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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not understand why parents would volunteer their young children for testing

78 replies

help1653 · 21/04/2020 19:50

I got a big pack of information through the post a couple of weeks ago on a clinical trial for young children. They want to test immunity to vaccinations including testing for existing immunity to Covid 19. But they dont think the Covid 19 test is accurate enough to tell the parents the results. So you are putting your child through painful blood tests just for travel expenses and the fluffy feeling of benefiting the greater good of furthering medical research. My children are 6 and 8 so couldn't consent to this trial in any way. I dont get why any parent would agree to this.

OP posts:

Ponoka7 · 21/04/2020 19:54

My granddaughter has had to have bloods done in the past and quite enjoys the attention. She has a high pain threshold. She's nearly six and would consent to this.

We meed human guinea pigs, children included. I've been involved in research and I've helped bring about break through knowledge. It benefits us all.

TeenPlusTwenties · 21/04/2020 19:55

My adult DD got this too.

Aren't the also testing things like whether they are still immune to Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Diptheria etc?

Given there has been a rise in measles(?) knowing your child was definitely immune to that could be a good thing perhaps?

HandfulOfDust · 21/04/2020 19:56

A blood test is hardly that painful. I'd be happy to do this as long as there was no long term risk to my child and the child themselves said they wanted to do it. I'd be really proud they were willing to help people.

modgepodge · 21/04/2020 19:58

Well it’s a good thing not every parent thinks like you OP, as otherwise there would be no vaccines available for children.

ScarfLadysBag · 21/04/2020 19:58

Is it just blood tests? I didn't care about getting blood taken as a kid. In fact I used to like asking questions and watching the blood fill the vials And surely if they need the data from children then someone's got to do it? Obviously if you have a child who is scared of blood tests then don't sign up, but not every child is bothered by injections 🤷‍♀️

Fedupandpoor · 21/04/2020 19:59

Is it just drawing blood or actually injecting them with something?

Natsku · 21/04/2020 19:59

So its just for blood tests to check immunity? I'd volunteer my children for that, blood tests aren't that big of a deal.

ScarfLadysBag · 21/04/2020 20:00

You do realise that someone's children need to do these things to protect all our children, yes? Whose children should they use?

HavelockVetinari · 21/04/2020 20:03

Huh? It's a boood test, hardly painful and invasive. I would volunteer my DS (2) if I thought it would save lives. A needle prick compared to a life?

Sh05 · 21/04/2020 20:03

I don't know if I could but your title makes it sound like the children are being used as guinea pigs.
I had this horrifying feeling as I saw it and great relief as I read the thread

RHTawneyonabus · 21/04/2020 20:04

Blood tests fine. Can’t say I’d be volunteering them the trial the newest Covid vaccine but can’t see any risks for a blood test that could help collect important data.

DontRockTheB0at · 21/04/2020 20:04

I would consent to this on behalf of my 5 year old. I’m almost 100% certain that she would actually consent to this herself with a good age appropriate explanation of why it was necessary and how it would benefit everyone now and in the future.

Original poster

help1653 · 21/04/2020 20:04

@TeenPlusTwenties parents arent told the results, so you don't know if your child is immune to anything. I would consider it if they shared the results with parents but it specifically says they don't.

And both my boys had vaccinations last year and thought they were painful to the point I wasnt sure I'd get them to have the second dose! So I didnt think they would agree that blood tests arent painful.

For an older child who could consent I would be pleased for them to do it if they wanted to, but a 6 and 8 year old can't give meaningful consent to a medical procedure.

OP posts:

circusintown · 21/04/2020 20:05

You don't think children should have blood tests?

FlyingFlamingo · 21/04/2020 20:05

My 7yo would jump at the chance to do this, my 12yo on the other hand would refuse point blank. If the child consents, why not?

gobbynorthernbird · 21/04/2020 20:05

It's a blood test, you idiot. Some children have to have lots of them.

ToriaPumpkin · 21/04/2020 20:06

My two have had lots of blood tests (8 and 6 in a few days) and have never been overly stressed by it. Oral antibiotics on the other hand. My eldest still talks about jwo much he hates those and it's been three years since he had them. He doesn't remember the cannula he had at the sane time though.

perniciousdot · 21/04/2020 20:06

So you are putting your child through painful blood tests just for travel expenses and the fluffy feeling of benefiting the greater good of furthering medical research.

A blood test? That's fine. I thought you were talking about children being injected with diseases.

Having a vaccination out into your arm isn't the same as having blood removed though.

SpeedofaSloth · 21/04/2020 20:07

Children have blood taken without drama, Emla is a thing. YABU I think.

GoldenOmber · 21/04/2020 20:08

'Fluffy feeling'?

ofwarren · 21/04/2020 20:08

There are some of us, me included, who's children have very regular blood tests anyway. Every 6 weeks in fact.
I would totally let them do tests on his blood.
He attends hospital twice a year to be a "patient" to help the doctors in their practical exams and I even let them test a new machine on my 2 month old son's lungs while he was under anaesthetic for an MRI on his spine.
Someone has to do it.

TeenPlusTwenties · 21/04/2020 20:09

Oh, I thought you said they wouldn't say the Covid-19 results, not that they wouldn't say any results?

Original poster

help1653 · 21/04/2020 20:09

Ah, just me then. No problem. I have life long issues with needles for a completely necessary but massive botched attempt to get a cannula in my hand when I was about 8. I remember it took three different people multiple goes and it was incredibly painful. I am very careful to not show this to my kids, but I wouldn't volunteer my child for anything like this. Possibly I guess as a consequence of that experience.

OP posts:

SquirmOfEels · 21/04/2020 20:10

My DC flatly refused, unfortunately

It is really important that the vaccination schedule is kept under review, and that surveillance of whether older children are indeed immune to the diseases they have been vaccinated against is a very important part of this. And it is population surveillance , not individual investigation.

Drawing blood for it to be tested is not really painful.

Chloemol · 21/04/2020 20:11

If everyone thought like you then nothing would be tested , we would learn nothing

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