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 😀

I think the UK does a lot of - no you don't need that (because there isn't enough or the government doesn't want to pay for it). I think like others the government is just waiting for supply or trying to save money. They don't do the chicken pox vac in the Uk despite WHO recommending it and other countries like the US and Australia including it was part of the usual childhood vaccination schedule.
If you are concerned I would ask your son's specialist what their views are.

To pp

Our school has 900 pupils and they tested children and staff

Of those who tested postive they also tested their families

@Peteycat

Thank you bumbleymummy. I feel sometimes I live in a parallel universe to some.

Children rely on us to protect THEM.

That is what a civilised society do. Protect their young.

I generally agree - I also think it’s reasonable that the group getting the vaccine need to benefit.

I’m glad the JCVI have taken this as a key factor.

I don’t think it was a shortage of the vaccine that led to the jcvi’s decision. It was to do with risk/benefit for children. Considering their low risk of the virus, the benefit of the vaccine was low when weighed against the risk of potential side effects.

Hmm, yes that is the official line.

It is odd how every other country views it differently and has enough stocks of the right vaccines to offer the vaccines to children.

Will be interesting to see how the changed composition of the JCVI impacts things going forwards: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is 'refreshing' the membership of its Covid subcommittee as Professor Robert Dingwall, a critic of giving the shots to children, leaves the body.

Mine have had Covid with barely a sniffle.

They won't be having any vaccine that has less than 2 years worth of data on their age group.

In the meantime, for now, they have good natural protection for themselves from their own antibodies.

I find it interesting that the UK were (and are) so gung-ho about AZ when many other countries were wary, but are now against vaccinating 12-18 year olds when other countries have approved it.

I'm a suspicious sort of person and I wonder whether the UK has loads of AZ (and is a bit wary, at this stage, of giving it to children) and doesn't have a great supply of Pfizer.

Ireland have way overtaken the UK for percentage fully vaccinated (as the gap between 1st and 2nd jab is much smaller), will no longer use AZ on anyone, and appears to have a plentiful supply of Pfizer, which is the reverse of the situation back in early spring when it seemed the UK was far ahead of everyone else.

@TattyDevine please watch twitter.com/talkRADIO/status/1427168031730507777?s=20

He seems very unsure about his own choice very worrying

@lannistunut.

Jvci interview he doesn't seem secure in his choices at all

twitter.com/talkRADIO/status/1427168031730507777?s=20

Governments will certainly differ for many reasons

Here in uk 90% have antibodies (perhaps it’s over age 16 I’m not sure) which means we do not need to vaccinate kids

We have a vaccine uptake in adults that other countries would dream of

Other countries may not be in same position, so their decision to vaccinate kids will benefit more - but benefitting society still

In some eu countries adult uptake is as low as 40% so every jab counts

Plus less people in other countries have been exposed so natural immunity is less

Here in uk if adults are protected and/or have antibodies who are we vaccinating kids for? That’s why it’s an ethical issue.

Plus they also stated that any serious side affect in kids would- let’s face it - cause serious damage to other childhood vaccination programmes as people lose faith and we don’t want that- esp for vaccines which they need

Any serious side affect for covid jab in healthy kids would make front page news - can people not see its delicate as it is trying to encourage childhood vaccines. If parent trust isn’t there then it’s best not to jepodise other vaccination programmes

Ons study of July stayed 40% want teens vaccinated - this is pretty low

Our 15 y o is getting it later this week (and would have had it on Saturday morning except she was already competing at an event when offered the slot).

16-18 have been getting it for a few weeks now with high levels of uptake.

12-15's started getting rolled out on Saturday last and also high uptake.

(We are just across the water from England)

And we also have more adults vaccinated here than in the UK (we overtook you a couple of week back)

I thought there would be resistance to teenage vaccinations in Ireland, but the adult uptake appears to be over 90% - so far more than 80% of the population over 16 has been fully vaccinated.

The government were very wary at first (compared to the UK government) which is why I'm so surprised it seems to be the other way around now.

All the kids I know want it. I'm rather surprised, and I know a few families where there are stand up rows with the parents refusing to allow their teenagers to get it yet.

I understand parents' concerns - I'm glad I'm not making the decision, but as one teenager I know put it "we stayed in for a year to protect old people, getting vaccinated is just continuing to protect them" - I can't remember his exact words, but something like that. I was rather impressed.

We’re over 90% adult first dose so as the second happens it’ll catch up to Ireland

As soon as there is enough supply in place I'm sure 12-15 yr olds will get the green light. I think it's more of a logistics issue than anything else.

TurquoiseBaubles

Not sure who you know my sons friends the only one whose had it is his girlfriend and she is a carer

Good think uni have backed down think he would of left otherwise

Yes, Marsha, UK was way ahead of Ireland at one stage - think about 50% to 20% back in early summer.

Ireland will be over 90% of over 16s fully vaccinated by the 1st of September, and at the rate registrations are going there will be over 80% of 12 to 15 year olds fully vaccinated by the 1st of October.

I suspect UK and Ireland will end up with the highest uptakes worldwide, there doesn't appear to be the vaccine-skepticism that there is in parts of Europe and the US, for example.

On Covid passes I was interested to see an IG post from NYC saying this business requires you to have the vaccination to enter - must show proof 12 and over

Really Mango? Are you in Dublin? Every young person I know has been vaccinated (mostly so they can get into pubs, to be fair )

@TurquoiseBaubles

Yes, Marsha, UK was way ahead of Ireland at one stage - think about 50% to 20% back in early summer.

Ireland will be over 90% of over 16s fully vaccinated by the 1st of September, and at the rate registrations are going there will be over 80% of 12 to 15 year olds fully vaccinated by the 1st of October.

I suspect UK and Ireland will end up with the highest uptakes worldwide, there doesn't appear to be the vaccine-skepticism that there is in parts of Europe and the US, for example.

It’s great you’re doing so well

Has it helped? What’s the general situation with restrictions lifting and cases etc

I think our longer gap is delaying final stage but I’m really happy about figures

For most adults, the vaccine’s benefits massively outweigh the risks.
It’s less for children, so I can understand the reticence.
I would get my teens vaccinated, for us, benefits outweigh risks.

The Irish government is so risk-averse that things are nowhere near normal.

Indoor dining has only just started (for vaccinated people only), there is no live music, no night clubs, very restricted sports events and mandated masks.

I think that's why young people are keen - they are just desperate to get back to "normal" and are hoping that if everyone is vaccinated we might just get there.

I completely respect other parents wishes not to have their children vaccinated. I am furious that my children can’t be vaccinated because a group of ‘parents’ don’t want any mitigation at all for children and have disproportionate influence on government which prevents my children having the choice.

You don’t want your child vaccinated - fine. Your organisation should not be allowed to dictate what is available to my child.

My 14 year old is getting it this week(Ireland). He doesn't want to miss out on any more school, he wants to be able to go to his friends houses, to go to his music lessons etc he understands that high vaccine uptake will benefit him as well as the wider society. He is very pro vaccines in general though and even before covid he has discussed how beneficial he thinks vaccines are(he has ASD and gets fixated on things, vaccines were one of the topics he researched endlessly for a while).