While I'm talking about bodies I'd like to acknowledge that BMI is a legitimate reason for people to be vaccinated in Cohort 4 but anecdotally it seems like lots of people are unaware of this or too ashamed to get it on this basis.
Many people choose not to be weighed or simply are not weighed at regular GP appointments so are having to actively seek out the vaccine via their GP rather than simply being given an appointment (again, anecdotally, I'm happy to be corrected on this).
If you have major body image issues as a result of living in a society which does not value large bodies, making a phone call to ask for a vaccine on the basis of your large body may be an insurmountable task. You almost certainly don't believe you deserve it in the first place.
I'd just like to say that as fat people we experience discrimination so regularly, systemically, socially and yes, medically, that I would beg you to take advantage of this singular time when it might work in our favour.
If medical experts have decided that this is where you should be in the vaccine order, then that's where you should be. I know it's difficult to accept, especially if you are perfectly healthy, but it's the decision of experts.
Personally, it's something I'm really struggling with, but if I was talking to a friend this is what I would say to them, and I know I have a lot of large bodied followers and I wanted to offer some words of support.
We have shame foisted on us every day of our lives, so it's natural to find this tough. It's really triggered some very difficult stuff within me, so if you're the same I'm sending you lots of love.
Final point on this. GPs are not immune from feeling awkward talking about weight-related issues, so if you are a GP finding these conversations difficult and would like advice on how to navigate this compassionately then feel free to send me an e-mail.
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