To feel unsure about the covid vax for kids

[Kitchendisco73]

I have been vaccinated myself - I had the moderna vax - and it was fine but I was anxious about it. Now the news is saying all kids aged 12-15 should be vaccinated and I don’t feel so sure- partly because no one really knows the long term effects and really kids haven’t been getting covid although I know they are vectors for transmission.

My kids are fully vaccinated with all the childhood ones but I am anxious about this one.

Aibu?

The trials have been very promising, I think it’s important to remember that some children do come to physical harm directly due to covid infection and complications, but also the massive harm to children psychologically, socially and educationally from repeated lock downs, school closures, restrictions etc.
Vaccines like these are out of your system within a few days, so long term side effects aren’t things which randomly pop up 10 years later, but things which start soon after the vaccine but persist. Are there any particular side effects you’re worried about? I’m interested to see how the take up is in other countries who have Marie it available before us.

Also to answer your questions you’re absolutely not unreasonable to feel anxious - this whole thing is anxiety inducing! Weighing up risk is really difficult even when it’s quite straightforward, let alone when you’re balancing unknown risks of different types of harm.

It's fine to be anxious and unsure about it. I expect a lot of people are.

If your child had a live threatening illness (I know Covid can be), and you were offered to take part in a new drug trial that could potentially cure him/her, would you take up the opportunity?

Who says children should be vaccinated? One vaccine has been approved this week but I haven't seen it reported that it's got any further than that assuming you are in England

kids haven’t been getting covid although I know they are vectors for transmission kids have been getting covid, currently the highest group for infections is secondary school age.

@colouringcrayons sorry, I phrased that really badly. What I should have said was - kids haven’t been getting as ill with covid as adults. My DS had to shield at the start as he has asthma so by rights I should be at the front of the queue for a vaccine for him but I am still anxious and unsure about it to be honest.

Please let them have it! We have to vaccinate the herd to be in with a chance to get rid of this thing.

I had AZ and terrible side effects. But the one I didnt have was gasping for breath. Imagine feeling so so sick and not being able to breathe?

Also, this age group have suffered from lack of contact, social events etc. I wouldn't be surprised if not having the vaccine limits people life choices in future such as jobs, travel.

There is always a risk with anything. But the risk for this far outweighs the benefits.

I am in the same situation as you with my teens. I am also not anti vax - in fact after research I paid for them to have the chicken pox and nasal flu vaccine (they are too old for free nhs option). I was also desperate for my vaccine and had AZ second dose despite having a blood clotting gene...but I would like to see more research before I vaccinate my children with new technology.

@BelleBlueBell

Who says children should be vaccinated? One vaccine has been approved this week but I haven't seen it reported that it's got any further than that assuming you are in England

It was all over the news yesterday.

@user1471538283

Please let them have it! We have to vaccinate the herd to be in with a chance to get rid of this thing.

I had AZ and terrible side effects. But the one I didnt have was gasping for breath. Imagine feeling so so sick and not being able to breathe?

Also, this age group have suffered from lack of contact, social events etc. I wouldn't be surprised if not having the vaccine limits people life choices in future such as jobs, travel.

There is always a risk with anything. But the risk for this far outweighs the benefits.

The global herd is pretty big though. The government won't close borders, going by past record.

I am pro-vaccination but it is only part of the solution. The government lied when they claimed it was all we needed.

I'm exactly the same as you op. Had my dose but no chance would I give this to my children,it's far to new. In a few years after we can see the long term affects, yes but not now.
I find it interesting that we were sold the vaccine that it was to stop people getting really sick, to cut the need for hospitalization. & have been told all along the majority of children don't get very ill
So I don't understand the push to give them it unless your child has underlying health issues

It’s completely reasonable to be anxious, I am. I haven’t had my first vaccine yet (appointment is next week) but my lovely, kind, thoughtful, fun friend died three weeks ago because of the extremely rare blood clot side effect of AZ. It’s the most horrific tragedy and I’m heart broken but even when she was in hospital she was urging people to get the vaccine because negative effects are so rare - more risk of dying in a car crash and we still get in cars every day. I will be petrified on the day of my vaccine, and beside myself if my kids get vaccinated but I’m 99% sure that I’ll still do it because it’s the right thing to do.

@Bouncebacker goodness, am so sorry about your friend

I felt lucky that i was able to have the moderna jab to be honest as there were less reports about side effects. This is why I worry for my kids- it’s all so unknown at the moment really

No one will force your children to be vaccinated.
Many 16-18 year olds have already been done, so it’s not a massive jump from 12 years to 16 years.

I'm hugely pro vaccine and after looking at the figures I was happy and grateful to have the covid jab. Massive thanks to the scientists and NHS for that.

My kids have all their childhood jabs and it was a no-brainer getting them. Things like Polio were nasty and I'm bloody grateful we can prevent them.

That said, there's no way I'm letting them have the covid jab. I have a keen grasp of statistics and the risk from covid to kids is miniscule, and whilst the risk from the jabs is also miniscule there's not enough in it. Myocarditis from the pzifer jab recently, blood clots from the az - vanishingly rare side effects, but more common in the young, and perhaps not worth it in a child.

There are no longer term studies on kids for this type of new vaccine. It's a miracle of science and I'm on board with it, but selfish or not, I'm going to keep my kids out of an extended phase 3 clinical trial.

Lastly, and morally, we shouldn't be using vaccines on kids who will survive covid - we should send them to countries that are desperately struggling with their own vaccine programme where they can't even do the adults.

There are children with diabetes who haven’t been to school for a year.

The vaccine will protect them from COVID

It will be parents choice to vaccinate or not, but it’s good news for children with underlying medical conditions.

@Lasttraintolondon thanks, everything you say really resonates with me