Would you let your 4yo choose whether to be vaccinated?

[Dramatic]

I'm talking about the flu vaccine not the infant vaccines.

Talking to a mum outside school this morning, our kids are both in reception and we were talking about them getting the flu vaccine at school in a couple of days. She then said her daughter won't be getting it because she asked her if she wanted it and her daughter said no. Is this a normal thing to do? I hadn't even thought to ask my daughter, surely they're far too young to understand the decision they're making? Would you put that choice on a child this young?

That's not your decision to make, the NHS cut off point is 16.

My cat expressed a desire to become vegan so I agreed.*

*I don't have a cat.

It's actually lower than that.

Read up on Gillick competency

I am aware that there are varying circumstances. It was a fast answer to the person who seemed to think they had control until 18.

No. Its a ridiculous thing to do. How can a 4 year old possibly make an informed choice when they can't understand the implications? Your friend is either a fool who has completely misunderstood bodily autonomy (and i've met a few of those to be fair) or well... just a fool.

No absolutely barmy.

No. I decide till my children are competent. 4 seems an unlikely age for that to be the case.

No. We do a lot of low demand parenting but things which affect their safety (vaccinations/seat belts/bike helmets etc) are not negotiable

Not at 4yo but I have given my secondary children choices with the vaccines offered there. Mainly because their dad is anti vax and would argue about them having anything. I told the children to research and decide for themselves. They chose to have the vax most of the time.

Unnecessary jab. I have 3 grown up children, 9 grandchildren, ran a preschool. I have never co.e across small children getting flu. I got the jab once, had the worst flu for a month after

Is it done in school in England? In Scotland it is done in school without the parents being there (consent given in advance) so if a child refuses it on the day, they don't force it. You do get the option to get another appointment in a clinic but I suspect most that refuse in school don't get it done at all.

You don't know if they have had the flu though unless they are tested for it at the time. They will be getting it and passing it around to those vulnerable. My daughter spent a week in picu last year with the flu.

I dont think they are old enough to make that choice and I wouldn't present it as one.

But you always get children who refuse and the nurse doesn't make them. The parent then has to go to a mop up clinic and can be more forceful if that's what they want.

I can't imagine being able to force my 6ft 14 year old to have a vaccination he didn't want though.

No. A 4 year old can barely choose a yogurt.

YANBU

None of my kids will be vaccinated until they're legally old enough to make that decision themselves. You can't take it out once it's in.

Everyone’s jumping on to call this woman an idiot, but she might just be picking her battles. It’s the flu vaccine, not the MMR. Maybe I’m a terrible parent, but I don’t think a child missing the flu vaccine is the end of the world.

ask any child if they wat to have a needle stuck in them and they'll say no.

I would ask if she is aware flu vaccine for kids is a nasal spray not a needle in the arm. This may alter her decision if its a case of her child has a fear of needles. Some kids become very distressed at needles and that could be why she asked her child.

What the... did I just read?! 🤦🏻‍♀️

@CowboyJoanna You also cannot get your fertility back if it is taken away by mumps. A childhood illness that very nearly killed me at 17 because I missed the year 9 booster vaccine.

Imagine if 4 year olds were allowed to make more decisions. My daughter wouldn't brush her teeth, go to bed at night and just eat crap all day long.

Did she explain it's just a spray up their nose?

You probably caught the flu from the kids at the preschool just before you had the inactive (ie, cannot give anybody the flu) vaccine.

Seriously? What is happening to parents these days?

Unless you are a Trump supporter.

In which case, vaccinations give you the plague and damnation.

You also can't stop a lot of the very easily preventable diseases they protect against once they take hold.