when I have an issue and I don't blanketly follow the advice of medical professionals until I do my own research. This is how I feel about this new vaccine. So far, my research has not convinced me to get it. So, for now, I contribute to herd immunity with my natural immunity.

It definitely was not fun! And I genuinely like all my doctors! My OBGYN is amazing! But what happened to me simply wasn’t right out of a textbook, and I can’t help but think that much of science ends up being like that when we’re talking about individual human beings.

 

[DLgal]

Now I agree that if there is a safe vaccine that is preferable to getting COVID immunity

Please define "safe vaccine."

Give me some examples.

 

[DLgal]

Let's also keep in mind, this "clotting issue" IS treatable. Most people who developed it are fine now. It's not a death sentence.

 

[AndreaA]

Please define "safe vaccine."

Give me some examples.

How about instead we think of brand new types of vaccines that were developed quickly and then given to literally every single person in the world before the first ones to be vaccinated had even gone one year post-vax. Honestly when I think of it like that I become horrified at the hubris of the medical community.

 

[RamblingMad]

How about instead we think of brand new types of vaccines that were developed quickly and then given to literally every single person in the world before the first ones to be vaccinated had even gone one year post-vax. Honestly when I think of it like that I become horrified at the hubris of the medical community.

https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/covid-19/believe-in-the-vaccine/history-of-vaccines

 

[FQLover]

Then why have you decided to get the vaccination, after all?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

How about instead we think of brand new types of vaccines that were developed quickly and then given to literally every single person in the world before the first ones to be vaccinated had even gone one year post-vax. Honestly when I think of it like that I become horrified at the hubris of the medical community.

I think you have better intentions than others. However, it's not hubris. I've seen some of the comments made and largely opted to keep quiet but some of these ramifications of the pandemic are ones that without the present strategy of vaccination they would only get worse and worse. Right now the poor countries struggle to get vaccine to their citizens, we're very lucky in that respect and I hope soon we can help out more countries like India is doing with multiple island nations near to them.

A story came out today about Mexico. A consequence of the pandemic is people turning to sex work in greater numbers. A woman interviewed, a married woman previously in the sex trade but had left that behind, whose husband lost his job, returned to sex work. And we're over here squabbling about the "hubris of the medical community". Oh sure we can discuss that it's a consequence of closing restaurants down and people lost their jobs but at the heart of it was trying to find ways to curb the spread of this virus.

Then there's the story of how the pay gender gap is now estimated to be about 135 years before it closes when prior to the pandemic it was about 100 years. Many women found themselves out of a job due to occupations more often held by women. And we're over here squabbling about the "hubris of the medical community". Oh sure we can discuss that it's a consequence of closing down industries at large that had more often women working them but at the heart of it was trying to find ways to curb the spread of this virus.

And there's way too many more things to even list. The virus ravaged (and still does) the world. That cannot be disputed.

I have not always agreed with the decisions made to curb the virus, I have remained sympathetic towards those who bring up reasoned concerns or backed up things with credible sources. But I will not ever describe the situation with the vaccines as hubris of the medical community. We cannot on the one hand discuss the ramifications of the pandemic and yet ignore that it can get worse and worse for people and ignore that unchecked it will. I can understand your concern regarding clinical trials and the one year mark. On the other hand there were a lot of participants in a relatively short time, much more than there was for Gardasil before that was FDA approved (which I had right after it was approved). And when you discuss a year, well would you like the globe to sit and just wait for untold devastation when there are at least results to go off of even if you don't like the time frame? That last part is rhetorical respectfully.

 

[AndreaA]

[

I think you have better intentions than others. However, it's not hubris. I've seen some of the comments made and largely opted to keep quiet but some of these ramifications of the pandemic are ones that without the present strategy of vaccination they would only get worse and worse. Right now the poor countries struggle to get vaccine to their citizens, we're very lucky in that respect and I hope soon we can help out more countries like India is doing with multiple island nations near to them.

A story came out today about Mexico. A consequence of the pandemic is people turning to sex work in greater numbers. A woman interviewed, a married woman previously in the sex trade but had left that behind, whose husband lost his job, returned to sex work. And we're over here squabbling about the "hubris of the medical community". Oh sure we can discuss that it's a consequence of closing restaurants down and people lost their jobs but at the heart of it was trying to find ways to curb the spread of this virus.

Then there's the story of how the pay gender gap is now estimated to be about 135 years before it closes when prior to the pandemic it was about 100 years. Many women found themselves out of a job due to occupations more often held by women. And we're over here squabbling about the "hubris of the medical community". Oh sure we can discuss that's it's a consequence of closing down industries at large that had more often women working them but at the heart of it was trying to find ways to curb the spread of this virus.

And there's way too many more things. The virus ravaged (and still does) the world. That cannot be disputed.

I have not always agreed with the decisions made to curb the virus, I have remained sympathetic towards those who bring up reasoned concerns or backed up things with credible sources. But I will not ever describe the situation with the vaccines as hubris of the medical community. We cannot on the one hand discuss the ramifications of the pandemic and yet ignore that it can get worse and worse for people and ignore that unchecked it will. I can understand your concern regarding clinical trials and the one year mark. On the other hand there were a lot of participants in a relatively short time, much more than there was for Gardasil before that was FDA approved (which I had right after it was approved). And when you discuss a year, well would you like the globe to sit and just wait for untold devastation when there are at least results to go off of even if you don't like the time frame? That last part is rhetorical respectfully.

I don’t want the world to stand still, I just think that perhaps starting out with vaccinating the most vulnerable populations first and then holding off on the rest would have been a safer way to go while still preserving life. We can vaccinate the elderly, the medically fragile, those in high risk professions, those in crowded cities... without insisting that every single person should be immediately vaccinated AND vilifying those who disagree for rational reasons.

Oh and Gardisil might not be the best example given the multiple lawsuits against it...

 

[Heigh-Ho]

Then why have you decided to get the vaccination, after all?

Honestly, I was asking myself that same question.

 

[AndreaA]

Then why have you decided to get the vaccination, after all?

Honestly the turn this conversation has taken is making me wonder that myself.

 

[TwoMisfits]

[


I don’t want the world to stand still, I just think that perhaps starting out with vaccinating the most vulnerable populations first and then holding off on the rest would have been a safer way to go while still preserving life. We can vaccinate the elderly, the medically fragile, those in high risk professions, those in crowded cities... without insisting that every single person should be immediately vaccinated AND vilifying those who disagree for rational reasons.

Oh and Gardisil might not be the best example given the multiple lawsuits against it...

The bummer is that unlike young, healthy folks, many of those groups listed above are the most likely to not get adequate protection from the vaccine...they rely on vaccine efficacy and use in the broad community as much or more than the vaccines they receive for themselves...and if they aren't protected, they will be the avenues for constant viral mutation (my blood cancer boards talk all about the worry that we are a big source for that b/c we get the virus and then can't beat it for a long, long time, so it has plenty of time to hang out and change)...

 

[disney4us2002]

Honestly the turn this conversation has taken is making me wonder that myself.

I truly wish the best for you, your decision and the outcome. I have nowhere near the medical situation you have but between my anxiety, my hypothyroidism, my past reactions to vaccines and my allergies to certain drugs, my doc and I both feel I am correct in holding off for now. I may decide later to get vaccinated. It may come down to a requirement to cruise and I hate that as a reason but I don't want to be the reason my husband and friends cannot cruise.

Good luck Andrea.

 

[Princessclab]

I have also not been involved in any studies myself with ethical concerns as I wouldn’t put up with that and would have no problem reporting something to the FDA or whomever I needed to.

You are correct that some drugs go to market with post marketing studies planned to answer additional questions but no drug has only been studied for such a short time & gone to market in these numbers. It just isn’t done & maybe it shouldn’t be done. I can’t answer that question & certainly time will tell if we made the right decision to vaccinate hundreds of millions of people.

The FDA should take its time reviewing drugs but I agree they could do a better job with being timely when submissions are made.

At the end of the day most people in pharma aren’t bad but it is a business & where money is involved there is bound to be corruption. That is why we see time and time again that drug makers are sued & people win because they have proven that they don’t always make the best decisions. And sometimes is just ignorance that causes problems. And you can’t at the end of the day forget that vaccine manufacturers are not held liable for their vaccines. You can’t sue them by law in the US. So there really is no value in them ensuring ethics as there is nothing for the manufacturers to lose.

I have not worked on vaccine studies but have a few friends that have in the past. All in all I don’t know how anyone with knowledge of clinical research can say that these trials weren’t rushed. I completely understand why & I also understand why people are willing to take the vaccines but that doesn’t mean we should force or bully those who are questioning the vaccines to take them. It also doesn’t mean that if you aren’t rushing out to get the vaccine that you are Anti-science or don’t understand the science or that you are a conspiracy theorist.

I believe you are inferring things about my posts, but ok.
In my Pharma experience, anyone with clinical research in addition to heathcare hands-on experience believes it is ok based on their patient care experience. There are unfortunately, lots of people in clinical research that have not ever taken care of a patient so the perspective is not there.
Have you seen corruption in your work? IMO, there is a very snall percentage of companies being sued overall.
We live in a litigous society but that does not make it a good reason to sue a company, IMO.
I am concerned that the public makes decisions based on opinions and not reality.
I am sorry that you are in a field of work that you don't believe in.
I have met and pretty much worked with people that are ethical and are working for the greater good.
Vaccines are different than a drug. I also believe, based on my experience, I can't believe that anyone with full knowledge of clinical research would say they were rushed. The usual timing of a FDA approval is usually so long because of administrative issues not of the FDA scientific, statistical reviewers.
They expedited the administrative ****. for Covid.
Have you been to the FDA for a meeting for an approval?

In my experience pharma went to the FDA with the same amount of data with a good post market follow-up.
What type of hands-on healthcare do you have? Actual taking care of patients is a different perspective, IMO?
Good disscussion.
This is a good discussion on our industry....

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I don’t want the world to stand still, I just think that perhaps starting out with vaccinating the most vulnerable populations first and then holding off on the rest would have been a safer way to go while still preserving life. We can vaccinate the elderly, the medically fragile, those in high risk professions, those in crowded cities... without insisting that every single person should be immediately vaccinated AND vilifying those who disagree for rational reasons.

I do understand what you mean by vilify so I'm not speaking to that but vaccination efforts vary depending on what you're trying to vaccinate against. On a virus that hinges on a wide amount of people being vaccinated you can't just stop at so and so and call it good. I know that sucks but that's how it is. And the covid-19 virus is such a situation that relies on a wide group of people vaccinated. A collective effort is needed and that's why you're seeing reactions the way you even if sometimes they don't always come out the nicest.

I wanted to speak to the preserving life comment but just couldn't find good enough words to do so so at this time I'll just leave that alone.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Oh and Gardisil might not be the best example given the multiple lawsuits against it...

Gardasil was in clinical trials for 9 years with much less people. It's an example I used because so many dang people complain, including you, about the time frame. Please don't start with the whole "..." on the multiple lawsuits jab. I give you a vaccine with a long time with millions upon millions of people now having been vaccinated and you counter with "it's not the best example it's got lawsuits". I'm started to get really confused on what your opinion is because it sure isn't sounding like a very pro vax person as your title indicates.

 

[DLgal]

How about instead we think of brand new types of vaccines that were developed quickly and then given to literally every single person in the world before the first ones to be vaccinated had even gone one year post-vax. Honestly when I think of it like that I become horrified at the hubris of the medical community.

I have no desire to argue with you. I came here to try and help you.

I have to wonder, though, given your bad history with illnesses and procedures, what makes you so sure that covid would be no big deal for you and you would easily fight it off, and have absolutely no long term effects?

At the end of the day, vaccination is an individual decision. It will never be mandated by our government. They have no desire to do that. Encourage, yes. Force, no. The choice will always be yours.

But it is choice you have to make taking both sides into account. The information we have at this point skews HEAVILY towards vaccines being a safer option than acquiring covid. It isn't even close. If it was, I'd understand the hesitancy. But it's not close. Covid is a stealthy and indiscriminate killer.

In 10 years, we will have better information about the vaccines, but we have to get to that 10.years somehow.

I have been reading articles about people who literally caught covid and died while they waited for their shot appointments. Or between doses. That doesn't need to be you or me and any of us. But it could be. Time is of the essence here. We don't have 10 years to wait and see. 10 years down the road, we deal with whatever (if anything) comes up.

I can tell you that at no point in my life have I ever stopped to wonder if any random ailment I have can be traced back to any of the dozen or so different vaccines I've received in my lifetime. It literally never occurred to me to even go there, mentally. But I can tell you that I'm definitely glad I never suffered from any of the various viruses or bacterial infections those vaccines have protected me from.

Good luck making your decision. Make it based on truths, rather than conjectures. Speak to your own doctor and anyone else with relevant, real life experience. The internet is full of people with agendas, and they are not always looking out for the wellbeing of people, and that is all I will say about that. I wish you nothing but good health, either way.

 

[Heigh-Ho]

I'm started to get really confused on what your opinion is because it sure isn't sounding like a very pro vax person as your title indicates.

The thread started out fine enough but as I got deeper into reading this doesn't sound like a person who is very pro vaccination and just nervous about getting the actual vaccine. It sounds like the opposite. I'm with you, I want people to get the vaccine but it's a bit strange to have people get the vaccine but then talk so negatively about it. I thought this thread might be good for people to comfort each other but I'm not sure how that could ever be the case when you have people who want the vaccine but talk very negative about it. How is that supposed to ease your anxiety?

 

[muffyn]

well, a friends father just died of a blood clot 24 hours within getting his 2nd shot. His daughter , a nurse, knows of at least 10+ cases.
I tried mentioning this on another platform, & got totally jumped on that there is no evidence linking the vaccine to deaths, that each one is examined & determined unrelated. There are prevention protocols for Covid, along with Treatments, when executed at 1st symptoms.

 

[Princessclab]

How about instead we think of brand new types of vaccines that were developed quickly and then given to literally every single person in the world before the first ones to be vaccinated had even gone one year post-vax. Honestly when I think of it like that I become horrified at the hubris of the medical community.

I guess, I am thinking have you investigated any drug you have taken or were given (even in the hospital)? Many drugs that are new to the market and advance heathcare are given in a hospital.
Just being a devils advocate...