School pupils vaccinated from September

[Totalbeach]

This is in lots of papers today. Such as:

www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/19274021.secondary-school-pupils-set-get-covid-jab-september/

And:

www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/02/nhs-england-draws-up-plan-to-give-covid-jabs-to-children-12-and-over

What’s your reaction?

Mine is that I 100% won’t be allowing my children to be vaccinated.

In the whole pandemic so far, 12 children under 15 have died in the U.K. That increases to 32 in the under 20s. The mortality rate is vanishingly tiny. A huge percentage of kids don’t even get symptoms at all.

The government has assured us till they are blue in the face that schools are safe and that children don’t spread it so it will be interesting to see what kind of enormous gaslighting they attempt to pull off to persuade parents they now need to vaccinate their kids.

The long term effects of the vaccines are totally unknown and recent events with AZ have proved rather horribly that even after a vaccine is rolled out, serious effects can come to light. Including events that disproportionately affect certain age groups.

I’m fully vaccinated (including first Covid vaccine) as are my kids but there is no way I’d let them be vaccinated in September. With any of the vaccines.

[duffeldaisy]

I'm really keen to get my kids vaccinated. It'll be such a relief. There's very little risk of death, you're right OP, but long Covid is a risk, and it can lead to organ damage, so I really want to protect them from that for starters - plus it'll help as part of general herd immunity.

[Newgirls]

Very happy for mine to - she’s as tall as me so will prob handle it fine.

[BonnesVacances]

Do you know what the morbidity rate is from Covid OP? In children?

[Waxonwaxoff0]

DS is 7 so this isn't applicable to him but I absolutely won't be getting him vaccinated.

[x2boys]

I,LL be getting my two vaccinated ,they keep saying nobody,s safe untill everyone,is safe ,kids can still spread it ,plus my youngest starts at a special needs high school in September for children with severe learning disabilities to PMLD whilst he's physically healthy many pupils will be extremely clinically vulnerable.

[Pinkpaisley]

My child has an underlying medical condition. We have already discussed the pros and cons with her specialists. If she becomes eligible we will be hoping to get her vaccinated as quickly as possible.

[Shelovesamystery]

No way! Absolutely no need to vaccinate kids against covid.

[UpToMyElbowsInDiapers]

My kids are under 12 but I do worry about them with the new variants. I know families whose toddlers have been very poorly for weeks with COVID, and as a previous poster mentioned young people do seem to be more prone to mild symptoms but also “long COVID”. I also think the herd immunity point is an important one. I get my kids vaccinated with all the regular vaccines, and I’m more than happy to trust public health officials on this one too if/when the time comes.

[Newgirls]

Fairly sure I caught covid from my teen - both had classic symptoms. No long covid. She’s had all the other vaccinations and we pay for flu jab so why not this one.

[kowari]

@Newgirls

Very happy for mine to - she’s as tall as me so will prob handle it fine.

I don't think height comes into it, it's about the immune system. Younger adults have been having more side effects haven't they?

[Topseyt]

If I still had school aged children I would 100% be making sure they got the vaccine as and when offered it. Two of my three are in their twenties though, so will sort themselves out as and when they are offered it. My youngest is almost 19 and is at uni, so she will sort herself out and get vaccinated when the opportunity presents itself.

I really don't see why children shouldn't be vaccinated. Even if they are more often asymptomatic, there is still evidence that the vaccine reduces spread.

[DinosaurDiana]

If you’re going to refuse please make the effort to sign ‘no’ on the consent form.
That saves the staff having to phone and ask. Many people believe not bothering to reply is a no - it’s not.

[OldScrappyAndHungry]

Kids get mass flu vaccinations every year to protect elderly relatives - what’s the difference??

[DinosaurDiana]

And my DS will be deciding whether he wants it or not. I’d like him to get it.

[Totalbeach]

The risk from long Covid is also tiny and very little data exists showing any serious long-term effects (though I’m sure that’s what they will wheel out to try to scare parents into vaccinating!) Certainly not enough data to be worth risking giving my kids a new vaccine.

[RedFrogsRule]

My DD is still at school and is also 18. She works at weekends in a job which meant she’s had the vaccine. I’m thrilled and so is she. She loves feeling like she’s protecting her grandparents.

[HazeyJaneII]

We are desperate for news about a vaccine being suitable for under 12s, as ds is medically vulnerable and shielded for most of the year. His sisters are 14 and 15 and have said they would like to get vaccinated when it is offered.

[DinosaurDiana]

I’ve been told that all years up to and including year11 will be offered the nasal flu.

[littlepeas]

Not at the moment. That’s not to say I never would, but I’d like to see more data on the blood clot risk before I allow my dc to be vaccinated. That said, I’m assuming they will get Pfizer or Moderna as they’re under 30. Undecided!

[OldScrappyAndHungry]

@Totalbeach do your children have the flu vax every year?

[Aroundtheworldin80moves]

Mine are too young. But I would.
Children have lost a lot this past year.

[Totalbeach]

Kids get mass flu vaccinations every year to protect elderly relatives - what’s the difference??

Flu vaccinations have been around for a very long time. Nobody has had a Pfizer vaccine for more than about a year at most and no child has had it longer ago than a few months - and a small sample size at that.

[kowari]

@DinosaurDiana

I’ve been told that all years up to and including year11 will be offered the nasal flu.

My DS is in year 10 and has never been offered it.

[conywarp]

The risk isn't just to the children though. Why are so many people missing this major factor?

[DinosaurDiana]

mow ark - will be offered ie are going to be offered this year.