RE: Oxford Vaccine looking good25 Oct 2020 23:48
Bermudashorts, it's a complex scenario that gives the 20% uptake. I only mix with health care workers, even socially , so I only have a limited viewpoint. I would expect the uptake to be higher in the general public as they see graphs rise and the economy retract.
Putting Covid19 aside, in a "normal" year the uptake for the flu jab is only about 50-60%, and this comes with a Costa Coffee voucher !! What is behind the reason? My personal thought is we see the worst of it and almost gain a feeling of "immunity" . Although health care workers died as a direct result of exposure to Covid19 this doesn't seam to budge this attitude of "invincibility". Secondly, the sector as a whole has such a very deep resentment towards this Government. This was seeded pre Covid19 : cut backs, nurses pay and conditions ( disastrously negotiated by the RCN, but the government still got the blame) medical contracts both junior and at consultant level, this all lit the fire. Covid19 , incompetent hospital management and the PPE fiasco just added fuel in abundance !! You hear comments such as: "if they vaccinate staff they will take away PPE" . This may be a totally wrong conclusion but these attitudes are fast held.. right or wrong. Foreign workers (the majority of staff) have been "banned " from travelling home, if they travel abroad they need to make up the quarentine time by working extra shifts. Although a correct and logical directive these staff are desperate to see their families. Rather than viewing a vaccine as a health "passport" the resentment felt is so strong they are prepared to refuse vaccination by way of sending a message to both hospital management and the Government...a silent but illogical protest.
In the NHS it may be hard to separate pro vaccination against political scepticism/ resentment......will this attitude prevail with the general public ???? I can't say as I'm in my "NHS bubble"