To watch and wait as the JVCI suggested?

[Marypoppins19]

I have two boys both fully vaccinated with the childhood vaccinations etc

I’m coming under a little pressure from opposing views. I’m certainly not saying no but more that I just want more information in relation to side effects particularly in boys and would rather wait.

I will consent for both my teenagers. But if they decide to say no, I support them in whatever decision they make.

Rightly or wrongly I have explained to them the numbers regarding myocarditis and what myocarditis is. I want them to know what the side effects are so they can choose for themselves.
I also said that if they catch Covid, they are more likely to get myocarditis.
Hope I was right there? If not, I'll correct myself!

It's so confusing. But overall I think I'm happy for them to have one shot, if they are also happy.

I had Covid after 2 vaccines and felt worse than I have in years. So even if the chance is small they get a bad case of the virus/long covid, I'd like to try and lower that risk. And reduce the spread so we can get through this winter without restrictions.

I am worried that children won’t be allowed to travel without a vaccination but I would still rather wait

@Marypoppins19

I am worried that children won’t be allowed to travel without a vaccination but I would still rather wait

Will one dose count for other countries anyway? If you can get antibody tests privately then why doesn't natural immunity count too?

It will be interesting to see what the USA decide to do with UK tourists. At the moment I read the they not recognise the Oxford jab at all.
They seem to be double dosing their children hence the higher rates of cardiac issues.

My 12 year old son’s very recently had COVID, so that is definitely making me think the balance is tilted toward not being worth the small risk for no benefit to him or society unless there is evidence comes out to show otherwise.

sparkysdream that must help your thinking.

If you did vaccinate, do you have to now wait a number of weeks?

Thanks kowari. Every day's a school day!

I think I would've gone ahead consenting to my DC's jab if we hadn't as a family all caught covid over summer. Both adults double vaccinated. Children barely any symptoms. The jab hadn't stopped us adults catching it or spreading it, we passed it to all the family, though presumable lessened our illness thankfully. For the children though, struggling to see why they should be vaccinated at the moment given they must have some natural immunity for now 🤔 I'm not against it fyi, I think I'd just like more info to make a decision, DC is 12 so lower end of the age bracket and not yet heard from school. I'm worried DC will have some backlash if they're not jabbed, though I think our reasons are valid.

@Marypoppins19

sparkysdream that must help your thinking.

If you did vaccinate, do you have to now wait a number of weeks?

Think you need to wait 4 weeks after a covid infection to get vaccinated

I have boys. We knew about the myocarditis risk and could 'wait and watch' rather than them get covid and then watch and wait for complications from covid. I know they are at less risk of complications but I believe it's higher than with vaccine.

Interesting you mention backlash, the school have sent a fab letter saying they support every parents choice and that’s that.

Oldest peer group seems to be supportive of each other’s choice which is nice

That's great. We're yet to hear from school so hoping they'll be equally supportive. I hope it's the same amongst peers if my child is the only one not to accept it 🤞🙂

@FelicityBeedle

At 12 minimum they’re really old enough to decide for their selves. Ask them

Do you really believe this? Considering there are age restrictions on many many things do you really believe they can make an informed decision on this vaccination, ESPECIALLY when there are no long term studies on it?

@AlanisMorningShed

I will consent for both my teenagers. But if they decide to say no, I support them in whatever decision they make.

Rightly or wrongly I have explained to them the numbers regarding myocarditis and what myocarditis is. I want them to know what the side effects are so they can choose for themselves.
I also said that if they catch Covid, they are more likely to get myocarditis.
Hope I was right there? If not, I'll correct myself!

It's so confusing. But overall I think I'm happy for them to have one shot, if they are also happy.

I had Covid after 2 vaccines and felt worse than I have in years. So even if the chance is small they get a bad case of the virus/long covid, I'd like to try and lower that risk. And reduce the spread so we can get through this winter without restrictions.

I haven’t heard anything about there being a risk of myocarditis after covid but if I could very well have missed that. I also read an article the other day saying long covid is now thought to be a lot less common than originally thought. They how estimating 90% of people with covid will not suffer long covid although I have no idea what the estimate was before this 🤷🏼‍♀️

@ThisIsNotAMill

Yanbu.

I'm in the same boat, two eligible young teens who won't be having it. The risk of being hospitalised from side effects of the vaccine is higher for young boys than the risks of the virus. It was an easy decision for me based on that, regardless of the government think they should take one for the team.

Have you asked your children for their opinion? Could they make an informed choice for themselves....or are they not mature enough...which is why you have decided for them?

@louleey this is where I read about the risk of myocarditis from Covid being higher than the vaccine. I really need to dig a bit more though, but if anyone else already has, please let me know, I'm open to discussion!

www.google.com/amp/s/www.newscientist.com/article/mg25133462-800-myocarditis-is-more-common-after-covid-19-infection-than-vaccination/amp/

My eldest has been quite keen to tell me he doesn’t think children should have it when older people around the world need it more. He is very anti but he’s also needle phobic and found his and 14 jabs stressful.
My youngest thinks he should have it because he thinks he shouldn’t protect others - but he’s the one having the cardiologist appointments so will have to hold off for now. I’m not sure his understanding of protecting others is very scientific but I guess that’s the message we have heard for a long time.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.newscientist.com/article/mg25133462-800-myocarditis-is-more-common-after-covid-19-infection-than-vaccination/amp/

I'm not sure that link worked. Is the New Scientist reliable?

Sorry! He SHOULD protect others

I think the message I got from the JVCI was that there wasn’t enough data yet to see how significant the side effects were

[quote AlanisMorningShed]@louleey this is where I read about the risk of myocarditis from Covid being higher than the vaccine. I really need to dig a bit more though, but if anyone else already has, please let me know, I'm open to discussion!

www.google.com/amp/s/www.newscientist.com/article/mg25133462-800-myocarditis-is-more-common-after-covid-19-infection-than-vaccination/amp/

[/quote]
Ah this is interesting thank you for sharing! It’s so easy to get bogged down with the information isn’t it and is a bit of a minefield! My son is 13 and has had covid, I really wish I knew the true extent when it comes to immunity!

It is a minefield @louleey.

I don't know how children can consent unless they've been given honest information about the side effects. I'm for it (I think 😬) but I wouldn't let them go into it blind.

I remember feeling edgy about my own vaccination and went ahead with it after weighing it all up.

Our kids should be given the same chance if we think they have the maturity/capacity. If not then definitely up to the parents.

I'm teaching overseas, in a MENA country with poor vaccination rollout & unreliable statistics about covid stats generally.

My double jabs don't qualify me, currently, to enter the UK at Xmas without quarantining, which I'm mildly grrrr about, but whatever, I'll spend Xmas in my parents' spare room if need be, given I haven't seen them for 2 years.

Teenage dc have just been offered vaccination through school, so I've signed them all up.

Ultimately, it's their choice. They are 13/15/17 & perfectly Gillick competent. All three have said that they're delighted to be vaxed as they'll be spending time with xh's family in the uk over Xmas, which includes extremely vulnerable xmil.

Realistically, school is absolutely hooching with covid & I imagine we'll all have had it by December anyway, if we haven't had it asymptomatically already.

But we are, as a family, quite keen on reducing the spread.

Our baowab's 60 something mum died recently of something that sounds a LOT like covid, in a village where vaccines are not available. One of our school security staff recently died of diagnosed covid in his 30s & left a widow & 3 young children. He was at work on Monday, felt a bit ropey so stayed home Tuesday, & died on Thursday.

It's a bit closer to home if you live in a developing country, maybe. School is vaccinating all our auxiliary staff next week. I work with these guys as part of my role, & their main anxiety isn't 'should I have the vaccine?'. It's 'how do I get my dh/dw & our dc the vaccine too?!'.

@Marypoppins19

I am worried that children won’t be allowed to travel without a vaccination but I would still rather wait

No one should be travelling without good reason anyway imo. Not while most the world is waiting for their vaccine.