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.

Once the vaccines has stage 3 approval. At the moment it is experimental. There is no legal redress and the government has refused to publish data relating to adverse reactions.

@bumbleymummy you’re right not all do, it does seem that’s the way they are going with covid though.

No definitely not.
We have not taken the Covid vaccination nor the child flu one.

I'd definitely want my children to have it. Dc1 has been asking when he can have it, although I'm worried as eldest dc has severe allergies so I'd have to speak to the gp before and see if there was a risk because of that.

[quote doireallyneedaname]@Roonerspismed I don’t understand this at all.

It’s widely accepted in the medical community that flu is most dangerous to children under 5, those with underlying health conditions, pregnant women & the elderly.

Where has this idea come from that the flu vaccine is only to prevent transmission to the elderly!?[/quote]
It’s because she hasn’t seen young people and children she loves dying from it. That’s the bottom line with this anti-vaxxer stuff. Anti-vaxxers can’t see in societal terms, only selfish ones, and until someone they love dies from a disease they won’t consider vaccination.

@PelvicFloorTrauma

Once the vaccines has stage 3 approval. At the moment it is experimental. There is no legal redress and the government has refused to publish data relating to adverse reactions.

It’s all there if you look for it. All the covid vaccines come with neurological side effects - they’re rare but can happen if you already have a strong immune system. I was warned about it when I had my jab today and to make sure I reported any symptom not on the leaflet, and to see a medical professional straight away if I have symptoms of clots, Guillian Barre, or bleeding.

@Dustyhedge

I think we’re a long way off small children being vaccinated.I’d be interested to see if it becomes something that children have when they hit 11 or 12.

That would make the most sense to me, as inflammation tends to increase around the age of puberty. Plus it gives kids the benefit of a few years of sciencez

No!

@MrsHastingslikethebattle

Personally, I wouldn't.

As you say, the risk to small children and babies is so small. I would not give them a flu vaccine so no, I wouldn't give them a Covid one.

They already get flu vaccines

@Roonerspismed

I bat my eyelids at the flu vaccine for school children actually.

I don’t believe it a morally right to vaccinate one group for the benefit of another. There is no benefit to children with the flu vaccine and arguably we don’t know the long term effects. So I decline and many others do, too, even if they have received other vaccines. Covid is no different

I bat my eyelids at your ignorance🙄

Definitely not. In a few years when there’s more information about possible long term side effects then maybe yes.

Kitkat151 what’s ignorant?- a view that’s different to yours ?

@PelvicFloorTrauma

Once the vaccines has stage 3 approval. At the moment it is experimental. There is no legal redress and the government has refused to publish data relating to adverse reactions.

Why are you lying? I'm confused about what purpose it serves. All adverse reactions have been reported through MHRA since day one, look here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-adverse-reactions/coronavirus-vaccine-summary-of-yellow-card-reporting. See Annex 1 for everything related and unrelated that happened and was reported within the period following vaccination, it's split by vaccine.

Regarding flu - young children are particularly at risk. Deaths are very low in the UK because we vaccinate, but still happen: jech.bmj.com/content/59/7/586.
With a slightly lower proportion vaccinated the US can show more information; 200 deaths last year and under 1/3 of child deaths are vaccinated: www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2018/02/study-shows-youngest-kids-most-risk-flu-death.
It's up to parents to choose to take risks with their children or not, but it's better to do so on the basis of real information and NHS advice.

[quote Nellie850]@bumbleymummy you’re right not all do, it does seem that’s the way they are going with covid though.[/quote]
@GrumpyHoonMain

Or because it’s the information given out by the NHS:

www.blackburnwithdarwenccg.nhs.uk/health/child-health/childhood-flu-vaccination/

“ However, the vaccination not only protects the child, more importantly it helps stop the spread of the illness especially to those older members of the family such as grandparents.”

I guess the NHS is ‘Anti-vaxx’ now

@bumbleymummy - ah, it's you. Spot quiz for you, do the NHS:
A) Recommend childhood flu vaccines
B) Not recommend childhood flu vaccines.

Sorry @Nellie850, my reply to you got lost in the previous post.

“you’re right not all do, it does seem that’s the way they are going with covid though.”

I think it will end up being offered to the vulnerable, like the flu vaccine, in future years, and probably in other countries this year. People in the U.K. seem very taken with the ‘greater good’ argument - even when it’s a mild disease for most and many are already immune.

MRex, I just linked to the NHS advice. Why don’t you check it yourself?

@bumbleymummy

MRex, I just linked to the NHS advice. Why don’t you check it yourself?

I was just interested to see if you could manage to identify the answer given that you missed "protects the child" in your reading.

@mrex

See the start of the quote that says ‘The vaccine not only protects the child’ ? That should answer your question. I bolded a particular part of it because I was addressing the PP question: “where has the idea come from that it’s to protect the elderly?”

How very ‘anti-vaxx’ of me

Can you really not say it @bumbleymummy? What would happen, would stating a fact be so painful for you?

No. We do not know long term effects so I wont consent to my teenager daugher having this. My other children are over 16 but neither will give their own consent.

Vaccinating the vulnerable was meant to be our path out of this. With ever changing goalposts, there needs to be a point where people say no. This is that point for me.

Yes I would give my DS the vaccine if and when tested for his age. He is asthmatic and other respiratory problems so anything I can do to help him!

@MRex why would I have a problem saying the NHS recommends the flu vaccine for children? I’ve literally just linked and quoted from the NHS guidance that says exactly that. What’s wrong with you?

[quote bumbleymummy]@MRex why would I have a problem saying the NHS recommends the flu vaccine for children? I’ve literally just linked and quoted from the NHS guidance that says exactly that. What’s wrong with you?[/quote]
Do you think it's important to follow NHS advice on vaccines?