Thank you for sharing your experience and for the thankless work you do on a daily basis. I cannot imagine the things you've seen and the things you do, day in and day out.  That being said, I still stand firm that it should be a choice to have the vaccine. Bless you and the others that are on the front line dealing with this. And I also agree that there is a ton of misinformation coming from BOTH sides of the spectrum. I urge anyone to do their own research and talk to their Dr about it if you're that worried. Not to follow blindly whoever you get your information from. I said from the very beginning we wouldn't be forced into getting this vaccine and I stand by that.  I refuse to be bullied into doing something I feel strongly about and I feel that's what's happening I'm our country. I think covid is real, never thought it wasn't, for the record. You work in the COVID ICU  , you have to deal with it and the worst of it on a daily basis. A person that told me how awful it truly is works for the hospital as well but works in the insurance side of things, never steps foot into the ICU. Thinks she can strong arm me into getting vaccinated and is trying to make me feel guilty for not getting my entire family vaccinated.  It doesnt, but I get tired of hearing about it. Threatening your job or your abilities to go anywhere UNLESS you have this vaccine is WRONG in my humble opinion.  I pray this comes to an end sooner than later and I pray for our Frontline workers as well for their health and endurance to deal with this.

I'm not telling any to get or not get vaccinated. It should be a pesonal choice. I do however know 5 people who were vaccinted back in the spring and in the last month have gotten COVID and passed away. I also know several who were vaccinated and have been very very sick. One spent 40 days in the hospital. Thing is I don't know hundreds of people so the percent of people that the vaccine is not working in muct be pretty high.   

I just left my family physicians office, took my son in for a well child check. Doc brought up covid vaccine for Jacob since he can be considered high risk. I grilled him pretty good on it asked a TON of questions and I'm sure I completely overstayed my welcome but he took the time and explained to me about the virus and the benefits of the vaccine. And told me, as my doctor, and nothing more, he recommended the vaccine to us. He also told me he'd continue to treat us no matter what we decided.  I asked about people dying even though they've been vaccinated or still getting very sick with covid. He said it's very rare and it can be the same with the flu. He has patients that have covid and don't know it,  he also has patients that are fighting for their lives in ICU right now. He said there is no way of knowing how an individual will react to covid. He said he gains nothing financially by giving his patients the vaccine, which would be pfizer. He gave me facts and statistics. I respect that and was very appreciative of his time and information.  I also told him I believe him and I trust him. But I also believe that if they weren't demanding this vaccine I think more people would be open to getting it. He told me as my doctor he recommended the vaccine to us, from a medical professional standpoint and nothing more Nothing less. He wouldn't recommend it if he didn't take him himself.  

Before he left us, he said he was about to have to go out to the designated spot in the parking lot to go check out a positive covid patient. Sure enough, as we left and drove around the back of the building,  there he was in a gown with mask and gloves on examining an older man in a vehicle. Not going to lie, it kinda freaked me out. I feel awful this is happening,  but I'm still not 100% on board taking the vaccine or giving it to my kids. I just can't get there in my gut. My gut tells me NO. He told me covid is 100% real.. I never doubted it was real I just doubt the safety and the reasoning why this vaccine is being so heavily and aggressively pushed on EVERYONE. That is my biggest issue with it. 

Want2, I agree that politicians are working too hard to force this vaccine and alienating people in the process but I watched a doctor nearly in tears on local news today who had just watched a patient die of Covid, begging people to vaccinate.  Like you I'm skeptical but got my second shot today. I heard more than one person waiting with me at Walgreens chime in that they didn't want to do this.  I won't change my mind.  This variant came across the border, was distributed across the US, and we're all paying for the incompetence of a career politician who was never good at what he does.

As someone who has never even taken the flu shot, or had the flu for that matter, I struggle to take this vaccine.  My doctor also told me that he thinks the media has politicized this whole virus and the vaccine and asked me to try to take that part out of it when I'm making a decision. I'm so on the fence on this,, my legs are numb! Then I'll admit I read these awful.stories on Facebook about reactions to the vaccines. Which you have to wonder if it's real, I don't know. I can say I do not personally know anyone that had a serious bad reaction.  Just 1 gal she's a nurse, I'm friends with her. She had a pretty heavy reaction on the 2nd shot ... for about 48 hours ... had to stay in bed and had terrible aches and pains and was wiped out tired. But now is totally fine. My in laws that have taken it never had a bad reaction and they are in their 80s heavy smoker and history of heart attack mother in law.. she had zero reactions. I realize there are no guarantees but my doctor really urges me to do this and says he has patients now that are probably not going to live because they didn't get the vaccine and are barely hanging on in the icu. Jacob has an appointment next week with his oncologist and I'll be asking a bunch more questions. It's just so difficult to know who or what to believe anymore. The struggle is real. 

My husband is 72 and I am 65. He got the Moderna vaccine in February. I got the Pfizer in March. Absolutely no regrets or fear about it. Husband felt a little tired after his second. I had chills and aches for about 8 hours after my second. No big deal for either of us. We will get our booster as soon as it is available.  We also get the Flu vaccine each year.  We have always been proactive about her medical care -- annual physicals, all suggested testing for our ages and all suggested vaccines for our ages (shingles, pneumonia, etc.).  So far, we are living very good lives for our ages -- extremely physically active and neither of us have had a cold or illness in years and years. We pray that continues and we will continue to follow the recommendations of our trusted primary care physicians.

I have very good reasons to refuse the shot and I have done my research and have experienced Covid. I believe that you have a right to the experimental vaccine if you so choose. I believe I have the right to refuse the vaccine. I am not young, I am not fit and I don't eat as healthy as I should and yet I had Covid and did not need meds. My husband did and I could not believe how hard we had to search for the meds he needed. Once he got them he recovered quickly, but he should have had excess to those drugs from day one. That is what makes me mad - how doctors are refusing to treat patients until they need the hospital. I have never experienced that before. It has surely soured my outlook on the medical community. 

This is an interesting topic and it's good that everyone can make up their own mind, at least that's the way it should be.  A restaurant owner appeared on FOX the day.  De Blasio's idiotic mandate that NY'ers can't dine in a restaurant or frequent a gym unless they can show proof of vaccination is costing these business people their livelihoods. This woman is suing De Blasio, for all the good that will do. 

So has anyone looked up the #protectyourfamily on Facebook and read the stories about the adverse reactions to the vaccine? Those scare me more than the actual virus... "IF" they are indeed true to what they are claiming. I know there are a lot of stories going around and some are probably not true but if the 99% survival/recovery rate is accurate then why does EVERTUONE  need this? Maybe high risk or those prone to respiratory issues etc ... but an average healthy adult or child... my Dr told me it's recommended for those 12 and up now. He also said children are more susceptible to the new variant than the original virus... how so? These are the things that make me nuts ... just out of the blue. I hate to doubt my doctor because I really like him and he's always been a great Dr for my whole family. My husband and I were discussing this yesterday and we both agree that he's basically repeating what he's been told, he probably doesn't REALLY know all this stuff first hand now ... how could he? It seems the CDC or the WHO is just changing information as they go... no REAL lomg term studies have been done on this vaccine or has it? I can't seem to get a straight answer to satisfy my concerns.  My Dr also closed with saying that he would continue to treat me and my family the same as he always has regardless if we get the vaccine or not. I hope that's true and I hope he's able to continue to. 

I'm a Public Health Nurse-RN and administer the Covid shot every day I work. I know there are people who will have reactions to the vaccine just like every other vaccine or medication that exists. Heck people can have bad reactions to Tylenol or Ibuprofen. However in our 3 offices that cover 3 different counties we have had no serious reactions reported to us since we began administering the vaccine in January. The main reports we get are red, warm, sore arms at the injection site.  Or body aches with fever and feeling sick for 24 to 48 hours. I see things on Facebook about severe side effects and it seems like just from a statistical standpoint my health department would have had at least one serious side effect or hospitalization from the vaccine if  it was as common as people say it is. I still think each person needs to make the decision for themselves but I also believe it becoming a political issue has caused more distrust than there would be otherwise. 

I have been vaccinated and my husband and both of my sons are and about 90% of my extended family are vaccinated none of us had a bad reaction. 

After reading through this thread and your posts, I think you are wanting someone to tell you to NOT get the vaccine. I have always thought that a person should listen to their family doctor. He knows you and your family's health backgrounds and problems. Of course, I am sure if you hunt around enough, you can find a doctor who agrees with your perception of the need for vaccine. When I see a child in the ICU on a vent, I think of children (like your Jacob) who are more at risk than others. I think you are wise to talk to his oncologist and ask the questions and take his advice. The 99% survival rate sounds great UNLESS you have a family member, child, or friend who HAS died of the virus. My husband and I both had the "shot" in Feb. and March. My only reaction was getting a little more tired which gave me a good excuse to take an afternoon nap ..... LOL ..... John had blisters (2) around the injection sight of his second shot ... BUT .... he was also on an antibiotic for an infected toe at the time which the Dr. said could be the reason. My reason for getting the shot was for OUR health but also for those who could not get the shot. I would be devastated if I had contracted the virus and gave it to a child or family member who DIED.

The CDC and WHO keep changing because the virus keeps changing. Exactly the reason that is much more transferable now due to a mutation. When it first appeared, they were making "best guesses". Regarding the vaccine, this type of vaccine (for SARS and corona viruses) has been worked on since 2002. Additionally, it is noted that the FDA will give FULL approval of the vaccine this coming week.

I know that you all p*ssed and moaned about wearing masks and shutting down big crowds but, at that time, the cases were diminishing. Here in AR, they were down to 100-200 cases or less per day ..... NOW, after opening up, we are in the 1000-2000+ cases a day and the ICUs are overcrowded. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to compare that ....... 

Our family doctor Is the one who refused to give my husband the ivermectin. He refused to see my husband or even talk to him. He talked to a nurse. He never once called or had anyone else call to see how my husband was doing. This doctor is the one who helped my husband get his UC under control. We thought the world of him. If we had not been able to find a doctor to prescribe it, my husband would have ended up in the hospital. His ox sat levels were as low as 90 before the ivermectin and since has UC, we were very worried. Do nit depend on your doctor's opinion alone, do your own research. Check to see what the researchers and doctors who specialize in immunology and researchers who study viruses. I think our doctor is too busy to keep up with the latest research/discoveries. I'll put more stock in what a specialist thinks than an MD. 

I'm going in Tuesday to the oncologist for my son, knowing pretty well they are going to recommend he gets this vaccine. Im not doing it. There's no way I'm letting them vaccinate any of my kids if I'm not willing to take it myself.  And as of right now, im not willing.  

O2 sat in the 90s is good..... lol

Just another FYI, this isn't about if vaccines should or should not be mandated. It's about having enough decency to protect other human beings who are at risk and are maybe unable to get the vaccine. As of yesterday morning, at the level 1 trauma center where I work in TN ALL of our icu beds are full, and we just lost someone in their early 20s over the weekend to covid. Get the vaccine, and if you choose not to then the least you can do is wear a mask and not expose others by going to public places unless absolutely necessary.

Not according to our asthma doctor, ER doctor and even our doctor who wouldn't see my husband. When I had to take my son to the ER for an asthma attack his O2 sat level was 94 and they immediately put him on a nebulizer breathing treatment and when I commented 94 didn't sound bad, they told me he should be at 98 or higher. EVERY TIME my son's O2 say levels got below 98 his doctor sent us the the ER or gave him breathing treatment. My husband's doctor did tell him if his O2 sat level got to 90 he needed to go to the hospital. His got as low as 88 but he never told me because he DID NOT want to go to the hospital. 
so I find it very suspicious that NOW I hear medical people tell me 90 is good. 

The thing is though, our health is our responsibility. Yours is not mine and mine is not yours. Those who want to be protected should get the shot or stay home. Its no different than driving a car, thousands of lives are threatened every time we each get behind the wheel. Are we supposed to stop driving because we MIGHT harm or kill someone else? Its the same thing. Covid is permanent, its not going anywhere. Science and common sense tell you that. The odds of dying from it are miniscule. I just got done with 5 weeks of it and was absolutely fine, the dry cough was all I had. It was eaily tolerable, didn't stop or slow my day to day life. And I still have yet to know anyone who is sick. But I'm not going to live my life p*ssyfooting around over it, and nobody else should have to either. Again, its permanent, cases will always be fluctuating. At some point we have to accept the inevitable and go back to normal. We just had a massive music festival here, Lollapalooza was 2 hours north, and we had another big festival this weekend. Two of those had NO covid restrictions, and guess what? Cases are still lower than they've ever been here. No harm was done, Luke Bryan will be having his farm tour here in a couple weeks as well. Nobody here is concerned about it. If you want to protect yourself, by all means please do. Thats your responsibilty, no one elses! 

I have asthma. When I get to 93/94, I am in trouble!!!!  It was made very clear to me by my primary physician, cardiologist, and asthma specialist that COVID would most probably kill me. All told me in no uncertain terms to get the vaccine as soon as possible. And I did. And I will get the booster just as soon as I can get scheduled.  I have also had both pneumonia vaccines.  As somewhat of a science nerd who has followed vaccine development and studies for years and years and years (ever since biology in high school -- and I'm 65 now) I have followed the mRNA work which began in early 2000s. It's a huge breakthrough. I trust the science. 

It IS about forcing people to take something they aren't comfortable with.  100%  why isn't the flu shot pushed so heavily on people, other than Healthcare workers? Flu is very contagious and can kill just as easily as covid no? If I'm sick, which is extremely rare, I do stay home. People that have been vaccinated are also dying and are in the ICU on ventilators. We can sit here all day and argue and toss out numbers like we are all so utd on the findings and statistics... bottom line it should be a choice. That's the biggest concern, I feel. I watched the Trump rally the other night and he urged people to get the vaccine, but he also said you should have a choice and having freedom is important and we shouldn't let that go. I agree with that! Now let's watch and see how the left and the media will spin his words to make him into the bad guy and blame him some more. Do as you please when it comes to your health, ultimately YOU are responsible for your health, not the government,  not anyone else. If you're afraid of catching covid, get the vax, wear a mask and stay home unless it's absolutely necessary to go out!  Do you worry when you take your horse to a show, that every single horse there is healthy and has been vaccinated 5ways to Sunday??? Or do you just make sure your horse is UTD on everything YOU feel is important to protect him? Only thing they ever require and it's rare they even ask for proof is coggins. 

Yes, exactly. The horse show example is perfect, it should be the same with us. Those who want the shot should also reserach the company behind it. Pfizer is the only one receiving, or expected to receive, FDA approval currently. Moderna has yet to have anything FDA approved, ever. Johnson & Johnson still isn't that effective. So at the very least research the company of which shot you wish to go with. A booster at just 8 months out should tell you just how effective they're proving to be. Especially after 2 shots already. There's still a large percentage of covid positive people with no symptoms, that never even knew they had it. Around 30% I believe is still the number, so you have to factor that into the death rate. Lets just use US numbers for a second, 645,000 deaths so far. And total cases, if you include the 30% data of asymtomatic, you're at 50,110,000 cases. Which leaves the death rate at 1%. So you have a 1/100 chance of dying from it. Cancer kills almsot 10 million a year, and nobody does anything to reduce our risk for that