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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My child has been selected for a Covid test!

408 replies

Livingmybestliferight · 13/05/2020 13:26

He's 10. Does not want to do it. Am wondering why they are doing this and whether it has anything to do with schools opening or not?! Would I be unreasonable to refuse this opportunity?

OP posts:
1nico1 · 15/05/2020 19:14

This might not be the popular opinion but I hope it’s one you will think about and use your own judgement and discernment instead of what everyone is saying: I have seen this letter as a family member of mine also received it and what I have issues with is the subtle persuasive coercive language they are using in the letter (such as saying “we hope you have no objections to taking part”, etc etc)... as if you are somehow lucky to have been given this opportunity and it shouldn’t be missed.
Secondly, not much is known about this virus and I really would not want my child to be a guinea pig for something that is clearly causing mass confusion, even amongst our leaders and experts. And if your son doesn’t want to do it, that is all the more reason to respect his own free will and instincts.
Lastly and most importantly, just say your son is showing absolutely no physical symptoms of Covid-19 but he tests positive according to whatever testing methods they are experimenting with. If your son is healthy, fit and fine but did test positive, would you be willing for them to potentially separate you from your child, without any guardian alone in a hospital, rather than being in the safety and comfort of his own home? We have already seen many instances where this happening.
I hope you choose whatever is best for your family and these are difficult times but wishing you the best either way, my friend.

Thisismytimetoshine · 15/05/2020 19:17

we hope you have no objections to taking part”, etc etc)... as if you are somehow lucky to have been given this opportunity and it shouldn’t be missed.
That's not remotely what they're saying there Confused

PotholeParadise · 15/05/2020 20:56

1nico1

Secondly, not much is known about this virus and I really would not want my child to be a guinea pig for something that is clearly causing mass confusion, even amongst our leaders and experts. And if your son doesn’t want to do it, that is all the more reason to respect his own free will and instincts.

It's a swab to gauge the current prevalence of coronavirus in the population. They're not testing anything on him. Do you worry about being used as a guinea pig if you fill in a survey?

If your son is healthy, fit and fine but did test positive, would you be willing for them to potentially separate you from your child, without any guardian alone in a hospital, rather than being in the safety and comfort of his own home? We have already seen many instances where this happening.

Bet you they're not even going to get back to people to tell them their results, never mind act on them!

People with symptomatic suspected coronavirus have been calling 999 begging to be taken into hospital and been told they're not ill enough! They are not going to chase up these results to take asymptomatic participants into hospital!

Drivingdownthe101 · 15/05/2020 21:05

Secondly, not much is known about this virus and I really would not want my child to be a guinea pig for something that is clearly causing mass confusion, even amongst our leaders and experts

A Guinea pig for a test as to whether he has it or not?
Baffled.

adelaya · 15/05/2020 21:10

Secondly, not much is known about this virus and I really would not want my child to be a guinea pig for something that is clearly causing mass confusion, even amongst our leaders and experts
*
@1nico1* they’re not testing anything on the child therefore not a guinea pig Confused

I can’t see reason why you wouldn’t participate

MrsFezziwig · 16/05/2020 00:38

Oh for goodness sake it’s a two second swab. It doesn’t hurt.

As I explained early in the thread (so not of any help to the posters who like to dive in without bothering to read what others have written) if it only takes two seconds you’re doing it wrong. Equally the poster who thinks it’s just a “quick swish” round the mouth.

Having actually had the test, my concern is not that it was unpleasant (I’ve been a guinea pig for any number of research studies) but that for many (including myself) the gag reflex prevents you from holding the throat swab in position for the requested 10 seconds, so I thought it would be better being done by a (trained) person, in which case I would be happy to volunteer for it again. There really is no point in doing research unless it is carried out correctly.

Has he not had vaccinations? Those are worse than a throat and nasal swab.. In your opinion.

Rachie1973 · 16/05/2020 01:04

I got this letter, I’ll do it. I wouldn’t insist anyone else does it though.

Sorka · 16/05/2020 03:02

It’s a scientific study to better understand this virus so that a) we get a better idea of the true percentage of people with serious symptoms/who don’t survive and b) to help understand how many people have had it already to help with planning to get us back to our lives.

I can’t imagine why you have such a big problem with this and the only reason your son would be scared about a scientific test is because of the way you’ve explained it to him.

FinnefanFox · 16/05/2020 03:21

My 8 year old has also been invited and is willing to participate, not sure he will be as happy after I've swabbed his throat.

He ended up in hospital in February with chest pains, this turned out to be inflammation in his chest, and then I read about the new inflammatory symptoms, so reassuringly happy to help.

FinnefanFox · 16/05/2020 03:36

Oh and for all you posers slating the OP parenting about her son only going out twice since March, consider the fact the OP may be in quarantine and a single parent, too quick to judge sometimes.

Cattermole · 16/05/2020 09:05

I'll post this on the other thread too, as I think it's important: don't make too much of this test - with him or indeed anybody else.
I've got one here. Was this way/that way about taking it because of the vagueness of the guidance (I still don't know what action I should have taken if results a week later were that I'd had it at the point the test was taken, and that is important) but I booked the courier yesterday afternoon. Instructions say you don't do it till 8am on the day of the collection.
Lo and behold I come downstairs at 7.45 and there's a note on the mat saying the courier tried to collect it at 7.40 - and an email at 7.45 saying they will arrive between 7.30 and 9.30 today. There's no option to ask for another time slot on Yodel - the tracking thing says "Returning on or before 16th May" (what is he, Dr Who or something?)
So I'm going to do it now and put it outside the door, as directed, on the off chance he comes back and it's not spoiled by being sat in the sun for however-,many hours.
Not massively impressed, after all that....

Cattermole · 16/05/2020 09:07

Just adding, after my mini rant there - I think the fact that after all that trumpets and fanfares, saving the nation's health malarkey, if the bloody courier didn't turn up and the sample was wasted it's a bit of a comedown.

NekoShiro · 16/05/2020 09:11

He's 10, if he's not comfortable doing it and has said so just decline, they willl randomly pick someone else to take his spot.

starlight13 · 16/05/2020 09:32

Why would anyone refuse to take part in this testing programme when it would be helping the nation as a whole overall? You are lucky to have been selected and it is selfish and wasteful not to use it.
Myself and one of my children have had a cough for nearly 4 weeks now along with intermitent symptoms that come and go. I have only left the house a couple of times since the lock down, the last being 4 weeks ago. I think that I have covid and would love to be tested just to know. The 3 other members of my household are fine. You should explain the importance of this test to your son and how he is helping. At 10, he is plenty old enough to understand.

Lweji · 16/05/2020 09:42

and it's not spoiled by being sat in the sun for however-,many hours.
It will if not shielded from UV.

CoCoCorona · 16/05/2020 12:42

My son has received a letter today aswell, he’s only 8. He says he wants to do it, but is worried about being sick. How far does the nose swab go up? I told him it would be uncomfortable for a few seconds and he seems happy to be part of the study. Out of 100,000 and if he helps shape better testing then that’s pretty special.

Bazbear · 16/05/2020 13:51

OP you had already clearly made up your mind on the issue so why post on mumsnet????

StandWithYou · 16/05/2020 14:12

My son has done it this morning ready in time for the courier. Who hasn’t turned up and posted in tracking ‘Sorry we missed you’.

We were all in. Test was really easy to follow with a clip to a video link and clear instructions. Then bloody Yodel fuck it up.

Thisismytimetoshine · 16/05/2020 16:37

How did your son find it, StandWithYou? Did he scrape part of his brain out, or just insert it into his nostril like a normal person?!

squeekums · 17/05/2020 03:01

Ps and for the posters who say it’s important he can choose - what about understanding that this is a small inconvenient thing which he can do, which greatly benefits the world he lives in? Is that not also an important message

To me the most important message is bodily autonomy.
I mean how far to do you push this good for the world stuff? Forced blood donation cos stocks low?
No one should be guilted into a unnecessary medical procedure they don't want, that could cause unnecessary stress and fear, under guise of helping the world.

CoCoCorona · 17/05/2020 11:34

So then we shouldn’t get our kids vaccinated as that’s an unnecessary medical procedure that can cause stress and fear of needles...🙄.

If you explain something rationally and without scaremongering, children are usually okay.

I don’t think a swab test will cause psychological problems, and surely you’d get them tested that way if they were actually experiencing symptoms?

MrsFezziwig · 17/05/2020 12:10

So then we shouldn’t get our kids vaccinated as that’s an unnecessary medical procedure

Er.... no it isn’t

CoCoCorona · 17/05/2020 13:54

I was being sarcastic.

daisychain01 · 17/05/2020 14:10

I am the most squeamish person ever, but I didn't experience any pain or even discomfort with the test I had - long swab (like a Q-tip) up the nose hardly felt anything, and then another at back of the throat. Nothing to be afraid of.

This was at one of the Government test centres last Wednesday, had results texted by the Friday. All very efficient, testing team were lovely, very careful and asked in advance if I had any lesions either in throat or nostril, so they could be extra careful.

daisychain01 · 17/05/2020 14:13

He's probably got a fear of the unknown and needs basic facts and reassurance plus encouragement to contribute towards medical science. Most kids get that, especially if reassured by their parents that it's a good thing to do (which it most certainly is!). It's about as benign a medical test as you can hope to get.