Avoiding Vaccine Conversations?

Posted by nsnelson 3 years, 6 months ago to Science
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What is your favorite response to avoid answering about your vaccine status? I do not intend to receive the COVID-19 “vaccine,” for a variety of reasons. In a time of vaccine passports, and when I am asked about my vax status by colleagues and acquaintances on a routine basis (so far only in passing casual conversation), I would like to come up with a few responses. Preferably responses that avoid the issue, avoid publicity and controversy, avoid unnecessarily straining relationships.

I doubt our USA Government will mandate vaccination, but other countries might, and private property owners (e.g., businesses) might. That will be a deal-breaker for me. In the meantime, just for avoiding vaccine conflict in casual conversation (even direct interrogation), what are your favorite retorts?


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  • Posted by $ gharkness 3 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I completely get what you are saying. It's far more beneficial to you to stay off the radar as a troublemaker. I wish I had a good answer to give, but I think the best answer is to "not hear the question" if you can reasonably change the subject. The only other thing I can think of (but I have a lousy imagination) is something on the line of "My doctor hasn't given me guidance on that yet." Or, "My doctor hasn't told me yet what to do about that." But that then tells the questioner that you have NOT had it. This may not be the answer you want to give.

    Your best response is a non-responsive answer that doesn't answer the "have you had it" question at all. I bet someone will come along with a good one :-)
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  • Posted by $ gharkness 3 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    This is one of my basic tenets of life. There are people who deserve a true response (people close in my life who are affected by what I do) and those who don't deserve even a second of my time nor even a modicum of truth. I can and will tell them anything, because it's literally none of their business.

    Now as far as removing masks: first of all they do absolutely nothing good. I am sure most of us know that, but in case anyone isn't convinced, they can google the CDC Data Tracker to get all the stats you could ever want. And second of all, even if you have had your full vax over two weeks ago, nothing in it prevents one from getting - OR transmitting - COVID. Ultimately, if it doesn't kill you, it might make your case a little weaker, but only under the best of circumstances.

    So, removing - or wearing - masks, is an exercise in silliness. I do both, depending on the circumstances of the moment, but I am still VERY ASHAMED of my fellow Texans for being such (I hate to use the word for it, but nothing else applies so well) sheep and still wearing their masks doggedly even after the state mandate went away.
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  • Posted by $ blarman 3 years, 6 months ago
    I have a legitimate health condition which is on the exemption list. But I really like Dobrien's response!

    The other one I use is this: I know of only one person - a father of a friend - who has died with COVID-19 (notice I don't say from COVID). I know of two people who have died from the vaccine (one was my wife's high school friend) and a third who almost did (sister-in-law). Given those odds, I'm not touching the "vaccines" with a ten-foot pole.
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  • Posted by $ gharkness 3 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    My real estate agent (we just listed our house) did tell me that she was fully vaxxed, but in her profession she has to appear to be concerned about the well being of her clients. (She IS a nice person and I am sure she is concerned, but we are talking about "official stance" here.) When she came to our house to discuss the listing, she was wearing a mask, and I told her we weren't afraid of her if she wanted to take off the face diaper. She was SO glad. *editing to add - and by some miracle - we didn't get sick!! (feigned surprise).

    On Facebook I belong to several cruise groups, and all the news there is about Royal requiring a vax (as well as most if not all of the others). EVERY discussion turns into a roll call with "I'm vaxxed," very proudly like they've done something magnificent. Over, and over, and over, and over...like I care. So, I'm pretty inactive in the cruising facebook groups these days!
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  • Posted by $ gharkness 3 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    That's a really good one, Dobrien! (Takes notes...)

    Surprisingly, no one I know, not even my kids, has asked me about my vax status. *Nor have I asked them.
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  • Posted by drjmetz 3 years, 6 months ago
    This comment has apparently worked pretty well: "It’s really not a topic we like discussing, TBH."
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  • Posted by $ rainman0720 3 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Agreed.

    First, I want to see how the vaccinated people are 6 months or a year from now. Do they have allergies they didn't have before? Are they anaphylactic in nature, and therefore potentially life threatening? Did they develop other health issues (increased susceptibility to the flu, for example) they didn't have before? Far too many questions that can't be answered right now.

    Second, I have allergies, some severe, and some are life-threatening. Yeah, it's been a small number, but too many of the fatalities that have been reported were from people who shared one or more of my allergies. So I've got (what I consider to be) legitimate health-related reasons to not get vaccinated.
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  • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 3 years, 6 months ago
    I tell em, I'm a Non Secreator, my immune antibodies only exist in my blood...so it's unlikely the little covids could infect me...
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  • Posted by 3 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I’m sorry to hear this. My understanding is that this is not at all uncommon. And not surprising. Many of the students I work with have had to cancel classes after receiving the vaccine.
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  • Posted by $ 25n56il4 3 years, 6 months ago
    My BFF just had her second vaccine and I am slightly alarmed. She is slurring her speech, finding it difficult to say certain words and feeling quite overall puny. Her vision is affected also.
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  • Posted by $ 25n56il4 3 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    My PCP is a Urologist, Internist, and Pathologist. He is also Chief of Staff of a 750 bed hospital. He doesn't mask and neither do his patients.
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  • Posted by 3 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    True. But most people can’t handle the truth. My goal here is to diplomatically skirt the issue as long as possible. I don’t disagree with your answer, but it does invite debate, or at least paint me with the “troublesome” label.
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  • Posted by 3 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    My doctor agrees. Even wrote me a nice note, saying I am not to be given the vaccine. Won’t help me if my company requires it, but it’s a nice conversation starter.

    2 and 4 are also true in my case.
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  • Posted by $ 25n56il4 3 years, 6 months ago
    I have a killer response. 'My primary care provider says the tests are inaccurate and I cannot take the vaccine. 1) I've had Covid. (2) I have an autoimmune disorder (3) I've had the pneumonia vaccine. 4) Covid is respiratory driven, and I am protected."
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  • Posted by Deckerron 3 years, 6 months ago
    Once they complete the EXPRIMENTAL phase of all the different manufacturers trials, then I'll consider the implications of which one to understand myself.
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    Posted by Dobrien 3 years, 6 months ago
    Yes
    I’m in the study for long term safety issues. I am in the control group.
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  • Posted by $ BobCat 3 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Then hit with the truth, “ It's an unnecessary medical device to take into one's body, given that the COVID survival rate is over 99% and that the natural immunity gained through natural infection is far better for my body and doesn't have the risks of triggering an immune system overreaction when a natural infection ultimately occurs.”
    A lot of info in that one long sentence that will be sure to put a puzzled look on the face of any of the sheep-types.
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