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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you want your 12-15 year old to have the Covid vaccine when it is available?

106 replies

lonelyapple · 14/09/2021 12:58

With the announcement that Covid vaccines for children aged 12-15 will most likely be going ahead in the next few weeks, I am just wondering if you have children in this age group do you want them to get the Covid vaccine? Would have put it this in the Covid board but no voting option there.

YANBU = yes
YABU = no

OP posts:
Okki · 14/09/2021 13:44

I think DD wants to have it. We need to discuss properly. However this year she's already had HPV, 14yr old booster and meant to have flu for the first time. It seems an awful lot to put in her body in less than 6 months. She also had Covid 2 months ago - so don't actually know if she'll be able to have it straight off.

colouringindoors · 14/09/2021 13:46

Yes definitely and he had Covid at New Year. Long Covid is real, as is the huge amount of disruption to their education that higher levels of sickness would bring.

Maray1967 · 14/09/2021 13:49

DS13 is having it, no arguments. He’s had every other jab despite a bit of moaning about needles. I will not tolerate silly comments about not liking needles because the simple fact is that there might be a need for them in a serious situation and so you should get used to them. Just like I don’t let him go for a week without washing his hair which he’d prefer to do. To be clear, he doesn’t have a phobia- he’s fine when he has them, just doesn’t like the thought of them beforehand.
So I’ll be signing the form and he’ll go and get it, just as he did with the HPV one.

FourTeaFallOut · 14/09/2021 13:51

Yes, I do. But I've told them it's for them to decide after I gave them my best account of the pros and cons. One, who has an underlying condition, has decided he will and the other is going to do more research.

Maray1967 · 14/09/2021 13:51

Meant to say that we all agree that the long COVID risk is very serious and outweighs the tiny chance of a side effect of the vaccine. DH and I and his older brother have all had both doses, no problem.

MegBusset · 14/09/2021 13:53

We'll give our consent but it's up to them to decide if they want it.

DS1 (14) is very likely to want it. DS2 (12) is anxious about anything medical so I imagine will say no. I'm very pro vax - he will be having his HPV and triple jab booster, no arguing. But the benefits of this vs risks are much more marginal.

Mintjulia · 14/09/2021 13:58

Yes, ds, 13 will be having it unless he vehemently objects which he won't.

MajorCarolDanvers · 14/09/2021 14:01

Yes absolutely

Anything we can all do to get back to normal - especially to stop their lIves and education being disrupted.

TartanJumper · 14/09/2021 14:01

Obviously depending on the child, I think if they have strong feelings against which they are able to articulate/argue sensibly, I wouldn't make them, especially if aged 14/15). I would make it clear I wanted them to have it, though, but ultimately it's their body at that age- very different to having vaccinations as a very young child.

megletthesecond · 14/09/2021 14:02

13 and 14 here. Yes, they will probably have it as long as they are OK with it. They need a fairly decent year at school.

TrueGrit54 · 14/09/2021 14:07

DD just turned 15 yes she will have it. DS 17 (asthmatic) was double jabbed earlier this year.

longerevenings · 14/09/2021 14:08

DC 13 have had it.
DS was very clear that he wanted to protect vulnerable dc, his best friend had childhood cancer so he is very concerned about this.

Dd is needle phobic and had to have months of therapy. But she managed to have both jabs and we were really proud of her.

I think it likely to become compulsory like other vaccinations are for school where we are.

duckme · 14/09/2021 14:09

I will support my son in his decision. However, I have massive issues with the vaccines taking place at schools and don't trust school staff/ or the nhs staff carrying out the vaccine to not try to cajole children who have declined consent into having the vaccine. Or do children who have decided they don't want it to be 'encouraged' to have it because their friendship groups are. I would be much happier if children could book their vaccines like every other person over the age of 16 has been able to do. Rather than be shepherded into the school hall.

discombobulatedonion · 14/09/2021 14:12

If my son was 12, I would want him to have the vaccination but ultimately, the decision would be up to him as to whether he wanted to get it or not. I'd go through the risks of having it and the risks of not having it. Obviously, the total amount of risks of not having the vaccination are higher than the total amount of risks of having the vaccine.

My son is 3, though, and me and my partner both agreed that it'd be best for him to get the vaccination now, if it were available to someone of his age, just as he's had all of his other vaccinations.

longerevenings · 14/09/2021 14:12

I think for dd the peer element really helped her actually be able to get the vaccine.

She has since then been able to get her booster/hpv vaccines individually but that took her a couple of attempts.

honeyytoast · 14/09/2021 14:13

Genuine question - what are the reasons not to, for this age group? Is it higher risk for younger people and what are the risks? Just interested as I’m 20 and it was very much encouraged for me to get my vaccine

FourTeaFallOut · 14/09/2021 14:14

I can understand how logistically it's much easier to do at school with this age group but I share the same concerns about teens feeling pressure to conform - consent should be sought, not compliance.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 14/09/2021 14:14

12 yo Dd getting it as soon as possible!

OasisOfFerns · 14/09/2021 14:16

No. I'll be waiting until its fully licensed for use in children.

NashvilleQueen · 14/09/2021 14:17

Bring it on. Millions of 12-15 year olds vaccinated across the globe. Long covid is a bad thing. I don't want further disruption to their schooling and lives.

crapbuttrue · 14/09/2021 14:18

Y8 DS yes, not asked him yet but I reckon he would.

SageRosemary · 14/09/2021 14:19

DD2 in this age group just had her second dose. Big relief to her that she will not need to miss school if she is a close contact. She read all the information provided before deciding to take it. Sore arm after first dose, fine after second dose.

She has now received all recommended age appropriate vaccinations.

gamerchick · 14/09/2021 14:20

He wants it so he's going to get it.

You seem to be lost Op, there's a covid board where this has been covered over and over.

Seemssounfair · 14/09/2021 14:21

Ds is 17 and chose to have it. If he was 15 he would absolutely have had it too.

I would have been disappointed in him if he chose not too, unless he had a valid reason beyond disliking needles or anti vax/covid denying claptrap.

edwinbear · 14/09/2021 14:21

12yr old DS won't be, due to the increased myocarditis in boys vs girls. If he was female, I'd have a different view. He has had all other vaccines, will be having flu & HPV vaccines this year, DH and I are both fully Covid vaccinated. But the risks vs benefits for him don't justify going ahead in my view. He agrees with me.

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