No vaccines for healthy 12-15 Yr olds

[Wellbythebloodyhell]

news.sky.com/story/covid-19-vaccines-will-not-be-recommended-for-healthy-children-aged-12-to-15-government-advisers-say-12398444

Is anyone else glad this potential decision has been taken away? I was very much undecided about vaccinating my older dc and now feel a bit of a weight has been lifted now its not something I need to consider.

@mrshoho

And yet the NHS are spending £100 million plus on an expansion of paediatric long covid hubs. If the numbers are so tiny why is this?

I guess they were working on old assumptions, now the latest data is showing that Long Covid isn’t as prevalent in children as previously thought. Even those scaremongering Long Covid adverts they commissioned a couple of weeks ago, seemed to have disappeared

Yup rogue spot on.

It’s not like we give our children this vaccine and they’ll be protected forever, they will need boosters too as the vaccine loses its effectiveness. Where is the evidence on boosters? Will repeat jabs increase risks we don’t yet know about?
I’ve been double jabbed and am pro vaccine but I will not choose this for my child. Unless CV I don’t understand why you would but I respect everyone should make their own decision.
It will benefit our children if others vaccinate their children though, in as much as it reduces some transmission, so that’s a positive from my point of view.

Most people feel tired after covid, most people feel fatigued. You can feel exactly the same after a bad cold or the flu. It took me four months to properly recover from flu a few years ago. It is not unusual to feel that way after a virus. A knee jerk reaction then to vaccinate using a vaccine with so little data and possible unknown harms.

Both my dc will be getting the flu shot as usual. I will be getting the booster when it is offered. I won't be vaccinating my children with mRNA until more data is available.

I guess they were working on old assumptions, now the latest data is showing that Long Covid isn’t as prevalent in children as previously thought

Did you previously think that 50% of kids got long covid and are reassured by the suggestion that it's only 1 in 7?

It's amazing what some people will take from a quick read of a headline.

[quote seb342]@Plumbear2 12 year olds shouldn't be able to make that choice for themselves. There's obviously a reason why they've said no to vaccinating children and I don't think a 12 year old knows better than them. All the way through everyone has said listen to the experts, now the experts have said something they don't agree with it's listen to the children. 12-15 year olds can't make that decision because the information is too complicated for them to decide. [/quote]
It's not just 12 year olds. 15 year olds are more than capable of making the decision for themselves (my 13 year is is aswell). He knows people his age with long covid, he's seen how it effects them. He has done his research and knows his own mind.

Some of us are old enough to remember massive issues like thalidomide, and the horrors of uncovering medical mistakes in the past. We need to slow down, and consider the data before rushing to vaccinate children.

@stepupandbecounted

Most people feel tired after covid, most people feel fatigued. You can feel exactly the same after a bad cold or the flu. It took me four months to properly recover from flu a few years ago. It is not unusual to feel that way after a virus. A knee jerk reaction then to vaccinate using a vaccine with so little data and possible unknown harms.

Both my dc will be getting the flu shot as usual. I will be getting the booster when it is offered. I won't be vaccinating my children with mRNA until more data is available.

I suggest you read my posts on this thread about how exactly long covid can affect children.

I think unfortunately you’ve been brainwashed by the “long covid doesn’t exist” crowd and haven’t bothered to read around the effects at all. I get it, it works for you and means you don’t have to make any scary decisions about vaccines. But blanket denial is just a bit ignorant.

Fortunately parental consent will be required.

I actually don’t understand how anyone can be completely pro vaccine for kids or completely anti vaccines for kids, when the data doesn’t show a clear position either way.
Yes I’m reassured by the fact that the JCVI says the benefits marginally outweigh the risks. I’m less reassured by then going on to say that they can’t be sure of the long term implications.
I’m glad I don’t have children in that age group as it’s a difficult decision to make all round. I wouldn’t dream of telling someone they either should or should vaccinate their child, because even the experts can’t come to a clear conclusion.

And now we have mention of thalidomide 👍 No depths unplunged here.

For healthy kids, catching Covid barely registers with them. They have virtually no symptoms and recover very quickly.

And the chances of heart problems in the future from getting myocarditis from the Pfizer vaccine is too scary to think of.

I find this post interesting. You say that the risk of myocarditis from the vaccine is too scary to think of but describe covid as pretty much nothing? Why is that when the chances of getting myocarditis from covid are far higher than they are of getting it from the vaccine? What makes myocarditis from the vaccine scarier than myocarditis from covid?

No answer ever seems to be forthcoming on this key question margot.

I don't feel comfortable with my child being vaccinated with an untested vaccine with no data beware I am very happy to run the risk of long covid. Almost every child we know has had covid, around 45 children, not one has developed long covid and all had a very mild cold at best.

It is unfortunate that in a few rare cases some children may be poorly for longer, but it is very much the minority and not enough for me to play the wild west with my child's health with untested vaccines.

Nor do I think the vaccines will last very long in a child's system, given in older generations the efficacy is already waning after six months.

I know you are keen to vaccinate every kid, for the safety of adults, but I do not approve of the risks we are taking collectively with younger and younger children.

@Piggywaspushed

No answer ever seems to be forthcoming on this key question margot.

Certainly not from the JCVI...

When the deputy chair of the JCVI goes on TV to say that parents should weigh up the benefits and risks and come to a decision, isn't it pretty shit that they haven't actually done it themselves?

People saying 'oh the JCVI have more data than you'....why haven't they laid it out, particularly now they're saying its up to parents to decide?

untested vaccine with no data

Well this is just a flat out lie isn't it?

This is a genuine question for the teachers on this thread (if there are any). If you were aware of children in your class that have chosen not to be vaccinated, how would you feel about that? If it became down to personal choice but many chose not to, would you be happy that it was available and people had made the choice they felt was right for them, or would you feel negatively about those who chose not to be vaccinated?

"there is still "considerable uncertainty regarding the magnitude of the potential harms"

That is a chilling line in the JCVI statement to read as a parent, and finally convinced me that I will not be vaccinating my dc just yet.

We will reconsider our decision in the future when the data is published, and more long term facts are known, but I will not be rushed into vaccinating them now just to placate the teaching unions and the government.
Many of my friends feel the same. It feels to be a huge responsibility as a parent given we have no long term data for mRNA, and I am not willing to take any risks with my children and their long term health.

I doubt I would find that out, unless they volunteered the info. I am annoyed by people (my SIL and BIL) who have turned down MMR and other childhood vaccines, but mainly because they are family members. None of them are covid vaccinated either, including an eligible child with Downs (US). But I'd never tell them I'm annoyed.

I haven't made this about schools at all. I am a mother in a family with heart conditions and with a child in this age group. I'd rather more children were vaccinated than fewer, but I feel no anger towards unvaccinated adults. so it wouldn't be any different for children. My understanding is preventing covid in young males is more likely to protect them form myocarditis complications of covid, hence I am baffled.

I recognise a few teachers on this thread but haven't seen many mentions of schools. stepup did that to goad, and shift the argument, imo.

That is a chilling line in the JCVI statement to read as a parent, and finally convinced me that I will not be vaccinating my dc just yet

Oh mate, pretending that you hadn't made that decision long ago...

@FfrothiCoffi

I actually don’t understand how anyone can be completely pro vaccine for kids or completely anti vaccines for kids, when the data doesn’t show a clear position either way. Yes I’m reassured by the fact that the JCVI says the benefits marginally outweigh the risks. I’m less reassured by then going on to say that they can’t be sure of the long term implications. I’m glad I don’t have children in that age group as it’s a difficult decision to make all round. I wouldn’t dream of telling someone they either should or should vaccinate their child, because even the experts can’t come to a clear conclusion.

I agree on this. I don’t see where persuasion comes into it for this age group.

If it gets approved after all it will be a decision based on knowing JCVI recommendation too.

What about their long term health risks from covid stepup, specifically re its raised risk of myocarditis and attendant complications?

@Piggywaspushed

I doubt I would find that out, unless they volunteered the info. I am annoyed by people (my SIL and BIL) who have turned down MMR and other childhood vaccines, but mainly because they are family members. None of them are covid vaccinated either, including an eligible child with Downs (US). But I'd never tell them I'm annoyed.

I haven't made this about schools at all. I am a mother in a family with heart conditions and with a child in this age group. I'd rather more children were vaccinated than fewer, but I feel no anger towards unvaccinated adults. so it wouldn't be any different for children. My understanding is preventing covid in young males is more likely to protect them form myocarditis complications of covid, hence I am baffled.

I recognise a few teachers on this thread but haven't seen many mentions of schools. stepup did that to goad, and shift the argument, imo.

No I know there isn’t much mention of schools on here, that’s not why I was asking. I was just musing really, because choices don’t exist in a vacuum. I was wondering whether when people say ‘I want parents to have a choice’, they would be equally as happy with it being a choice but the majority not choosing to go ahead with it. I asked about teachers as they’re the ones who encounter most people in this age group on a day to day basis.

noble I am a lot of things, but not your mate. It has been a long time....a very long time listening to your messages of doom and now we have another one to add to the pack.

For your information, we have spent hours and hours discussing the vaccine for our dc. With our dc, without our dc. Researching independently and together. I have found the decision painful in all honesty, because actually I would rather we were not in this position at all, given how blighted the lives of our children have already been. I have to live with making the wrong decision for them NOT you.

You should not be pushing parents one way or another Noble, it is deeply unethical given so many unknowns.
The decision will be made for each child balanced on their own needs/risk and health issues by their parents and doctors.

Up until reading the Times this morning we were still on the fence. The JCVI recommendation has finally made up my mind. Thanks.

I have very fit and healthy children piggy so I am content with the covid risk to them.