Would you have your infant/toddler vaccinated?

[doireallyneedaname]

Partner and I have both had our first Covid jabs. Our toddler has had all his immunisations so far too.

I’ve been thinking about what I’d have done had there been a Covid vaccine available for a baby of our age (1)

Honestly, I don’t think I would have gone ahead with it. The risk to babies and small children is so minuscule but they’ve got their whole lives ahead of them. I don’t believe the Covid vaccines to be unsafe at all but there is still that “what if” in the back of my mind regarding long term effects, though everything I’ve read suggests it’s highly unlikely.

I feel quite torn about this decision and I’m curious to know how others feel as I’m sure we’ll have something available for this age group in the near future.

I don't think it will be that long.

Trials for Moderna are starting for 6months+ and if AZ trials go well, they should be rolling out for 6 years+ at the end of the year.

Not a chance in hell.

If it was offered to them right now? No, I'd feel incredibly uncomfortable with that.

I feel similarly to 1dayatatime. Only once it's fully licensed and past approval for emergency use will I consider it for my children that are not even of child bearing age yet. Reading the thread on here the other day discussing delayed periods after the vaccine only serves to reinforce my view this isn't something that should be rushed for young people and children.

BTW I've had my vaccine because I'm an old git and at the end of my child bearing days.

Yes as they have been vaccinated against everything else.

Absolutely, in a heartbeat. If a child vaccine trial was available in my area, I'd sign my 7 year old up ASAP (obviously after discussing it with them). I was part of a stage 3 vaccine trial, by that point, they are proved to be safe from dangerous side effects, and the research is about efficacy at preventing disease, gathering info on local short term reactions (eg, sore arm, fluey symptoms), and monitoring to see how strong antibody levels are and how long immunity lasts. Any vaccine currently being trialled in kids has already been administered to a large cohort of adults.

The effects of covid are not just the initial symptomatic (or even asymptomatic) disease. I know of previously healthy under 30s who still have ongoing symptoms 6 months after even very mild covid.

I'm very keen to protect my kids against the possible ongoing even short term health issues that covid infection can bring. My other kids are older teens, who will qualify for vaccination once everyone older has been given theirs, which can't come quickly enough.

I agree I would have to see the data first and currently they just keep saying there is no evidence to suggest it’s harmful to certain groups ie pregnant ladies and their babies but that purely means they haven’t had time to do any trials as it’s all so new.

My husband has said he wants our 2.5 year old vaccinated against Covid however until I’ve seen any data they publish I won’t be making a decision. My husband tends to just believe everything that is said by the government and they wouldn’t say it’s safe if it wasn’t....look where that went with the thalidomide scandal!

I am genuinely interested in the views of those who actively want their children vaccinated against Covid for the direct health impact on their children (either from Covid itself or long covid) as to whether they have also vaccinated their children against chicken pox where the long term health implications are more established. And if not then why?

@1dayatatime

I am genuinely interested in the views of those who actively want their children vaccinated against Covid for the direct health impact on their children (either from Covid itself or long covid) as to whether they have also vaccinated their children against chicken pox where the long term health implications are more established. And if not then why?

Yes we paid for the chickenpox vaccine

It’s not quite comparable. The cost of the chicken pox vaccine may be out of reach for many who would otherwise take it. You could ask “would you pay for the covid vaccine for your children”

@1dayatatime

I am genuinely interested in the views of those who actively want their children vaccinated against Covid for the direct health impact on their children (either from Covid itself or long covid) as to whether they have also vaccinated their children against chicken pox where the long term health implications are more established. And if not then why?

My ds had the chicken pox vaccine on the nhs, as recommended by his paediatrician and consultant - if he hadn't been eligible to have it, we would have paid for it.

@1dayatatime

I am genuinely interested in the views of those who actively want their children vaccinated against Covid for the direct health impact on their children (either from Covid itself or long covid) as to whether they have also vaccinated their children against chicken pox where the long term health implications are more established. And if not then why?

Yes, we paid for it. We would also have paid for BCG (not in an eligible area) but had to wait a decent period after other jabs, then little illnesses, then lockdown. So we will still pay for that when we can.

CP vaccine was not a thing here when my teens were small, though the older two had it when eldest was 3 and middle dc was about 7 months (he had about 2 spots,wouldn't have known unless I was looking for it because of eldest having it). Had it been available, I would have paid for it for them. I had chicken pox age about 4 and still remember how miserable it was. Youngest got CP mildly around 6 months (picked up at childminders) and would have been too young for private vaccine until age 1.
Paid for hpv vaccine for my teen ds. I would pay for covid vaccines if it meant they could have them sooner (I know I am incredibly fortunate to be able to even consider this as an option). The risks associated with not vaccinating for covid are much higher than the risks of vaccination. Long covid risk is not dependent on how bad your initial infection was, and children are being affected by it.

And actually, I suspect both teens would jump at the chance of a vaccine, even if there was no direct benefit for them, as they would hate to be the ones to pass it on to anyone.

@Neolara

"Children’s flu vaccines are absolutely to protect their grandparents not them."

I'm not sure that's entirely true. If that was all there was to it, why is my child with asthma offered the flu jab and my other DCs aren't?

Most schools offer the flu vaccine for kids! It’s not an injection though it’s some sort of nasal thing.

I don’t have a toddler but DS is 6 years old. I had my first dose and my arm was aching for 6 days I couldn’t imagine DS would be able to cope/understand.

At this stage we can’t see the results of the vaccine as we are still locked down. So NO I wouldn’t vote for kids been vaccinated at this stage.

Chickenpox is not comparable it’s been around a lot longer than COVID-19 plus how many people have ended up on ICU from chickenpox?

Yes my children will be getting the vaccine when it's offered to them because the government says so, and if the government says that getting the vaccine allows my child not to isolate or wear a mask then that's what I'll do. I'll inject them with anything in the hope of getting our freedoms back.

@MRex I’ve been looking into the BCG for my 1 year old. Seems awful that it’s now not routinely offered to all purely because they’re not at immediate risk. All it could take is a trip to a “high risk” area and that could do it.

Have you found anywhere that will do it privately? I haven’t seen any that will do it for children under 12.

I would have my child vaccinated. I am happy at the prospect of getting me and DH vaccinated and hopefully getting back to some sort of normal. Like you OP though I find myself then thinking but my child hasn’t been afforded the same protection. It plays on my mind that, yes I know the risks are really low if she catches it but they are also low for me as a healthy 30something and right now I’m desperate for my vaccine. I trust the science basically. Vaccines aren’t like medications where side effects turn up weeks, months or years later. Any negative side effects would be pretty immediate.

[quote doireallyneedaname]@MRex I’ve been looking into the BCG for my 1 year old. Seems awful that it’s now not routinely offered to all purely because they’re not at immediate risk. All it could take is a trip to a “high risk” area and that could do it.

Have you found anywhere that will do it privately? I haven’t seen any that will do it for children under 12.[/quote]
The nurse at our GP gave me the name of two private clinics locally; the one we booked only did it once a month (the other had been booked up for 3 months), which is why we missed out. Neither had any issue with vaccinating a toddler but it can't be within a certain period of other vaccines, nor antibiotics (nor antibiotics for you if breastfeeding). I think we should at least be able to pay the NHS to give the vaccine, I'd pay extra for the convenience of having the lovely GP nurse.
I'm SW London, so I can send you the clinic names if you're near, otherwise you could ask your GP nurse.

@May17th
Most schools offer the flu vaccine for kids! It’s not an injection though it’s some sort of nasal thing.
This is true of primary schools, but at secondary age it is usually only offered to children with underlying conditions. For some children with asthma on certain medication, the injection is recommended over the spray.
The vaccine is usually given to children as a nasal spray, not an injection. However, the spray is not usually recommended for children on oral steroids (pills or liquids), or who have been in intensive care because of their asthma. If your child falls into either of these groups, they should be offered an injection instead of a nasal spray. (asthma uk)
My ds was given the vaccine as an infant, as a jab, due to his medication regime at the time.

Hell no!! My children will be vaccinated to protect them, I will not inject them with anything on behalf of other age groups!!!

Inject me all you like, not my children!!!

@OnlyFoolsnMothers I do find that a strange response. Vaccination programmes work because huge amounts of the population get vaccinated which gives protection to everyone through herd immunity. Your reaction suggests that you would take a vaccine for purely selfish reasons to protect yourself only? It’s like that old advert on tv to wear a seatbelt in the back seat to protect the driver because you’d likely be fine but you’d crush the driver.

@PinkDaffodil2 That’s nonsense. My 3 year old has viral induced wheeze and pre-covid (he hasn’t been at nursery for a year as I’m also CEV) he was in hospital each and every time he had a common cold. I dread to think what flu would do to him. He has the flu vaccine and would have a covid one if it was available.

[quote Nellie850]@OnlyFoolsnMothers I do find that a strange response. Vaccination programmes work because huge amounts of the population get vaccinated which gives protection to everyone through herd immunity. Your reaction suggests that you would take a vaccine for purely selfish reasons to protect yourself only? It’s like that old advert on tv to wear a seatbelt in the back seat to protect the driver because you’d likely be fine but you’d crush the driver.[/quote]
Nope, I’m in a very low risk category (don’t care if I catch Covid) and I would have the vaccine for the greater good of society. My children, nope! They are to be protected by me, I don’t want to stick endless vaccines in them when they are extremely low risk personally and aren’t super spreaders etc.

Whilst on the topic, No one gave a shit about compulsory mmr vaccines for school places to protect vulnerable children!

[quote Nellie850]@OnlyFoolsnMothers I do find that a strange response. Vaccination programmes work because huge amounts of the population get vaccinated which gives protection to everyone through herd immunity. Your reaction suggests that you would take a vaccine for purely selfish reasons to protect yourself only? It’s like that old advert on tv to wear a seatbelt in the back seat to protect the driver because you’d likely be fine but you’d crush the driver.[/quote]
Not all vaccine programmes work like that. Some vaccines are just offered to the people most a risk of serious illness from them eg flu.