Is anyone planning on refusing to allow their children to have the lateral flow tests.

[Witchcraftandhokum]

I'm really not looking to start a bunfight. Just tying to better understand the reasons if you are not planning on allowing your child to be tested.

Interesting as the kids with autism I work at school with have been brilliant at self administrating their lateral flow tests as they follow the spoken instructions to the letter whilst the other kids fuss.

Obviously my child would rather not have a test if possible - and there are limits to what I will tolerate as a public health measure for the good of the general population - but this doesn’t feel like the hill to die on for us. I know some of her teachers are anxious about returning, I guess it feels like ‘doing her bit’.

Not the hill to die on. Well said.
It may be for the greater good, certainly will help teachers to be a tiny bit safer, but ultimately it will also benefit every child who is able to continue at school instead of being constantly sent home as infections run riot.

We have declined the ones in school before 8 March but will happily do the homes tests after that

childcareissue can you say why?

LFT is much less uncomfortable than the PCR nose and throat swabs. It’s not perfect, but surveillance like this is a very sensible way of keeping asymptomatic people out of circulation. Symptomatic people should be at home isolating.

As for dehumanising, I mean really? Who does it help to freak out to that extent about sticking a cotton swab up your nose a couple of times a week?! Whipping up that sort of hysteria is not helpful to anyone, especially the kids being tested.

Yes, we have declined the ones in school as I have been shielding and we have another cv dc and a baby so didn’t want ds going in x3 before 8 March and mixing with others so we declined but would be happy to home test prior to 8 March if that was an option

One in three cases are asymptomatic.

The lateral flow test is nowhere near dehumanising, what a silly comment to make.

Yes and lateral flow tests are next to useless if you don't have symptoms. Even if you do research has shown them to be around only 50% acccurate when performed by non professionals. They work best on people with a high viral load but pretty useless for those without symptoms.

I don’t have a problem. If my child finds it distressing then no. But he doesn’t so he will be tested. It’s not forever. It will help the teaching staff to be safe and that is a good thing.

@TinaYouFatLard

My children cannot and I do not consent to any regular, invasive and dehumanising procedures to be carried out on my perfectly healthy children.

If they show any sign at all of illness, then I would test.

You what??

My DD is 13 (and I) have been having regular lateral flow tests (we are officials at an Elite sport) and so her and I are tested before each game we work at. We have a match to work tonight so we tested this morning. She only needed to be shown once and now does the test herself with no issues. Its really not an issue - just a bit tickly.

Is this just for secondary age dc or primary as well? Ds1 (year 10) has done it before and will be fine. Still haven't decided for ds2 (year 8) yet. My gut instinct is not to consent.

Similar to @childcareIssue we won't participate in any testing before the return to school as I see that as unnecessary travel via public transport - school isn't local to us

I will consider the at home testing but probably won't bother tbh

DD has SEN so I will not consent.

@TinaYouFatLard

My children cannot and I do not consent to any regular, invasive and dehumanising procedures to be carried out on my perfectly healthy children.

If they show any sign at all of illness, then I would test.

It beggars belief that we're coming up for a year into this pandemic, there has been an overload of information available to anyone one who has fully functioning eyes and ears and yet some people still haven't grasped the whole asymptomatic spread thing and can also be so selfishly precious about their children as to demonise a simple test as "invasive" (yep, a little but no pain, no gain as they say) and "dehumanising".

I suppose I shouldn't wonder how bonkers conspiracy theories spread with ignorance like that merrily typed up and shared with the world !

Tina, my love, I really hope that you're not home-schooling your kids in science matters. For the love of all things holy, please leave that to a science teacher.

I realise that this is a bit of a viper style reply to your post but I'm stunned by your post, absolutely stunned !

@MoriParty

One in three cases are asymptomatic.

The lateral flow test is nowhere near dehumanising, what a silly comment to make.

Yes and lateral flow tests are next to useless if you don't have symptoms. Even if you do research has shown them to be around only 50% acccurate when performed by non professionals. They work best on people with a high viral load but pretty useless for those without symptoms.

Not sure I agree. I officiate at an Elite sport level and the players and officials are tested before each game (and the players twice a week as standard) and 5 weeks ago the lateral flow test confirmed 4 positive cases all of which were young (18-25 year olds) with no symptoms whatsoever. They all then went on to have positive PCR tests. We would never have known without the lateral flow test.

My year 10 dd has emetaphobia so she is very scared about taking the test. So as far as I'm concerned she doesn't have to take it. She can put the swab up her nose but not the back of the throat.

Unless there are learning/medical issues, testing students should be a no brainer. It's the least parents/students can do to help keep schools open and safe and their teachers/teaching assistants/etc safe.

I am not consenting to testing my two secondary age children. I do not agree with how the whole pandemic has been handled, and I think children have suffered enough in order to protect others. I have strong doubts that the testing is actually beneficial enough to warrant the effort and distress caused. My children do have sensory issues too linked to ASD and ADHD, adding to the distress element.

And ftr, I self-test twice a week to help keep my school open and the bubble I am currently running in school safe.

won't be refusing. I might or might not warn them that if they swab his tonsils he will promptly produce his weetabix. Or might not, depends how silly they are with covid security theatre this time.

I’m not sure how good they are anyway. I did one and it came back negative (I had been in close contact with my DP and he had it!) when I finally did the actual NHS it was positive.

I had zero symptoms though !

@Whatisthisfuckery

I won’t be giving consent to test my child, and as far as I’m concerned I don’t owe anybody any justification for my decision.

What does your child think?

@TinaYouFatLard

My children cannot and I do not consent to any regular, invasive and dehumanising procedures to be carried out on my perfectly healthy children.

If they show any sign at all of illness, then I would test.

Dehumanising is a bit of a stretch. You’re being over dramatic. A simple no will suffice.

Fine. Refuse the test. Just prepare to homeschool.

I hope every child who can have a test, does. Otherwise, it isn't fair on those who genuinely can't and are therefore put at greater risk. There is no other valid excuse.