CEV & CV children

[pinkpip100]

So, it's great news that the Oxford vaccine has been approved and apparently Matt Hancock has said we will hopefully be in a much better position by the Spring. What I don't understand though is what happens about CEV or CV children, as they won't be receiving the vaccine? Assuming that once the vulnerable adult groups are all vaccinated, everyone else will want to get back to normal as soon as possible (understandably) - but won't this put clinically vulnerable children at higher risk, as there won't be any of the current measures in place to protect them (social distancing, masks, bubbles in school etc)? Has this ever been discussed by the scientists or politicians? I am worried that children like my daughter have been totally forgotten about...

I don’t think they have been forgotten about, it’s just the vaccine isn’t approved for use in children (it would take much longer for this to be approved), and generally children are much less at risk. The vaccine in adults will help to bring the level of virus in the community down so children will be better protected that way. It’s awful but in reality the whole country can’t be kept in restrictions because of the few minority unfortunately.

The over 16s will get it.

The Pfizer jab (and maybe others) are being tested for the over 12s

Unmumsnetty {{hug}}

It's very tough when you realise you're not getting any share of the General good news

Thanks - I do totally understand that everyone can't continue to live under restrictions for the sake of relatively few children. And I can completely see why this is great news for those with adult vulnerable or elderly family members. But I can't help feeling as though there is no clear way out for families like ours, and there doesn't seem to even be a timeline we can work towards. I hadn't heard that about trials for the Pfizer vaccine in under-16s though, so will look for more info on that.

Oh - just re-read that Pfizer is being tested for under 12s. Dd is 7.

I feel like the cev children have been forgotten about too.

There was meant to be a review of all children on the shielding list over the summer but this hasn't happened either afaik?

*over-12s, sorry!

@Alfreds, as far as I know we were supposed to contact GP/consultant etc to ask for a review of whether our child should still be on the shielding list. It's not clear cut for dd so she is officially still on the list but potentially only CV rather than CEV - they're just not sure. Either way all her doctors are clear that she is more vulnerable than a 'typical' child if she catches it.

@alfreds

I feel like the cev children have been forgotten about too.

There was meant to be a review of all children on the shielding list over the summer but this hasn't happened either afaik?

There was a review and some children got further shielding letters and some didn’t and were taken off the list. Again it’s not that they have been forgotten, it’s just that there isn’t much that can be done. The vaccine isn’t approved for children, and won’t be any time soon. I get it’s a hard situation for some families but what do you suggest happens?

Less protection for CV kids considering that masks and distancing will likely be reduced. But more protection because the virus won’t be circulating in the community as much so they’re less likely to be exposed.

I think it will be a case of relying on a reduction in community transmission.

Ds's Drs seemed to think the Oxford Vaccine was the one that would eventually be approved for medically vulnerable children (they were originally going to include children from 5 in their trials, but I think that was changed to move things forward)

At the moment older children (16+ I think) in residential care can be considered for a vaccine on a case by case basis.

I must admit it feels hard to see the way through the next year, I desperately want to get ds back to school.

@mousehole10 what I suggest happens is that a proper plan is put in place for ecv children particularly regarding their education but also on what the plan is for them to be allowed back into society safely. Will this happen when a certain percentage of the population is vaccinated etc?

I'm in Wales so may have had different letters but the last we had was in the summer stating all children on the list would be reviewed and we would be contacted.

Shielding was then paused so there wasn't an issue with returning to school.

I am interested in this as well.

I feel the same OP. Unfortunately it only took one reply for you to be told "we can't restrict the whole country because of a minority".
I don't think it's too much to ask for a plan, an acknowledgement, a mention of CV/CEV children and how to keep them safe, regardless of how far into the future the "good news" may be.
'The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members'.

@Mousehole10

I don’t think they have been forgotten about, it’s just the vaccine isn’t approved for use in children (it would take much longer for this to be approved), and generally children are much less at risk. The vaccine in adults will help to bring the level of virus in the community down so children will be better protected that way. It’s awful but in reality the whole country can’t be kept in restrictions because of the few minority unfortunately.

But I thought the vaccine won't stop transmission just prevent severe reactions? (I hope I have misunderstood this and it will stop transmission).

I wonder if CEV children will get given the vaccine even though it hasn't been trialled in children yet. A bit like a dr can prescribe a medicine not designed for children but in a case by case basis?

But more protection because the virus won’t be circulating in the community as much so they’re less likely to be exposed.

There is currently no evidence that vaccines will reduce transmission.

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/coronavirus-vaccines-moderna-transmission-rates-b1761236.html

@ThatDamnKrampus it’s not yet known if the vaccine does or doesn’t reduce transmission but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t. It’s thought the Oxford vaccine has some effect on it but Pfizer doesn’t. The vaccine won’t be given to children unlicensed, can you imagine if it went wrong?

[quote Sayitasitis2020]But more protection because the virus won’t be circulating in the community as much so they’re less likely to be exposed.

There is currently no evidence that vaccines will reduce transmission.

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/coronavirus-vaccines-moderna-transmission-rates-b1761236.html[/quote]
To be honest any conversation with ds's Drs about this always involves a lot of caveats, hopefullys, maybes and a huge dose of fingers crossed!