Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Who is getting their 5 to 12 year old the COVID vaccine?

56 replies

Suzie81 · 07/04/2022 20:13

I see that people are being invited to book their 5 to 12 year olds in for the COVID vaccine.

I'm not here to have a discussion about conspiracy theories and I myself am fully vaccinated.

But what are people's thoughts on getting their young children done.

Both mine have already had COVID and to be honest it was just a mild cold for them. As such, I'm just wondering whether it's worth it... Particularly if the vaccine will need topping up again and again.

What are you guys thinking?

OP posts:
springsmiles · 07/04/2022 20:16

In same position, the children had Covid, 2 poorly days and then they were fine, so I'm not thinking of giving them the vaccine.

Attictroll · 07/04/2022 20:16

I'm torn... we are vaccinated. Thinking having it late summer so protection over winter instead of now therefore avoiding multiple does. Ds has had it and was mild

springsmiles · 07/04/2022 20:17

Should just add I was triple vaccinated and was much much worse than they were

choosername1234 · 07/04/2022 20:18

Yes but purely to make foreign holidays less complicated

Malariahilaria · 07/04/2022 20:18

Aiming to go on holiday in Europe in July, will jab both 7yo and 11yo as soon as I can get them booked in

Hollyhead · 07/04/2022 20:20

Would have got it for them if they could have had both doses before our holiday to save on LFTs but there isn’t time. They’ve both had covid, at least once but possibly twice, almost asymptomatic both times. Might do my eldest before high school.

PuffinMcStuffin · 07/04/2022 20:20

Nope.

Nosetickle · 07/04/2022 20:21

I feel the same as you OP. If it stopped the spread I would understand but the main benefit of the covid vaccine seems to be reducing the chance of suffering badly with it. They’ve just had it and while it wasn’t pleasant for my eldest she was over it in two days and my youngest had no symptoms at all. I’ve just been invited to book them in and really don’t see the point.

Bran21 · 07/04/2022 20:23

We always said if vaccine was Available we would get children done. But all had covid about 7 weeks ago and only one out of three children had any symtoms( slight cold). So we have now made the decision not to get them vaccinated.

orzoisorange · 07/04/2022 20:24

@choosername1234

Yes but purely to make foreign holidays less complicated
Do you really think this is a good enough reason to have a child vaccinated?
Survivingmy3yearold · 07/04/2022 20:24

I've got DD6 booked in for Saturday. It was a fairly easy choice for us. I know the vaccine doesn't completely stop the spread but it reduces the chances of spreading it and reduces the risk of serious illness and that's a good enough reason for us.

HopefulProcrastinator · 07/04/2022 20:24

We're reluctant but unable to articulate why properly because she's had every other vaccine offered.

She's been exposed to covid several times without catching it (we LFT regularly because of CEV family member) so feeling reasonably confident that he immune system is doing fine without it...although that does feel like a cop out.

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 07/04/2022 20:25

Can't at present because DD had covid within 12 weeks and then once the 12 weeks are up, if she has it straight away we'll be on holiday 12 weeks later when she's supposed to have her second dose. So we've got a little while to decide, but I think I lean more towards having it done.

kitkatsky · 07/04/2022 20:25

I will because the JCVI, who know a lot more about science than me, recommend it

orzoisorange · 07/04/2022 20:29

@kitkatsky

I will because the JCVI, who know a lot more about science than me, recommend it
They didn't at the start –see the section "Children less than 16 years of age".

www.gov.uk/government/publications/priority-groups-for-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-advice-from-the-jcvi-30-december-2020/joint-committee-on-vaccination-and-immunisation-advice-on-priority-groups-for-covid-19-vaccination-30-december-2020

What has actually changed to make the vaccine desirable for 5-11-year-olds in the intervening two years?

user1471543683 · 07/04/2022 20:30

Can't believe people would inject their children with the vaccine just do they can get a foreign holiday 🤷‍♀️

Itsjustricemichael · 07/04/2022 20:33

Which I could have actually booked before he got covid this week but now I guess I'll wait 12 weeks

Original poster
Suzie81 · 07/04/2022 20:37

The JCVI do seem to be flip flopping on it. The view seems to be...might as well.

But they also accept that the risk for a child is super low. The logic seems to be that in the event of a new strain that's more dangerous, the vaccine might provide some protection - but it's a somewhat educated guess.

OP posts:
glitterelf · 07/04/2022 20:40

Dd 8 is booked in to have hers on Monday. As far as we are aware she's not had covid but I have witnessed a child close to me having to have hospital treatment shortly after having covid. I must also add that we have talked to her and she's given her consent. Yes she's only 8 but she's a wise 8 and had to grow up fairly quickly the last 2 years having lost closed relatives.

Remmy123 · 07/04/2022 20:43

Mine had it so mild I cannot see the point of it.

So no they will not have it.

BettyOBarley · 07/04/2022 20:46

DS has had it twice with no symptoms and DD had a mild tummy ache for one day - so no, we won't be. They've had all the other vaccines but I don't see the need with this one.

orzoisorange · 07/04/2022 20:50

@Suzie81

The JCVI do seem to be flip flopping on it. The view seems to be...might as well.

But they also accept that the risk for a child is super low. The logic seems to be that in the event of a new strain that's more dangerous, the vaccine might provide some protection - but it's a somewhat educated guess.

"Might as well" seems very casual for something which has death as a known side effect. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-58330796

www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-approval-of-covid-19-vaccine-moderna/information-for-healthcare-professionals-on-covid-19-vaccine-moderna

"Paediatric population
The safety and efficacy of Spikevax in children and adolescents less than 12 years of age have not yet been established. No data are available." (From the above UK Gov link)

I don't know which vaccines are being given to 5-11-year-olds, but Moderna at least (Spikevax) has no safety data yet.

Why would you?

Live4weekend · 07/04/2022 20:50

I'm not planning to do it anytime soon. But its not a not ever. We'll see how things go.

DS is determined he is not getting vaccinated - his body his choice 🤣, he must have heard that on the TV. He's not really old enough to make an informed decision though. He's had mild Covid.

Dd wanted to get it before because she was so ill with Covid (she really wasn't) but has just had Covid for the 2nd time this year so would need to wait a while.

Will judge things in October / November I think or if another variant is worrying before then.

WoolyMammoth55 · 07/04/2022 20:50

OP I'm not going to at present. As we know, the vaccine isn't like other vaccines in that it doesn't stop someone getting the infection - the other childhood vaccines largely do.

The benefit of the Covid vaccine is only in preventing serious illness/hospitalisation. My kids have both had Covid and had very mild/no symptoms. They don't need their risk of hospitalisation to be reduced, IMO.

Therefore I'd rather these vaccine doses were being used to protect CEV people in other countries, and I've written to my MP (useless) to explain this.

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 07/04/2022 21:06

It's only Pfizer which is licensed for 5-11s (at a third of the adult dose), so the fact that moderna may have no safety data yet for this age group is neither here nor there.