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I’m an ICU Doctor and I Can't Believe What Unvaccinated Patients Are Saying

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131–140 of 158 posts

Re: I’m an ICU Doctor and I Can't Believe What Unvaccinated Patients Are Saying

#131

I really don't understand the anti-vaxxers. I mean, OK, when the vaccine first came out, I could understand a small measure of hesitancy. Hell, I even said something to the effect of "I don't necessarily want to be first in line." But at this point, the vaccines have been given to, what, billions of people? And the number of people who have suffered severe ramifications that can be attributed to a vaccine rounds to z…

was having this exact conversation with my wife last night.

my nephew and his mother are being very hesitant because "the vaccine is so new and untested"...

They don't have any issue getting the flu vaccine every year...

I just don't understand their mindset.

Re: I’m an ICU Doctor and I Can't Believe What Unvaccinated Patients Are Saying

#132

I really don't understand the anti-vaxxers. I mean, OK, when the vaccine first came out, I could understand a small measure of hesitancy. Hell, I even said something to the effect of "I don't necessarily want to be first in line." But at this point, the vaccines have been given to, what, billions of people? And the number of people who have suffered severe ramifications that can be attributed to a vaccine rounds to z…

I think “being statistically unlikely of a negative outcome” is the wrong argument though. That argument can be made regarding COVID-19 as well as the vaccines, particularly among the largest age demographic currently expressing vaccine hesitation. They are statistically unlikely to die from Covid too.

The best thing to do at least in the US is for the FDA to fully approve the vaccine, both for adults and for children. I suspect you will always have 10-15% that are vaccine holdouts no matter what, but until there is full FDA approval, you will never ever reach 70-75%.

Re: I’m an ICU Doctor and I Can't Believe What Unvaccinated Patients Are Saying

#133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7031e2.htm In the Provincetown, Massachusetts outbreak: "Among five COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized, four were fully vaccinated".

I agree that event is concerning. But it's also a small sample size and there could be many reasons why, in that group, the numbers came out the way they did, including natural clustering. That would also explain the OPs anecdote as it's very possible an individual hospital is seeing more hospitalizations among the vaccinated just due to the vagaries of statistics. That's why large sample sizes and careful analysis a…

What concerns me about that case and some of these other anecdotal stories with similar breakthrough percentages is that it can also speak to possible vaccine batch quality issues in a given region/area. The storage and transport of the mRNA vaccines is a bit complex already to ensure effectiveness.

Re: I’m an ICU Doctor and I Can't Believe What Unvaccinated Patients Are Saying

#134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Possibly, but they wouldn't make a noticeable number. The antivaxxers crowd is bigger and more motivated by the same nonsense. I wonder why they, including the same people who hate injections, never complained about mandatory vaccines for their kids, a practice that went on for decades in many countries? For example, most European countries had and still have 10 or more obligatory vaccinations for diseases that were…

I have likely received more vaccinations than most people here, as a result of my travels and history. I have not been vaccinated for COVID-19. I did receive a positive test (a few days of unusual coughing and lethargy) in November, and confirmed with extensive antibody testing recently that I still have natural resistance. I am not opposed to getting vaccinated, if/when necessary, but now is not that time. I am well…

what do you find hateful? Do you not think that there is alot of politicized misinformation now that is making the current public health crisis worse? One of my best friends has fallen for qanon. He thinks that vaccine makes you magnetic and Michelle Obama is a man. Should we be ok with this? squarefoot does not say he wishes harm on anyone, he just sounds frustrated, and i can relate

Re: I’m an ICU Doctor and I Can't Believe What Unvaccinated Patients Are Saying

#135
post #18
post #2

I can. I got my shots as soon as I could, but I know lots of people that will never do it. Yesterday I was eating at a ramen shop - traffic was slow, so I got to listen to the bulletproof young man waiting tables talk to his friend at length about how he'd never get the shot, just like the flu, I'm not an anti-vaxxer - but, I don't wear tinfoil hats - but. The list of reasons not to do it was long and apparently conv…

A relative of mine is buying into the vaccine conspiracies along with shitting on depression and other mental problems, and honestly, I wish they'd get a serious case of Covid or something. These people don't learn until someone they know actually fucking dies.

This anti-vax nonsense has really tested my ability to not wish suffering on others. I’ve climbed that hill and found the empathy for these people, but it took actual mental effort.

Re: I’m an ICU Doctor and I Can't Believe What Unvaccinated Patients Are Saying

#136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Possibly, but they wouldn't make a noticeable number. The antivaxxers crowd is bigger and more motivated by the same nonsense. I wonder why they, including the same people who hate injections, never complained about mandatory vaccines for their kids, a practice that went on for decades in many countries? For example, most European countries had and still have 10 or more obligatory vaccinations for diseases that were…

I have likely received more vaccinations than most people here, as a result of my travels and history. I have not been vaccinated for COVID-19. I did receive a positive test (a few days of unusual coughing and lethargy) in November, and confirmed with extensive antibody testing recently that I still have natural resistance. I am not opposed to getting vaccinated, if/when necessary, but now is not that time. I am well…

With all due respect, you're wrong in believing I was referring to you.

I've got symptomatic Covid-19 in late october 2020, loss of taste and smell, bad cough and high temperatures for about a week, but since it wasn't that bad and hospitals back then were overwhelmed by people in much worse conditions, so I stayed at home with my girlfriend (Covid positive as well but weaker symptoms) although in daily contact with my doctor which prescribed me the necessary cures. After recovering and passing a negative test I started enjoying my freedom, but apparently 2020 had other plans for me, so in early december I suffered the worst road accident in my life, which required 2 surgeries and almost 2 months of hospitalization. I have no idea why, but as soon as I was brought to the ER, they tested me for Covid with a swab, which turned positive. I can see myself telling them "that's impossible, I recovered just 3 weeks ago!" but they didn't believe me until my girlfriend brought the entire documentation about that. Problem was that I was still positive, multiple tests confirmed it, although this time 100% asymptomatic, so they were forced to send me in the Covid ward. Being in a Covid ward means you won't see anyone's face, nor have any contacts with your family or friends. Even nurses and doctors will quickly do what is necessary to assist you then rush out of the room asap. I spent all December and most of January there, and could see people dead or dying of Covid in their beds. I counted 5 of them: 3 in intensive care and 2 in the room. In one case I could see the poor man being helped by the nurses to get in bed, then putting a couple oxygen pipes in his nostrils, jut like the ones they gave to me although I didn't need them. In a few days, the man conditions worsened steadily, so he was first given an oxygen mask, then an helmet, then he was intubated, and a couple more days they pronounced him dead, put him in a bag and carried him away. I also had as roommate an elder man who happened to succesfully defeat Covid, although he ended up completely dissociated (possibly lack of oxygen?), so for a couple weeks I had there a poor man who kept calling loudly his mom, a number of his relatives, the police (he kept screaming that someone was attempting to kill him), and other people like every 10 seconds until either he had no voice anymore, or the nurses sedated him. I believe that I was sedated with him as well through the same oxygen circuit, since in a few cases I experienced hallucinations and bad dreams (I was in a line of beds in a field slowly going forward for my turn to get surgery) which seemed taken straight from an early Pink Floyd album. All of this, then eventually I got home, although in need of daily rehabilitation for one more month, and other therapies later (broken L4 is nasty).

My condition, minus the accident, isn't that different from yours. I also took a spike test in late March, which confirmed I had a very high antibodies level, and... surprise: I'm not vaccinated as well, although I'm already in line to get it on Aug 11, Pfizer, probably a single dose for having already been positive.

What we're in very different leagues, again minus the accident, is the knowledge of the dangers of Covid. I could see people either dead or dying, and am not comfortable knowing that every time someone doesn't take any precautions, the result might be more deaths. I would have no problems if negationists and anti-vaxxers would get home, alone, and remain there until Covid is 100% eradicated, but that is not the case as they often wander around with no protections during their protests. Knowingly acting as virus carriers is a freedom they shouldn't deserve; they simply disgust me. Of course I'm not putting people with allergies, or others who have serious medical conditions that prevent them from taking vaccines; that should have been clear from the beginning. About the others? I have zero respect for them.

Re: I’m an ICU Doctor and I Can't Believe What Unvaccinated Patients Are Saying

#137
post #2

I can. I got my shots as soon as I could, but I know lots of people that will never do it. Yesterday I was eating at a ramen shop - traffic was slow, so I got to listen to the bulletproof young man waiting tables talk to his friend at length about how he'd never get the shot, just like the flu, I'm not an anti-vaxxer - but, I don't wear tinfoil hats - but. The list of reasons not to do it was long and apparently conv…

I'm curious, if you are young, what are the reasons to get vaccinated?

Given the stakes, it is a small ask. It will help end the pandemic.

Re: I’m an ICU Doctor and I Can't Believe What Unvaccinated Patients Are Saying

#138
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a hunch there’s quite a few people who just don’t like needles, and are happy there are so many creative excuses to avoid getting the shot.

I have no real needle phobia but in the past I was never very fond of them either, because they felt unpleasant. But with my recent vaccinations I really could not tell when it started or ended. Modern injection needles are a lot smaller than the ones that were used a decade ago. Some tips: Try to relax your muscles. Lift your arms and let them fall down again. Look away.

Look away is the most solid advice here. Pain from vaccination (at least immediate pain) is mostly in our heads. I hate needles but I always tell about it to the person giving me the shot (or take blood) and look away. If you ever got stung by a bee or got a paper cut, those are probably a thousand times more painful and you don't even see those coming to be prepared.

Re: I’m an ICU Doctor and I Can't Believe What Unvaccinated Patients Are Saying

#139
post #2

I can. I got my shots as soon as I could, but I know lots of people that will never do it. Yesterday I was eating at a ramen shop - traffic was slow, so I got to listen to the bulletproof young man waiting tables talk to his friend at length about how he'd never get the shot, just like the flu, I'm not an anti-vaxxer - but, I don't wear tinfoil hats - but. The list of reasons not to do it was long and apparently conv…

I'm curious, if you are young, what are the reasons to get vaccinated?

We have young people in icu too. Young means less likely but still possible to get very sick and die from covid.
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