Pfizer approved for 12-15 year olds

[LimeAndLemons]

Just seen this.
The UK regulator has said the benefits outweigh the risks in giving it to 12-15yo.

Would you let your child have it? I'm very conflicted on this.

@Sirzy

I do think for otherwise healthy kids it’s a much harder decision, but I do think the long term problems of long covid which seem to be a real issue for a lot of younger people who have had covid

My DS’ pediatrician believes one of the reasons for Long Covid in otherwise healthy young people is the presence of undiagnosed ‘mild’ clotting disorders with inflammation caused by covid. He believes the NHS needs to get better at proactive medicine by detecting these things faster.

Both my DD's are desperate to have theirs, although older, 18 and 24. They have both said they would have taken it if they were younger too.

Younger daughter had glandular fever a couple of years ago, and had quite a few weeks of post viral syndrome symptoms. She would do anything to prevent something similar again. She basically lost a whole term of school.

I wonder whether a 14 year old can overrule a negative parental consent for vaccinations. They can for medical treatments. Anyone know?

@eatbroccoli

My child is under that age luckily and if they enforce it, I will do anything in my power to prevent him from getting that poison.

Why poison? Based on what evidence?

This is a bit tricky. I’m a science all the way type person. However as adults, we can make up our minds. As children, they are guided by us, so it’s a heavy weight. It is different so we need to be given a lot more practical information to weigh up the risk. There are many issues:

• need to vaccinate the world adults before children
• new variants may be more serious in children, no evidence of any yet, but there is a possibility in future
• all vaccines have been rigorously tested. However rare and more long term reactions take a while to come out. The US and others are already vaccinating children though so we have the benefit that these will be picked up.
• there are good ‘health vs risk’ type calculations so in a sense we must have some trust in these from science. No vaccine can be agreed if it does not show a good benefit vs risk.

Hell will freeze over before my kids have it! What on earth is wrong with people ? There is no long term data, science isn’t perfect, they make mistakes. There are many many reports of side effects, more so than other vaccines despite being around years. I cannot fathom why anyone would consider it

Look at this chart, this shows children aren’t affected, it shows the average age is very high

Those being dramatic and saying it will be enforced - of course it won’t. Children and adults will not be forced to do anything.

Absolutely not. My children are fully up to date with the vaccination schedules and had flu vaccine when offered. This vaccine is a completely different matter. I'd want to see long-term follow up safety data- IMO the risk/ benefit is not favourable right now. Quite apart from anything else I think it is unethical to even be considering this when vulnerable adults around the world don't have access to vaccines. Children with vulnerabilities should of course be offered the vaccine but at this time I don't think this is at all appropriate for mass roll out. Pandemrix is not that long ago.

Dds 15&14 won’t be having it
They don’t need it and I won’t vaccinate at this early stage for others benefit

AZ concerns took a few months to come out so happy to wait

Look at this chart, this shows children aren’t affected, it shows the average age is very high

No it doesn't. It shows that the number of children dying is very very low, but "not dying" does not equal "not affected"

I spend four days in hospital after my first vaccine. I needed three units of blood after unexplained internal bleeding.

Over my dead body will my children be having it.

@Wtfdoipick

My child is thankfully just below the age range but I would be refusing at this point in time. I took the risk of a new vaccine for me because I felt the benefits outweigh the risk I'm not convinced the same is true for my child

Totally agree.

I was happy to get my vaccine and for me the benefits certainly outweighed the risks. But I am more worried about letting my kids have it at this moment in time.

@FrangipaniBlue

Look at this chart, this shows children aren’t affected, it shows the average age is very high

No it doesn't. It shows that the number of children dying is very very low, but "not dying" does not equal "not affected"

So still the proportion of affected is low I believe . Show me the data to prove otherwise . Post viral syndromes are not exclusive to covid before you go on about “Long covid”

If you want to vaccinate your children and put them at risk of the significant side effects reported, not to mention the unreported then that’s your choice

My disabled DS is in this age range and has already had both Pfizer doses. No problems.

As a secondary teacher I hope as many as possible will have it. I have had both doses too (AZ)

@TinaYouFatLard

I spend four days in hospital after my first vaccine. I needed three units of blood after unexplained internal bleeding.

Over my dead body will my children be having it.

Sure someone will try not to attribute to the vaccine , say it’s correlation not causation ! Hope you are doing better now

My 14yo wants it. He'll be in y11 in September so a crucial time not to miss school

For people saying that their children will take the jab because they have missed school and don't want to miss any more. There is no indication as yet that anyone who has been vaccinated is allowed to forego self isolation if they come into close contact with a case. So why do you think children will be any different?

It staggers belief that people like you believe it is better for a kid to take a vaccine for a disease that poses no real risk to them or so tiny it is comparable to the risk of falling down a flight of stairs at home

So basically you don't see the (higher) risk from covid as being anything to worry about, but you DO see the (MUCH lower) risk from a vaccine as being of mortal concern.

It's not just stupidity - it's arrogant stupidity that morons with NO scientific or medical training think they know better than leading medical professionals.

@Crazycatlady83

For people saying that their children will take the jab because they have missed school and don't want to miss any more. There is no indication as yet that anyone who has been vaccinated is allowed to forego self isolation if they come into close contact with a case. So why do you think children will be any different?

Well being vaccinated will decrease their chance of having to isolate due to them having covid.

The more people in any environment who are vaccinated then the less chance there is of anyone there being infected therefore less chance of having to isolate

I became vaccine adverse due to my child developing febrile convulsions for 5 years within hours of getting the MMR vaccine. Those 5 years were horrendous and I'd rather wait for further studies before it is considered. Furthermore there has been so much mixed messaging from the govts around the world regarding the efficacy of the vaccines and there is consistently new information/ data put out everyday.

@strangeshapedpotato

It absolutely staggers belief that there are so called parents out there who believe it's better their kid get infected with a virus, than have treatment to prevent it.

It's effectively child abuse to deny them this protection.

Whole heartedly agree. But it's just people who are uneducated and scared.

People sadly believe online forums and red top headlines over published papers and scientific bodies.

"There is no indication as yet that anyone who has been vaccinated is allowed to forego self isolation if they come into close contact with a case."

It reduces the risk of ds having isolate as the positive case and realistically he won't be completely self isolating as a contact although of course won't be going to school under current rules.

My ds 13 says he would definitely have it. He has been watching the video's that made for children, and he is confident in taking a vaccine.

I also don't understand why we think that children will be isolated out of school at all once the entire adult population of the UK has been vaccinated? Adults are protected and that is what will protect communities. This is a false transaction - it's not children's job to protect adults and especially when adults ( in wealthy countries) have been offered excellent protection already. And what justification is there for not supporting global vaccine equity for adults first? I am struggling to find any coherent explanation to support the clamour to mass vaccinate teens. Kate Bingham specifically said we wouldn't even vaccinate younger adults.