To not get DS vaccinated

[Florence282]

I think this probably not allowed but I'm very interested to see what the general population thinks about vaccinating our DC. DS is 12 and after a tonne of research we've decided not to vaccinate. Other mums in the school are struggling to make a decision.

Yanbu=no to the vaccine
Yabu=yes to the vaccine

I've been vaccinated but I won't let my children be vaccinated my eldest is 13 it is of course up to her ultimately, she has been given all the information she needs to make an informed choice .

Yes I should add, DH and I are both double jabbed and DS has been involved in the decision.

We are saying no for now for our children. I strongly believe in vaccinations and all our kids are MMR’d etc, but I would like to see some longer term research on the effects the vaccine may or may not have in children going through puberty.

Have you given your DS free reign in the decision? How have you explained why you are vaccinated and not him?

I think that’s fair enough. At 12 he is unlikely to be ill from Covid himself and there is the (very rare) complication of cardiomyopathy to consider, which seems to be more prevalent in teenage boys. He is unlikely to benefit from the vaccine himself. Even my medical colleagues are a bit on the fence about teenage vaccination.

I've had both vaccinations, but my children won't be. We have just had covid (back to school tomorrow) and they literally just had cold symptoms, except for ds who had no symptoms. We don't know what the long term effects of the vaccine will be (I still have pain in my arm months later) and clearly covid didn't cause problems itself. I am glad I had it, but don't feel I have enough information re long term effects to give permission for my children to have it.

I think MN tends to be a bit skewed with regards to the vaccine.

I don’t think hesitating over your child having a new vaccine for an illness unlikely to be harmful to them is the height of selfishness to be honest.

Why are people hesitating for their kids? (I'm not being goady genuinely asking)

Because I assume your children have had vaccines before? Is it because the vaccine is so new?

In which case isn't that the same for all of us and are you not concerned about them passing it to vulnerable family members?

You'll get people calling you selfish and all sorts on here but it's not selfish to want to choose what you put in your child's body. YANBU.

It's too early to say what the general population thinks.

www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-58785736

I had absolutely not one nanosecond of hesitation about vaccinating my child. I'm in a country where teenagers have been vaccinated since earlier this year. DD had her second in August.

You'll find lots of threads with all the arguments for and against in the Coronavirus topic.

Fair enough but without a significant amount of the population vaccinated covid isn’t going away…

toomuchlaundry we've explained that in adults it can make them really quite poorly which is why DH and I are vaccinated whereas thats not the case in children. We've explained that the JCVI decided not to recommend it to this age group, not because its not safe but because the benefits were minimal, that Chris Whitty has decided to allow children to have it to prevent further disruption to their education. We've explained the very small risk of myocarditis in boys. We explained the pros to having it (eg.protecting grandparents, reducing the chance of having to home school again).

I’ve discussed with DD 13. We’re probably a no. The thing that would change my mind is if the vaccine (like most vaccines) stopped you transmitting the virus.

I’m torn about it @Florence282.

Double jagged and pro vaccine. But it wasn’t recommended by the JCVI, who are the experts, and there are risks to teenage boys. I am happier that it’s now one dose for them, but still think really that it’s unnecessary.

There are also the way it’s messed with menstrual cycles so clearly has effects on hormones in some cases. It’s a worry!

And the fact that having Covid gives better immunity. So I’m thinking on it, for all these reasons.

You know there is a risk with myocarditis with COVID too

@parentinghelp1

Why are people hesitating for their kids? (I'm not being goady genuinely asking)

Because I assume your children have had vaccines before? Is it because the vaccine is so new?

In which case isn't that the same for all of us and are you not concerned about them passing it to vulnerable family members?

My DS is 8 so isn't eligible anyway but I wouldn't vaccinate him. I've been vaccinated, despite being very low risk myself and not feeling that it's necessary, because I'm an adult and happy to do my bit. I do draw the line at kids being guilt tripped into it just to protect adults.

I think it's very selfish

parentinghelp1 for me it's the lack of long term data in children, particularly children who haven't been through puberty yet. DS is just 12 so at the very edge of the age limit for it. The risk of myocarditis in boys is a concern too. He's a healthy child, should he catch covid his own immune system should be able to deal with it.

@Flufferty

I think it's very selfish

Bingo!

New Scientist reported that the risk of myocarditis is 6 times higher with a Covid infection than with the vaccination.

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

Thanks for all the replies so far. It would be really nice if we could keep this discussion respectful.

Flufferty
I dont think it's fair to call people selfish for making an informed choice about their DC. Everyone had the right to do what they feel is best for their own child. Being selfish is putting yourself before others. No one is doing that if they decide not to vaccinate their child. Its not for their own benefit.

@Florence282

parentinghelp1 for me it's the lack of long term data in children, particularly children who haven't been through puberty yet. DS is just 12 so at the very edge of the age limit for it. The risk of myocarditis in boys is a concern too. He's a healthy child, should he catch covid his own immune system should be able to deal with it.

But couldn't we say the same for adults? We all could have said the same, particularly if fit and healthy under say 40.

I am highly unlikely to get Covid but still got vaccine for the greater good.

Ekofisk thankyou for the link, that's very interesting.

@parentinghelp1 For us, both double jabbed, it hasn't stopped us catching it or spreading it to our double jabbed elderly relatives. It has presumably lessened the effect/stopped hospitalisation. The kids had covid with few symptoms so may or may not have some immunity, for them it feels like what's the benefit? My views aren't set in stone though and I am pro vaccination

parentinghelp1 yes but for me I feel that I'm 40, I've lived my life, I've had my children, my body is fully developed and the JCVI recommended it for adults.