Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Icon
Error

Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
ballyclover  
#1 Posted : 14 July 2021 18:34:14(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
ballyclover

Hi All,

As H&S professionals do you believe we have duty, not morally to promote the use of the vaccine. Personally, I believe all should be free to choose but I am aware of several companies giving ultimatums. Get the needle or continue to wear masks and observe distancing. I believe as the law will make wearing of masks and distancing down to individuals it can’t be enforced.

Transport is different you choose to use a bus or train, but you cannot choose to work or not. Interested in views.

Roundtuit  
#2 Posted : 14 July 2021 21:02:33(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

IF the vaccine gave 100% immunity / IF the vaccine prevented transmission - TWO BIG IF's then I might suggest to people they get the vaccine HOWEVER immunity is not 100% and transmission carries on regardless therefore those mandating jabs for jobs are wrong.

WORSE is the concept from our great and good that care workers MUST have the vaccine to "protect the vulnerable" except those of us who think about risk will readily identify those same facilities housing the vulnerable will admit other health professionals, visitors, friends and family who may or may not have been vaccinated i.e. the vulnerable remain "at significant risk". We should not be making pyriahs out of people who deserve much better (including decent pay) from the society they have chosen to serve.

As to your post even if I have the jab we still need the mask and distancing - apparently I received the non-EU approved Astra-Zenneca Indian jab, a realtive had a wholly non-approved trial vaccine.

Roundtuit  
#3 Posted : 14 July 2021 21:02:33(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

IF the vaccine gave 100% immunity / IF the vaccine prevented transmission - TWO BIG IF's then I might suggest to people they get the vaccine HOWEVER immunity is not 100% and transmission carries on regardless therefore those mandating jabs for jobs are wrong.

WORSE is the concept from our great and good that care workers MUST have the vaccine to "protect the vulnerable" except those of us who think about risk will readily identify those same facilities housing the vulnerable will admit other health professionals, visitors, friends and family who may or may not have been vaccinated i.e. the vulnerable remain "at significant risk". We should not be making pyriahs out of people who deserve much better (including decent pay) from the society they have chosen to serve.

As to your post even if I have the jab we still need the mask and distancing - apparently I received the non-EU approved Astra-Zenneca Indian jab, a realtive had a wholly non-approved trial vaccine.

Gerry Knowles  
#4 Posted : 15 July 2021 07:32:02(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Gerry Knowles

We had a meeting yesterday to discuss our way forward post 19th July.  The outcome was that we are not going to change very much, we are going to refresh our signage and actively encourage our employees to continue with hand washing and as far as we can maintaining distance, we are advising them to wear a face covering where they think it is appropriate.  We will also continue to operate with open doors and windows.  As for vaccinations we have said to all our employees that we would like them to be vaccinated but stressed that we were not forcing them into to it and assuring them that no ones job is at risk if they don't.  As is usual we are also going to pay for the routine seasonal flu vaccination for employees who need to pay for it, if they want it. We are providing tests for employees who feel unwell and are supporting track and trace.  What is important is that we have supported our employees throughout the whole pandemic.  The result is that we have grown as a company both in size and in stature and we now have a larger workforce than before the pandemic started.  We believe we had the right stategy, to date no cases and only one case of self isolation this was due to an unknown contact.  

Personally I firmly believe that it is a persons right to chose what medications or vaccinces they use, so I would never force a person to take or be injected with anything they don't want.  

I do believe, that the people of the UK don't need laws to ensure that they take adequate precautions to prevent the spread of covid, they will generally do what is right, the people who won't are the people who are not doing it now. 

What I do believe is that there are too many laws in this country this gives sucessive governments too much power over the population and in particular we must press our politicians to ensure that all of the legislation that has been put in place relating to covid that restricts the right of people to free movement and generally enjoy the freedoms we have must be removed from the statute, because somewhere down the line some political party will use it for their own ends. 

A Kurdziel  
#5 Posted : 15 July 2021 08:48:48(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

If any business decides to make vaccinations a condition of employment is biting off a lot more than they can chew. Questions they should be considering:

 

  1. Which vaccinations- most people are getting vaccinated under the NHS programme. They are being told which vaccine they will be getting and when.  What happens if they are further down the queue or if stocks a particular vaccine run low and the jab appointment is delayed. Would they penalise staff for that?
  2. What about the boosters that we will probably need? And of course, there are the other winter viruses; are you going to insist on those being compulsory?
  3. What if someone reacts badly to the vaccine? Can the employer who insists on employees having it, be held liable?
  4.  What evidence will be demanded as proof of vaccination?
  5. Will you really send home and sack employees who have not been vaccinated?
Roundtuit  
#6 Posted : 15 July 2021 09:27:29(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

On Bastille Day (14th July) the streets of Paris see protests and tear gas against Macron's vaccination diktat for health workers and "passports" for bars and restaraunts.

Roundtuit  
#7 Posted : 15 July 2021 09:27:29(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

On Bastille Day (14th July) the streets of Paris see protests and tear gas against Macron's vaccination diktat for health workers and "passports" for bars and restaraunts.

biker1  
#8 Posted : 15 July 2021 09:37:06(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
biker1

It is certainly a moral dilemma, and I don't think our government, or our society as a whole, have really got to grips with the implications of it. We hear a lot about an individual's human rights, but as with other things, rights have to be balanced against responsibilities. Exercising your human rights should not be at the expense of other peoples' human rights. We have never mandated vaccinations for other diseases, although other countries sometimes do, but then we have been experiencing a pandemic unprecedented in living memory. If the vaccines were 100% effective for both infection and transmission, and had no potential side effects, the arguments might be clearer. Perhaps we need to take our lead from the scientists, as the government clearly don't know what they're doing.

CptBeaky  
#9 Posted : 15 July 2021 10:48:20(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
CptBeaky

Originally Posted by: ballyclover Go to Quoted Post

As H&S professionals do you believe we have duty, not morally to promote the use of the vaccine. 

CptBeaky  
#10 Posted : 15 July 2021 11:00:21(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
CptBeaky

Sorry can't edit my post.

I think all people should promote the use of vaccines, if the science backs it up. We should all be socially responsible irregardless of our profession. However, I am in a position of trust. Our employees expect me to know what is the best way for them to be safe. Therefore I take no shame in encouraging our workers to get vaccinated.

When the vaccination program was first announced I would estimate only 50% of our workforce was expecting to have them, with the usual concerns of "not enough testing" to "Bill Gates wants to track us all". I campaigned hard against this and am proud that 98% have already had their first injection, and 62% have had both.

It is personal choice, for sure, but I try ensure that choice is informed by facts, not speculation.

thanks 4 users thanked CptBeaky for this useful post.
Alan Haynes on 15/07/2021(UTC), biker1 on 15/07/2021(UTC), Kate on 16/07/2021(UTC), nic168 on 01/09/2021(UTC)
Roundtuit  
#11 Posted : 15 July 2021 12:41:34(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Given acceptance issues for particular vaccines around the globe, comparative performance issues being reported in surveillance studies and manufacturer recommendations two jabs is highly unlikely to be the end of the journey.

Roundtuit  
#12 Posted : 15 July 2021 12:41:34(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Given acceptance issues for particular vaccines around the globe, comparative performance issues being reported in surveillance studies and manufacturer recommendations two jabs is highly unlikely to be the end of the journey.

biker1  
#13 Posted : 15 July 2021 13:52:05(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
biker1

Quite so. I see the way ahead as being a combination of everyone being vaccinated, and retaining some infection control measures in appropriate places, until at least we have the delta variant under control. In view of the suspension of other NHS services, and the effects of this, during the pandemic, the last thing we need now is to see a surge in hospital admissions. We need a period of stability to enable the NHS to catch up, and abandoning all precautions on the 19th is not going to provide this.

A Kurdziel  
#14 Posted : 16 July 2021 08:40:51(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

“We need a period of stability to enable the NHS to catch up, and abandoning all precautions on the 19th is not going to provide this.” Can’t argue with that but what the (English) government is doing is rather than legislating for a transition to “normality”, as Scotland and Wales are trying to do, they have decided to fulfil their promise to the right wing of the Tory party and get rid of all of the legislation and leave it for businesses to come up with up with a strategy to save the country. That is plan abdication of responsibility.

thanks 2 users thanked A Kurdziel for this useful post.
CptBeaky on 16/07/2021(UTC), nic168 on 01/09/2021(UTC)
Users browsing this topic
Guest (2)
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.