Anyone with a child with disabilities been offered a vaccine?

[Theblackdogagain]

Today my 12 year old who has physical disabilities has been offered the covid vaccine. We are seeing his specialist (after 2 years) this week so have said we want to talk to him first but has anyone else made this decision?

Not yet, but my son isn't 12 until April. Its going to be hard making the decision for him. If he was cognitively 12 then it would ultimately be his choice, but he's more like a 4yo. So while we'll obviously involve him in the decision making, it will ultimately come down to his Dad and I deciding.

(He has complex special needs with asthma, that has involved a hospital visit where he came within a hair's bredth of PICU after catching a common or garden cold, so I think our choice will be an easy one to make)

Thanks for the reply , my son is more of a neuro issue and hates any injections and blood tests so it will be a hard no from him as he cannot see the big picture. So even though it might be in his best interest he can't see beyond the needle.

DD1 (15) has a brain malformation, learning difficulties, ?ASD, and is recovering from an eating disorder. She had her first jab last week.

Not with disabilities but today our 12 yr old has been booked in - we have a household member who is CEV. He is ok about it a bit funny about the needle, but otherwise OK.

Yes, mine is having it in a few days. For me it was an easy decision to make. Her dad and I agreed she should have it and then we consulted her, but with a very strong steer to what we thought she should do: "You want to have this, don't you?" She said yes. She isn't keen on needles but she is pretty used to them as she has a lot of blood tests.

I don't believe she is Gillick competent, but I'm sure that's debatable. I thought I had better ask/persuade her because I don't know whether she will be asked on the day whether she consents to it.

Do they use ask a minor if they consent? Surely it's parental consent

DD (12) has learning disabilities but no medical vulnerabilities- I'm not clear whether she'll be offered a vaccination.

@Refreshpage

Do they use ask a minor if they consent? Surely it's parental consent

They didn't actually ask either of us for consent. I guess they assumed consent from the fact that we turned up.

They aren't likely to forcibly do it against a child's will I wouldn't have thought?

A large number of eligible children will not be able to consent and there are a considerable number who will resist as they do with all medical procedures.

DC2 is 13, and diagnosed ASD. That doesn't currently indicate eligibility for a vaccine but I will be speaking to her GP and seeing if we can push for one, as she's more vulnerable due to being unable to wear a mask (we've tried, many times, she wishes she could wear one)

Luckily, she's just had her first HPV, so if she's allowed, it shouldn't be overly traumatic, as it was a positive experience. The longer it is since that, though, the more she might forget that and be anxious about it.