Has anyone convinced relatives to get vaccinated?

[Anonymous]

My relatives claim that their doctor advised against getting vaccinated because of their underlying medical conditions. I will give them the benefit of the doubt but am really worried and wonder if the doctor made the best risk/benefit assessment. I am worried because they live in an area where there is high transmission and see other relatives (who are vaccinated but medically vulnerable/elderly). Would it be okay to suggest seeking another medical opinion? Perhaps I could suggest considering the Novavax vaccine (which will hopefully receive EUA soon) because the side effects are slightly milder than in other available vaccines? Will take any suggestions.

[Anonymous]

I have tried. These people won't get vaccinated, they're really against it. I have quit trying.

I'd let it go if I were you.

[Anonymous]

First of all, they are probably lying about what their doctor said, unless their doctor is a culty Trumper or something.

My sister is a nurse practitioner and she said the thing that is most effective is explaining why they should be much more worried about getting the disease than they should be about getting the vaccine. But unfortunately it is a losing battle most of the time.

[Anonymous]

No but I did tell my father I am not bringing my young kids for Thanksgiving unless my stepbrother and his wife get vaccinated. They aren't really anti-vax, just work from home and feel no urgency, so they will probably do it.

[Anonymous]

It worked for one relative, but sadly three of my aunts are still not persuaded: one is a long-time anti-vaccine believer, and the two others are elderly, confused, and don’t want to leave their homes.

[Anonymous]

My sister's husband has convinced her the vaccines cause health issues. though she can clearly see the rest of us are vaccinated and fine. She has fragile health so it upsets me that she won't listen to us. She is wealthy and he kind of lives off her. (He is also younger by quite a few years.) Sometimes I wonder if he is hoping to inherit soon because they travel all over and she is rarely in a mask.

[Anonymous]

My sister's husband has convinced her the vaccines cause health issues. though she can clearly see the rest of us are vaccinated and fine. She has fragile health so it upsets me that she won't listen to us. She is wealthy and he kind of lives off her. (He is also younger by quite a few years.) Sometimes I wonder if he is hoping to inherit soon because they travel all over and she is rarely in a mask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No but I did tell my father I am not bringing my young kids for Thanksgiving unless my stepbrother and his wife get vaccinated. They aren't really anti-vax, just work from home and feel no urgency, so they will probably do it.

I don't think words are going to convince anyone at this point, but actions will. Drawing a hard line about seeing them (or about outdoor-only, or masked-only) seems like the best leverage a relative might have, particularly a close relative who sees you often.

[Anonymous]

I didn't actively convince hesitant relatives. However they became more comfortable as they saw more people get the vaccine and do fine. We didn't pressure, just offered to help make appointments.

There are just a couple holdouts now, but they are basically still in lockdown mode . They fear the disease and the vaccine. They aren't out and about spreading covid.

[Anonymous]

My in-laws won’t vaccinate. My vaccinated college kids would only see them outdoors this summer but that didn’t bother them. I wish we could convince them but they seem to think they’re invincible. If they get covid now I won’t be participating in any kind of health care they might need. They made their choice, they can deal with any consequences.

[Anonymous]

I think the only thing that convinces hold outs is a consequence they value more than whatever is keeping them from getting vaccinated.

I have neighbors who are absolutely sure the vaccine causes infertility, so they didn't get it.

Then she was offered a great job that required it, and boom -- she got the vax. Suddenly infertility wasn't as big a risk as losing out on a great job.

[Anonymous]

No.

I just will not see them inside until they get the vaccine or the pandemic ends and that's fine with me.

Most are slowly being vaccinated, after they've seen most people do ok with the vaccine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No.

I just will not see them inside until they get the vaccine or the pandemic ends and that's fine with me.

Most are slowly being vaccinated, after they've seen most people do ok with the vaccine.

Just FYI: pandemic officially ended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the only thing that convinces hold outs is a consequence they value more than whatever is keeping them from getting vaccinated.

I have neighbors who are absolutely sure the vaccine causes infertility, so they didn't get it.

Then she was offered a great job that required it, and boom -- she got the vax. Suddenly infertility wasn't as big a risk as losing out on a great job.

Why does it bother you that people waited risks and benefits before getting vaccine?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My relatives claim that their doctor advised against getting vaccinated because of their underlying medical conditions. I will give them the benefit of the doubt but am really worried and wonder if the doctor made the best risk/benefit assessment. I am worried because they live in an area where there is high transmission and see other relatives (who are vaccinated but medically vulnerable/elderly). Would it be okay to suggest seeking another medical opinion? Perhaps I could suggest considering the Novavax vaccine (which will hopefully receive EUA soon) because the side effects are slightly milder than in other available vaccines? Will take any suggestions.

They probably got another medical opinion. If they live in a high transmission area and managed for two years not to get sick while visiting people around, I think they know what they are doing. Leave them along. If they have a medical condition, they already have enough to deal with.