Vaccine in 12-16 year olds?

[beckypv]

I’m trying to work understand the real reason why 12-16 aren’t currently being offered the vaccine. I know they have said that it is because they are still weighing up the personal risk benefit to the child. Is that actually true? or is it because they are not yet in a position logistically to role it out fully to this age group, or they are actually thinking globally in terms of diverting vaccine resources to the rest of the world?
I ask this because my 12 year old son falls into the general ‘vulnerable category’ because he is on multiple immunosuppressant drugs and will be offered the vaccine soon. We have been told over the last year that JIA kids are no more vulnerable to Covid than other kids, therefore I am concerned he has been put in the vulnerable catagory under a wide sweeping brush and that actually it is no more appropriate for him to have the covid vaccine than other children.
So basically, we want to make to correct decision for him so am trying to understand the science behind not vaccinating children versus the political message.
Hope that makes sense 😀

The scientific evidence suggests the benefits outweigh the risks of offering the vaccine to this age group, which is why many other countries offer it (including in Europe where they are typically more hesitant over vaccine safety).

The UK have typically been quite gung-ho about offering vaccines, and very focussed on the short term harms, and their decision not to extend this to children is quite at odds with this. This makes me think this decision is influenced by other factors.

So personally, if my kids were in this age bracket I'd prefer them to be vaccinated, but equally I wouldn't be really concerned if weren't able to access it.

They should all be having it. If you’ve got the chance to have your ds jabbed, grab it with both hands.

In your case - with your son being offered the vaccine even though he might actually not be more vulnerable than other children - I'd definitely take it!

I don't think there's anything wrong by holding off at the moment too see if there's any long lasting effects in young ones and seeing if it's actually making a difference in other countries who are offering it.
Look at the AZ fiasco, that was initially approved for over 18s most were happy to go straight in and have it ( I did at 36 no regrets) it was only after some serious reactions that it was no longer recommended in the under 40s (higher in some other countries). Young dc even the vulnerable ones have are statistically less likely to be severely ill or even worse die from covid, I don't think there's the initial urgency with children like we had with the adults we can afford to wait and see a bit longer

At the moment we don't have the supply. We should have in September. I suspect it will be opened up then - the government don't want to look bad by offering something they're not 100% sure we'll have.

Paul Mainwood on Twitter is monitoring our vaccine levels.

The scientific evidence suggests the benefits outweigh the risks of offering the vaccine to this age group

In the U.K. they don’t. That’s why the JCVI decided against it.

I think that, for a child with no vulnerability, the risks from covid are v v low so the benefits of the vaccine are not that clear.

but for kids with any vulnerability, the calculation changes dramatically and the vaccine is worth it. so if you are offered, get it.

@bumbleymummy

The scientific evidence suggests the benefits outweigh the risks of offering the vaccine to this age group

In the U.K. they don’t. That’s why the JCVI decided against it.

they don't what? your comment makes no sense.

There is scientific evidence demonstrating this, hence why other bodies are going forward. The JCVI have chosen to watch and wait (mainly due to the fact we don't actually have stocks).

My daughter is 15 and has cerebral palsy and autism so will definitely be taking the vaccine if offered. Was hoping things would have moved forward before she returns to school in September but haven't heard a thing

It seems every country in the Western world is offering it except U.K. Even Ireland.

So it’s a load of bollocks that British kids aren’t being offered it. Why is it more dangerous for a U.K. kid than an Irish or Italian kid? It’s a right load of bullshit.

Dd is 15. She wants it, her friends want it, l want her to have it. Her and her peers are furious that ‘they don’t matter’

We've just been offered one tomorrow for my DD who is 14 and disabled (SW)

I'm a bit anxious about her having it but will be reassuring for me if she's jabbed before school starts again.

Uk have stated that they do not recommend it because the risks of vaccine outweigh benefit for non vulnerable kids

They’ve said that plenty of times

How come no other country thinks like that though?

Perhaps because of higher levels of vaccine hesitancy in their adult population.

@LookdeepintotheParka

We've just been offered one tomorrow for my DD who is 14 and disabled (SW)

I'm a bit anxious about her having it but will be reassuring for me if she's jabbed before school starts again.

Were you contacted about the vaccine or did you have to ask gp/consultant yourself? Im just wondering if its a regional thing (Im in NE)

DS2 surgery last week started on the vulnerable group, DS2 has Autism, I’ve had to book him in even though I know there is no chance of him taking it but they won’t offer home appointments unless he refuses. I think it’s wait and see if the decision has been made on the evidence alone or on the fact that there is not enough vaccine at present so those with the least risk have not been approved.

@Nappyvalley15

Perhaps because of higher levels of vaccine hesitancy in their adult population.

Hmm I don't think so, many of these countries are very risk averse when it comes to vaccination and certainly would roll out to children just to try and reduce vaccines hesitancy.

Switzerland for example said no to astrazeneca for anyone, but are happy to offer children pfizer.

@PlantWitch we were contacted by GP directly. I think they are already through most of the 16/17 year olds here so I guess it might be down to that?

THE UK BELIEVES THE RISK TO NON VULNERABLE CHILDREN FROM THE VACCINE IS GREATER THAN FROM COVID.
All these people clamouring to get their non vulnerable kids vaxxed. You are actually saying you want them to be put at greater risk than they are currently. Your fear has actually taken over your logic for what’s more risky for your children. Absolutely terrifying

@OnTheBrink1

THE UK BELIEVES THE RISK TO NON VULNERABLE CHILDREN FROM THE VACCINE IS GREATER THAN FROM COVID. All these people clamouring to get their non vulnerable kids vaxxed. You are actually saying you want them to be put at greater risk than they are currently. Your fear has actually taken over your logic for what’s more risky for your children. Absolutely terrifying

I think it is reasonable to question why England (not the UK) has come to this decision when the majority of other Western countries have not.

I don't think anyone is "clamouring" particularly, more that they want the option to be able to vaccinate their child against coronavirus as they would in Ireland, Europe or the US.

@Watapalava

Uk have stated that they do not recommend it because the risks of vaccine outweigh benefit for non vulnerable kids

They’ve said that plenty of times

This nonsense.

There are no risks, in the sense of nothing bad will happen to the vast majority of children who get it.

There is a very small risk of an allergic reaction (1 in 100,000) and an even rarer risk of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) and pericarditis (inflammation of the outer lining). So far, in the US it's been reported in 1 in 1,000,000 vaccine doses.
There appears to be an increased risk (of myocarditis) following the second dose in boys aged 12 - 17 (1 in 16,000).

The effects will generally pass without any intervention required.

Of course you wouldn't want it, but it isn't exactly a risk.

What the bigger issue for many is that although the vaccine is sufficiently tested, and meets all the required standards around safety, quality & effectiveness, as a new vaccine, the longer term consequences are not know.

As Covid affects children very minimally, generally, understandably some parents prefer to wait.

In Ireland it's being rolled out to 12 - 15 yo children at present. They provide a help sheet to assist decision making, explaining benefits & risks & a section on 'who should get it now' or choose to wait.

Two of my DC have got it. My view is the greater number of people who have the vaccine, the better for everyone, in terms of wider transmission & protecting those who are vulnerable. I didn't have any worries about my DC getting Covid. But I am happy to take the chance to reduce the risk of Covid for society.

This line of risks outweighing the benefits is too simplistic a statement. It's not that there are 'risks' per se; it's that the risk of children getting & being affected by Covid is quite small, and therefore the UK are not pursuing it at present.

@Nappyvalley15

Perhaps because of higher levels of vaccine hesitancy in their adult population.

There's no vaccine hesitancy in the Irish population. The vast majority of every available age group have availed of the vaccine.

@OnTheBrink1

THE UK BELIEVES THE RISK TO NON VULNERABLE CHILDREN FROM THE VACCINE IS GREATER THAN FROM COVID. All these people clamouring to get their non vulnerable kids vaxxed. You are actually saying you want them to be put at greater risk than they are currently. Your fear has actually taken over your logic for what’s more risky for your children. Absolutely terrifying

Rubbish.

Those of us vaccinating our DC are doing so to protect the wider society. The more people vaccinated, the more the risk of Covid is transmission is lessened, and the effects of catching it mitigated
I'm thinking of teachers, their coaches, the activities they do where others will be affected by a positive Covid result.

The MHRA has just authorised Moderna for age 12+. Hopefully they will be offered appointments soon.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9901121/UK-approves-Modernas-Covid-jab-12-17-year-olds.html

[quote SecretKeeper1]The MHRA has just authorised Moderna for age 12+. Hopefully they will be offered appointments soon.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9901121/UK-approves-Modernas-Covid-jab-12-17-year-olds.html[/quote]
Oh that's good news.

Trouble is pfizer was also approved by the MHRA but the JCVI are still not recommending it be offered to all 12-15 year olds.