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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
titchy · 21/04/2020 20:11

Blood tests don't hurt - they numb the hand first. Agree it's not that big a deal. Not like they're ever going to trial a vaccine on children.

Mind you if you were seriously thinking about not letting them have round 2 of their vaccinations just because the injections hurt (how much do you think measles hurts?) I doubt anyone can tell you anything different.

AntiHop · 21/04/2020 20:12

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

You do realise that having measles, mumps or rubella is much more painful, and you risk them dying?

Original poster
help1653 · 21/04/2020 20:12

@ToriaPumpkin I had to give my youngest antibiotics mixed with nutella as the usual yoghurt/milk ideas didnt work. Nothing hid the taste other than Nutella. He was a very happy boy for those three days!

OP posts:
Tootletum · 21/04/2020 20:13

I did this study with my 4 year old, although as it was in Jan it was specifically about antibodies from the existing vaccination programme. I got the letter in the post via GP. It was an easy decision for me as a)I like to further scientific advances that will potentially benefit us all, and b) my son is totally unbothered by needles. They were great, gave him some toys to play with while I filled in the forms and had bubbles to distract him from the needle. He was fine and very excited about the book voucher. I'm a bit puzzled why you think it's that big a deal.

GinghamStyle · 21/04/2020 20:13

I hate needles, but I think even I would volunteer to have my immunity tested (so far not had an illness this year despite DM and colleagues having that awful illness in December)

If DS(12) would be happy to grave the blood tests, I’d give consent.

I didn’t let him have the swine flu vaccine when that was around, and so I’ll be extremely cautious to vaccinate either of us again this virus.

GinghamStyle · 21/04/2020 20:14

Grave? 🙄 *Have

Zeusthemoose · 21/04/2020 20:14

Some children are not phased by a blood test. If yours were no doubt you wouldn't volunteer them.

GrumpyHoonMain · 21/04/2020 20:15

I volunteered my baby for a similar genetic study of Type 1 diabetes: Oxford University are searching for genetic markers they could test for in the heel prick test thus revolutionising treatment. Won’t get the results but it’s worth it for the future of medicine really.

Tootletum · 21/04/2020 20:15

Also @help1653 with mentioning they provide numbing cream for you to apply before your appointment, so the child doesn't really feel anything. It's all very well organised.

Tenpintonpin · 21/04/2020 20:16

I've had the same letter. It states that they will use a local anaesthetic to numb the arm prior to taking a small sample of blood. Hardly a drama! My nine year old is keen to volunteer "just to get out of the house". They aren't informing parents of results because that's not the point of the study, and would take time, effort and resources which presumably aren't in great supply.

recycledbottle · 21/04/2020 20:16

Im actually taken aback by this. Fair enough you wouldnt do it but cant understand why other parents would. Is it not obvious?

user1480880826 · 21/04/2020 20:17

You considered not giving your children vaccines because they said they hurt?! You’re out of your mind OP.

Also, you’ve totally missed the point of the testing. It’s for the greater good. It shouldn’t matter that you don’t get your results. That’s not the point at all.

Original poster
help1653 · 21/04/2020 20:17

@AntiHop it wasnt MMR, it was men b, which they were too old to have for free on the NHS. And what do you think a parent should do if their very large 7 year old refuses a jab, hold them down? I dont think the pharmacist would have agree to give the injection in those circumstances and the booth definitely wasnt big enough!

OP posts:
HavelockVetinari · 21/04/2020 20:20

what do you think a parent should do if their very large 7 year old refuses a jab, hold them down

Yes! Save their life! It's better than them dying from meningitis!

BeetrootRocks · 21/04/2020 20:21

Some kids have no choice but to have way worse things done.

As someone who had a lot of very painful childhood surgery including long stays in hosp and yes lots of needles I find your post, what's the word. Pissed me off a bit I suppose is the only way I can think of putting it.

Original poster
help1653 · 21/04/2020 20:21

@user1480880826 I didn't say I considered not giving my kids vaccines because they hurt, no idea how you read that from what I wrote. It was hard to get them to have the second dose as they knew it would hurt.

OP posts:
ofwarren · 21/04/2020 20:22

I feel the same @BeetrootRocks
My 5 year old has had procedures done to him that would terrify most adults.
It's just a little blood test.

TARSCOUT · 21/04/2020 20:23

I'm with you OP, I'm needle phobic so can't see past that !!

Ponoka7 · 21/04/2020 20:24

OP i think your feelings, on this is being overshadowed by your fear of needles.

I have to have blood taken regularly. Five vials in one go. I've been in hospital and have had cannulas/drips. I also have to have three monthly vit b injections. Needles are nothing to some people, children included.

Aveisenim · 21/04/2020 20:25

Have they sent this to all families with kids? We haven't had a pack.

MsMeNz · 21/04/2020 20:27

I have one kid that took three of us to hold him down at age 5 to take blood, it was medically urgent. Horrible experience. Yet my other child sits there quietly and calmly and watches the procedure. Third child is what I would disrobe as typically in the middle of her brothers reactions!

OneMomentInHistory · 21/04/2020 20:28

"Fluffy feeling" it's not fluffy to contribute to life saving research. Sure, if you think the blood test will be particularly traumatic for your child then of course you should refuse. But, and I'm trying to say this kindly, you clearly have considerable issues around needles yourself OP, and it would be worth you considering whether you could seek help with that to minimise the amount of anxiety you are passing on to your children.

Yurona · 21/04/2020 20:28

Some kids are fine with blood tests, some aren’t. I would do this with my youngest, but not with my oldest. Depends on your child!

Original poster
help1653 · 21/04/2020 20:29

@HavelockVetinari I'm not sure that would be a good idea from a long term point of view, as you'd create more fear.

OP posts:
Notabadger · 21/04/2020 20:31

I agreed for my baby to take part in research which involved taking blood to check for something to do with the vaccines he had already had. There was no direct benefit to me but perhaps the research helped other babies not die, I thought that was enough reason.