JCVI expected to extend vaccine to 16 and 17 year olds.

[MareofBeasttown]

Good news. As some of us predicted, the JCVI has changed its mind.
This is behind a paywall, but I read the whole article on Twitter ( which I can't seem to paste here).

Anyway, the headline is self-explanatory.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/08/03/mass-vaccination-children-against-covid-planned/

piggy is that right?
I guess it makes sense - 24-30 are likely to be considering long term health implications more than younger groups. Plus the discussion of how it might affect fertility will be in their minds at that age.

The younger age group will probably also consider that they will need to be fully vaccinated to get into nightclubs and football matches this autumn.

I think 24 to 30 also includes a lot if the young men I see who seem to be the least keen on lockdown, masks etc, not married or settled down yet, no kids etc. Many 18 to 21 year olds are still in education and see the vaccine as a route back to proper uni life and are more still under the thrall of parental pester power...

"This group is already prioritised and able to get vaccinated (see JCVI advice around 19th July)."

Only some of the CEV and CV 12-17 are eligible and nothing appears to happening in terms of vaccinating yet. 16- 18 can be done through vaccination centres unlike many in the other group so may well get theirs first.

I do feel a bit sorry for the JCVI and the health department. Everyone wants those in charge to FOLLOW THE SCIENCE. But when the scientists say they need more time to weigh up the risks and benefits there is uproar because the government won't just start vaccinating teens against the JCVI advice.

I think overall the JCVI has done very well:

1. They recommended extending the dose between the jabs (which at the time caused huge criticism as an irresponsible gamble as opposed to a calculated risk based on the fact that safety wouldn't be compromised and they were confident that efficacy was unlikely to be adversely affected). And lots of other countries are now following their lead.

1. They had a sensible and extremely easy to implement priority system for administering vaccines. Do you remember all the calls for teachers to be prioritised? That was tried in South Africa (after health workers and along with other essential workers but which in practice focussed on teachers) which obviously went down like a lead balloon and didn't keep schools open. And it made it quite burdensome, slow and open to abuse. And predictably the private schools were more organised and got done before the state schools. And it made no difference because the people taking up beds in hospital were old and vulnerable people, not teachers. The UK's priority list protected those most likely to become very ill, die or put strain on the NHS. And really easy to go by age which is quite hard to fudge. Time was of the essence and the quicker the jabs were given, the better for everyone.

1. They have been very open and transparent about their decisions - they know that if they lose the confidence of people, it will be disastrous for all vaccine takeup, not just covid vaccine takeup which would be disastrous.

Overall I'm pleased it was the JCVI making the decisions, not the government.

The JCVI overalldid a reasonably good job.

We need not so much to vaccinate teens but VULNERABLE teens, where there's risk. We are doing this bit poorly.

I’ve just read that both Pfizer and Moderna are doing vaccines trials on children as young as 6 months. I don’t think it will be too long before parents get the option to vaccinate their children if they wish-it’s brilliant news.

My only worry is what effect does the vaccine have on future fertility. I only know a handful of people in their 20's who have had the vaccine and those that havent have declined it because there is no evidence either way on how it effects fertility and they all want children or more children in the future.

We don't know the relative impact of either covid or the vaccines on fertility long term.

Any short term impact on periods would be unlikely to cause long term effect on fertility, lots of things affect periods in a short term way and don't affect fertility.

@jacspatoutthecat

My only worry is what effect does the vaccine have on future fertility. I only know a handful of people in their 20's who have had the vaccine and those that havent have declined it because there is no evidence either way on how it effects fertility and they all want children or more children in the future.

There was a study out of the US (I think) which showed it had no effect on fertility. Birth rates were the same before and after vaccination.

there is a live broadcast now with JVT

@jacspatoutthecat. I think the idea that the vaccine affects fertility has been widely debunked. Not only is there no evidence that it does, there's no known mechanism to how it could. But once the idea is in your head, I guess it's hard to dislodge it. Sometimes I get it into my head that it's unlucky to tread on a crack in the pavement. I know it's ridiculous but I still make sure I avoid those cracks!!

Good, we went to a small birthday party with a friend who I haven't met for a while. He showed me a text from a tennis-playing friend of his apologizing for not getting in touch for a while. His family have all had covid - the wife and him were fully vaxxed with AZ and were a bit rough but otherwise ok. The son was unvaxxed and has a rough time but was on the mend but their 24 year old daughter , no co-morbidities that he knew of was on a ventilator in hospital. He dropped this in when I was waxing lyrical about covid being over for us. Quite sobering. Obviously anecdotal but this is the first first-hand account I have had from my family and friends as to someone severely ill in the whole pandemic.

@jacspatoutthecat

My only worry is what effect does the vaccine have on future fertility. I only know a handful of people in their 20's who have had the vaccine and those that havent have declined it because there is no evidence either way on how it effects fertility and they all want children or more children in the future.

The maternity section was absolutely heaving the other day, it was genuinely the most noisy and bustling part of the store.

If we were going to see fertility issues, we would have seen it already - it's hardly Children of Men out there is it. This isn't going to be the one vaccine ever which makes people infertile.

People need to stop this now.

Sounds like parental consent isn’t going to be necessary either, if the 16/17 year old consents.

Interesting that JVT was keen to emphasise that the JCVI remains open to extending vaccine to other groups of vulnerable 12-15s. (Come on then...)

And to all the ones who are not convinced: it’s not mandatory, it’s voluntary. Teens will be offered it.
They’ll have the choice and their parents will have plenty of choices to discuss it.
I find this a lot more democratic than just making it impossible, whilst the rest of Europe and North America is doing it.
Travel options and study opportunities will be very different soon, and one will be able to take a decision.

My teen is very keen. Being now 17.5 it’s not a major difference for him. Buy plenty of his summer-born friends were unhappy with the risks of being sick or having study disrupted in y13, close to exams.

I agree with this decision. If only the advice of SAGE had been followed in a timely manner as well.

My 17 and 3/4 year old got vaccinated with Moderna today! We turned up at the drop in centre and luckily I had printed off the JCVI letter that someone had posted on here the other day. Thank you very much to whoever that was!

Where's the letter? Asking for a family member.

I don’t think changed it’s mind fits - could be data coming in from o/s

Supply not sure what’s happening there

We’ve already had Pfizer first dose for 16 year old anyway.

Next dc is 11 so even if they go younger no change

In any case I’m glad choice is there for those who want it.

@PatrickTheFox

I do feel a bit sorry for the JCVI and the health department. Everyone wants those in charge to FOLLOW THE SCIENCE. But when the scientists say they need more time to weigh up the risks and benefits there is uproar because the government won't just start vaccinating teens against the JCVI advice.

I think overall the JCVI has done very well:

1. They recommended extending the dose between the jabs (which at the time caused huge criticism as an irresponsible gamble as opposed to a calculated risk based on the fact that safety wouldn't be compromised and they were confident that efficacy was unlikely to be adversely affected). And lots of other countries are now following their lead.

1. They had a sensible and extremely easy to implement priority system for administering vaccines. Do you remember all the calls for teachers to be prioritised? That was tried in South Africa (after health workers and along with other essential workers but which in practice focussed on teachers) which obviously went down like a lead balloon and didn't keep schools open. And it made it quite burdensome, slow and open to abuse. And predictably the private schools were more organised and got done before the state schools. And it made no difference because the people taking up beds in hospital were old and vulnerable people, not teachers. The UK's priority list protected those most likely to become very ill, die or put strain on the NHS. And really easy to go by age which is quite hard to fudge. Time was of the essence and the quicker the jabs were given, the better for everyone.

1. They have been very open and transparent about their decisions - they know that if they lose the confidence of people, it will be disastrous for all vaccine takeup, not just covid vaccine takeup which would be disastrous.

Overall I'm pleased it was the JCVI making the decisions, not the government.

Couldn’t agree more, they’ve been good. Not without criticism and speculation though. I’m glad they choose to take an open role with name listed with huge responsibility.

This is good news, parts for their education.
I think 12-16 will be next when these and 12-16 ECV done.

It’s - its

Rogue ‘

And to all the ones who are not convinced: it’s not mandatory, it’s voluntary. Teens will be offered it.
They’ll have the choice and their parents will have plenty of choices to discuss it.

I do hope they aren't pressured or socially coerced into the vaccine like adults have been . You can just imagine the threads on here in a few months "my 16yo dd wants a party but 1 friend Is unvaxxed should we in still invite them "
I don't agree with the discrimination against unvaxxed adults in the first place but I'd hate for that to transpire down to our teenagers.