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Original poster

Are vaccines for over 12s likely to ever be offered in UK?

59 replies

Staffy1 · 03/06/2021 00:06

I thought this was the plan at one point, but lately everything I've read about it seems to be suggesting it's never going to be offered to children now. I think in a supposed free and civilised country the choice should be there for vulnerable children at least. I would hope if it won't be offered on the NHS, it will at least be allowed privately once they have offered it to everyone they are going to offer it to. If not, I don't think we live in a free country.

OP posts:
HSHorror · 03/06/2021 00:36

I agree op.
And think it needs to. be available privately to adults too. (So you can choose the vax)
I would be shocked if it's not to at minimum 16+ due to exams etc.
But also my kids have missed 6m at school already. That alone is reason to vax. Without it the kids will catch every few months and miss more school.
Or it could end up long term unfair that some areas have no cases.

BritWifeinUSA · 03/06/2021 03:11

You can’t choose which vaccine you get in the UK? That’s weird. Here you can choose.

CarrieBlue · 03/06/2021 07:05

@BritWifeinUSA

You can’t choose which vaccine you get in the UK? That’s weird. Here you can choose.
We don’t have to pay for our vaccines either, it’s great!
Watapalava · 03/06/2021 07:10

I don't think they'll offer it as routine because uptake will be low. Even now not all year groups are offered flu vaccine because its not necessary and that's been around for years.

They need people on board and they themselves have said its an 'ethical issue' and made comments such as 'no benefit to kids other than protecting others'

the tide has changed- particularly up north were many of those in hospital etc are unvaccinated but eligible. People shouldn't feel pressured to vaccinate kids to protect those who wont have it.

School attendance isnt even a factor as school isolation of contacts is going to stop soon regardless

Piggywaspushed · 03/06/2021 07:47

as school isolation of contacts is going to stop soon regardless

Source!

If they want the Indian Variant spreading merrily around schools that would certainly be a plan.

There is no evidence in this country at all that uptake of childhood vaccines is low.

HelloMissus · 03/06/2021 07:54

watapalava I thought Bolton Health had confirmed that the unvaccinated in hospital in the area were not refusers, just not yet eligible or unable to have the vaccine.
And that Matt Hancock was - ahem- mistaken when he said those patients had decided against the vaccine.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 03/06/2021 07:58

@Watapalava

I don't think they'll offer it as routine because uptake will be low. Even now not all year groups are offered flu vaccine because its not necessary and that's been around for years.

They need people on board and they themselves have said its an 'ethical issue' and made comments such as 'no benefit to kids other than protecting others'

the tide has changed- particularly up north were many of those in hospital etc are unvaccinated but eligible. People shouldn't feel pressured to vaccinate kids to protect those who wont have it.

School attendance isnt even a factor as school isolation of contacts is going to stop soon regardless

Why would the level of uptake affect whether it is offered?

We'll get to a place where there is plenty of vaccine for everyone, supply won't be an issue so I can't see why there would be any reason not to allow anyone to discuss with their doctor booking in for a jab.

No one needs to be pressurised simply because the vaccine is available to those who do want it.

I don't understand your last para, has isolation stopping been announced?

Lucidas · 03/06/2021 08:00

@CarrieBlue

The vaccines are free in the US too...

Remmy123 · 03/06/2021 08:08

They will be offered to 12's and over I believe soon.

Not sure what the uptake will be. I'm not comfortable giving it to my kids.

CarrieBlue · 03/06/2021 08:41

[quote Lucidas]@CarrieBlue

The vaccines are free in the US too...[/quote]
That is good news!

Treezan82 · 03/06/2021 08:48

I think they will be offered to children in due course - haven't heard anything to the contrary. Over 18s should all be first-jabbed by August, I always assumed the first jabs would start to roll out to children around the start of the new school year as young adults are getting their second doses. I suppose that might change if the very elderly are getting their boosters then but I actually get the impression that will be a slightly different jab anyway (read recently that the gov are doing a deal with AZ for tweaked boosters available in autumn).

Piggywaspushed · 03/06/2021 08:54

The uptake will be high remmy. Any in school vaccination programmes has almost blanket take up. There is a vocal anti vaccinating children lobby (on MN and some other forums) but , in reality, this is a tiny minority of parents.

Milkywayqueen · 03/06/2021 09:01

If its offered my kids won't be having it. Before I get accused of being anti vax my kids have had ALL their regular jabs.

Ive had it my kids don't.

And actually a lot of parents ( one of them is a GP friend) feel like this. Its a new vaccine, some of us still remember what happened to some children who took the swine flu vaccine. Plus I thought I read some where the children trails had been stopped.

NotSoLongGoodbye · 03/06/2021 09:04

They may well offer to vulnerable children rather than all. the chickenpox vax is offered to vulnerable children or those living with vulnerable adults.

Personally I can't wait until there is some private provision for covid vax. I've had first dose pfizer and i do not want to mix and match and would happily pay to be guaranteed pfizer boosters if required

SoSadAboutMyDad · 03/06/2021 09:38

I really can’t see boosters of AZ being offered. Lots of people wouldn’t want them and they can’t be used as boosters for people who have already had AZ as their bodies will now be familiar with the chimpanzee virus it is carried on. I suspect it will be quietly shelved. Why use an inferior vaccine if you can get enough Pfizer or start making it in the UK.

Also, lots of countries gave the vaccine for free AND gave people a choice of what vaccine they wanted. It was only here that people felt forced into taking AZ when they really wanted Pfizer. But that’s the British way - always going on about ‘the good old nhs’ when it’s actually pretty crap. I posted about only wanting Pfizer on here and got absolutely slated, told their was no choice etc. All I did was ask the GP receptionist if I could have the Pfizer instead and she booked me into that clinic. No way would I want an AZ booster now.

jumpbounce · 03/06/2021 09:39

@Watapalava

I don't think they'll offer it as routine because uptake will be low. Even now not all year groups are offered flu vaccine because its not necessary and that's been around for years.

They need people on board and they themselves have said its an 'ethical issue' and made comments such as 'no benefit to kids other than protecting others'

the tide has changed- particularly up north were many of those in hospital etc are unvaccinated but eligible. People shouldn't feel pressured to vaccinate kids to protect those who wont have it.

School attendance isnt even a factor as school isolation of contacts is going to stop soon regardless

Except school isolation won't stop until there had been a vaccine offered to children because there are at risk children within schools who haven't been vaccinated therefore they cannot allow it to run freely through schools.
itsgettingwierd · 03/06/2021 09:42

I don't see why they wouldn't?

Currently those 16/17 in vulnerable categories have been vaccinated and also they've done some younger if considered highly at risk.

That alone should provide some data.

I think it would be done on a herd immunity approach rather than a risk one so perhaps they are waiting alongside the trials to see if it's necessary.

OliveTree75 · 03/06/2021 09:46

@Remmy123

They will be offered to 12's and over I believe soon.

Not sure what the uptake will be. I'm not comfortable giving it to my kids.

Same here.
roguetomato · 03/06/2021 09:52

I really hope they do, especially after watching this.
edition.cnn.com/2021/05/19/health/covid-19-vaccine-rollout-ages-12-to-15-wellness/index.html
My 13 years old says he's definitely getting it if offered.

ThereIsAGreenHillFarAway · 03/06/2021 11:46

@SoSadAboutMyDad

I really can’t see boosters of AZ being offered. Lots of people wouldn’t want them and they can’t be used as boosters for people who have already had AZ as their bodies will now be familiar with the chimpanzee virus it is carried on. I suspect it will be quietly shelved. Why use an inferior vaccine if you can get enough Pfizer or start making it in the UK.

Also, lots of countries gave the vaccine for free AND gave people a choice of what vaccine they wanted. It was only here that people felt forced into taking AZ when they really wanted Pfizer. But that’s the British way - always going on about ‘the good old nhs’ when it’s actually pretty crap. I posted about only wanting Pfizer on here and got absolutely slated, told their was no choice etc. All I did was ask the GP receptionist if I could have the Pfizer instead and she booked me into that clinic. No way would I want an AZ booster now.

I keep seeing posts saying AZ boosters can't be given if you've already had two AZ shots but no one ever links to the science behind this and I can't find anything via google.

My OH just laughed and said it's just part of the campaign to knock back the AZ vaccine.

@SoSadAboutMyDad can you help out with a research paper/source I can show him please? Thanks

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 03/06/2021 11:52

Germany and US have approved it for 12 and up ( or is it 10 and up)

Judging by the current fiasco in the dept of education it seems that vaccines for teens are the only way out of this fiasco. My dd14 will absolutely be having it.

Wakemeuuuup · 03/06/2021 11:53

My kids will be holding their arms out begging for the jab

Original poster
Staffy1 · 03/06/2021 11:54

I don't think anyone should be pressured into it for their kids, but do feel the option should be there for those of us who have vulnerable kids that seem to get quite sick with various mystery bugs. I also don't know if I would be comfortable giving it to my son, as there is now news that Pfizer has caused myocarditis among over 100 young men in Israel, and ofcourse AZ has known issues. It's so difficult as I don't know if covid will be really bad for him if he gets it, i have a feeling it will going by how under the weather he gets at times and learning disabilities so can't tell me how he feels, but also don't know if the vaccine itself might be bad for him. If the vaccine didn't have complications it would be a definite yes, for my son's sake, not simply to protect older people as a lot of people seem to assume is the only reason.

OP posts:
LyndaLaHughes · 03/06/2021 12:00

Except school isolation won't stop until there had been a vaccine offered to children because there are at risk children within schools who haven't been vaccinated therefore they cannot allow it to run freely through schools.

Unfortunately, there have already been trials of non school isolation by daily testing of contacts.
Also, if the government actually cares about spread in schools they would actually put some
proper measures in and not stop mask wearing. I think they are still pushing for herd immunity through infection in schools- that is why they won't release the data of the spread of the Indian variant in schools. A legal challenge has now been made to force its release. But educational settings is the number one place for infections at present according to PHE surveillance reports. Cases are highest in 10-19 year olds. This is no surprise given the measures in schools are woefully inadequate as the government refuses to spend any money to make schools actually safe .

Seeline · 03/06/2021 12:07

COuld that also be due to the fact that secondary school kids are testing twice weekly so more cases are actually being identified?