Thinking Aloud On a Sunday

~ beetleypete

Vaccine Snobbery.

I woke up today thinking about Covid-19 vaccinations. I had mine last week, and many other bloggers were reporting on those received by themselves or their loved ones.

But that wasn’t the reason I was thinking about it. It was because I encountered a dog walker recently who asked if I had already had my vaccine. When I said yes, he wanted to know what type of vaccine I had received. I told him it was the Astra-Zeneca, and he seemed pleased. He told me he had been given the Pfizer, which was the ‘better’ vaccine.

The NHS here gives you the vaccine that is available on the day. You don’t get to choose. You don’t get to debate which one you would prefer, or to argue about the statistics relating to how effective it is. I am more than grateful to have received any vaccine, free of charge, and delivered early, painlessly, and efficiently. Whether or not one drug company claims better results is of no consequence to me.

But in a country where many are somewhat obsessed with having a bigger house, or a better car, it seems that Covid-19 is supplying such people with a new version of one-upmanship.

Vaccine Snobbery.

Get over yourselves, please.

72 thoughts on “Thinking Aloud On a Sunday”

  2. Congratulations, Pete! You got it, we here have to wait a little bit longer, and maybe can choose between two or four sorts of vaccine. Honestly, vaccined is vaccined. The vaccine does not need to be 99% effective. Better is to get it as fast as possible.
    For since the so-called British mutation B.1.1.7, Germany once again fears the term “British”, like the virus itself. Lol

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      1. This are very great news, Pete!” Here just listening to another discussion on the radio – they offer them now ever day at least twice – they can not deal with the AstraZeneca vaccine. Honestly, only a few official agree with beeing vaccinated. This are regrets harming the healing of the whole community. Michael

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  3. Congrats! This post is bookmarked in my “COVID Stories” repository that makes fun of stuff I have long made fun of – whether on ‘designer of suit/dress’, ‘type of car driven’, ‘what school did you attend?’ or “So, where do you work?” kinds of snobbery – – But – well – okey-dokey – IF that guy, for a moment, chooses to ‘get over’ his inner thoughts of “OMG! I might ACTUALLY HAVE TO DIE” sometime thoughts – by feeling superior to you because got a different brand of shot? In my world? Let him have the win – it will be fine – and well – – to my mind? He has so many other issues going on right now to deal with, trying to talk about why he is wrong in his assessment of ‘which is better’ is really, rather, silly – CUZ he is SCARED to DIE! and is trying everyway he knows to NOT live with the fact that someday, he will die, too – and trying to avoid it – – seriously? I just feel so sorry for him, overall – even if he had no vaccination and was worried he’d have to ‘choose’ the best choice, when his turn came up – he has bigger issues to address – that’s my thoughts on the matter – which ain’t very popular right now, but truly feel strongly about this stuff, though, not trying to ‘troll’ on this – – it is, in the end, just MY opinion – – and…well….I could be wrong…..

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  7. Some people don’t know a good thing and can’t be grateful for anything. I’ve been reading about African countries that get charges astronomical amounts for their vaccines. My mother is over 80 and has other risk factors as well, but as she lives at home, she hasn’t got her vaccine yet (nor a date to get it either. We shall see). Any will be fine as far as she’s concerned, and me, although I very much suspect that with the new variants we’ll all have to have more than one type or incarnation of vaccine (and they might become seasonal). Stay safe.

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    1. It does seem that we will have to be vaccinated every year from now on.
      I’m surprised that your mother hasn’t been vaccinated. European countries appear to be going slowly with their vaccination programmes, compared to the UK.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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    1. Yes, that is very possible. These new vaccines don’t stop you getting it, or transmitting it to others. They just claim to ‘reduce the symptoms and avoid hospitalisation’. That’s why it is not really a vaccine in the true sense, and one reason why politicians here always refer to it as ‘The Jab’.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  9. I don’t know about this person, but those of us who have an autoimmune disease (I have Lyme) should not have vaccines that contain live virus, however low the dose, so it’s better to have the Pfizer or other RNA vaccine. Before Covid even appeared, my doctor forbade me to have any vaccines, including for flue, and I only had the tetanus one, because I work around horses and tetanus is a real danger. So I’m hoping the right vaccine will be available when my turn comes, which here in France does not seem imminent!

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    1. Thanks for adding that information, Marina. The man in question was only referring to the advertised efficacy, with Pfizer claiming a higher success rate. They have vaccinated over 15 million people in the UK now, so I don’t understand why things are going so slowly in Europe.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  10. What a curious reaction. I’m happy for all of my friends who have already been vaccinated. Asking which company they got it from seems silly at this point since we don’t have enough data to support the long-range success of one over the other. My wife and I will continue to wait patiently. As long as the process is moving along steadily, I’m happy. The paper said a few days ago that 14% of our county had been vaccinated so far.

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    1. There are just under 68 million people in Britain, and so far 15 million have had a vaccination. Not a bad percentage in a short time. But trust an Englshman to try to act superior over one vaccine or another. 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  11. Christ Almighty.

    I‘m not eligible yet and that‘s fine, but my mom (82 yo) is scheduled to have hers in a couple of weeks, and I‘ll just be glad when she finally does … whichever vaccine she‘ll be given.

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  14. We are still waiting. Our oldest son has informed us he is in a testing program and doesn’t know if he received the new vaccine or a placebo. And of course, my youngest brother said he won’t get vaccinated…it is all a scam.

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    1. Sorry, Don but at your age you should have been vaccinated months ago. People of your age in Beetley all had both jabs by the end of December. That’s not good at all my friend.
      I also have relatives whio think it is a scam. I hope they don’t regret that.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  19. My mum asked me what it was like getting the Pfeiffer vaccine. It’s kind of Up Close and Personal, but shouldn’t be of any harm to those with Dangerous Minds. But I did note that I got some funny reactions from people and have leaned to keep it quiet; there are vaccine snobs for sure. I guess lockdown makes people short of talking points…

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  25. Stupid person! We don’t know if there is any difference but I would guess some are better than others against mutated strains. I’m glad people aren’t given a choice. Our nurse said we had the only one they had that day. I did think it rather odd when they said we might be able to mix them and have the other one for our second jab. We just have to rely on the experts.It’s so amazing that they are still working on tweaking them. I feel grateful but wish they would vaccinate the police and bus drivers next.

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