One Covid jab for 16/17 year olds

[SpottyBlueTeacup]

Hi,

My son (17) had his Covid jab a few days ago and I mentioned it to a friend (on Facebook) with a boy the same age. Both boys turn 18 in the spring so miss out on the 2nd jab. Her son (and his mum) have decided to wait for him to have his Covid jab until the New Year so he is within 3 months of his 18th birthday and will, therefore, qualify for the second vaccine (so they can go abroad next year).
Anyway, after discussing this a lot of friends with children the same age (who wouldn’t qualify for the second dose) also jumped on the bandwagon and said they were going to wait too - so they got the 2nd vaccine. I am hoping to go to the USA next year (BA are hanging onto my money after our Florida trip was cancelled in May) but realised that the USA will refuse entry to my son - who will be 18 by then - as he has only had the first dose. I presumed he’s probably have to start again and have another first dose and then a second once he is 18. We were told this age group were offered the first jab so they could be vaccinated before returning to school/college.

Is the government aware of this issue? Loads of parents seem to be waiting until their son/daughter is within 3 months of their 18th.

I presume a 16 yr old who’s had one jab can have his second dose as soon as he turns 18

But that is a massive gap between doses so doubt it would be effective at all.

OP, there's a similar thread currently running that you might want to hop over to. Lots of us are confused.

My understanding is that 16 - 17 year olds have so far been offered one dose but the JCVI has not published the interval for the second dose for this age group.

@Piggywaspushed. Thanks - I have read through the other thread and still baffled as to what is going on with this age group.

Me too...

I imagine they hope in 12 weeks time more data will slow them a second dose

Otherwise having only a first seems a bit odd given first vaccine just limits the affects of serious disease which this age group doesn’t suffer anyway

Am afraid I am as confused as you are. The words of the announcement seem to be intentionally vague “…they’ll be offered the first dose, with the advice on when to get the second dose coming later”. So they plan to give 2. But they would not count as 2 if they’re too far apart. Not even for international travel I think! (We’re European so to us it matters if the Eu countries recognise the vaccine!). Luckily my 17yo will turn 18 at Xmas, so I assume he can go and ask the second dose anyway on the basis of 17+3/4 rule. The alternative would have been to get his second shot abroad, and then struggle to get it registered on the NHS app. But at least know he’d be covered.
He had the first shot last week and forgot to ask at the vaccination centre (very typical) but he says he was told “welcome to the start of your vaccination process”. A start needs a sequel? An end? (Mum clutches at straw)

Anyway- not that it’s terribly relevant as guidance will change 300 times before next year, but: reopen.europa.eu/en/map/HRV/7001
Some countries have already started to detail what they consider as a time-validity limit for vaccination status. In this example (very confusingly) Croatia says one who’s double vaccinated would stop being considered as such after 270 days. And if entering the country with one dose only, there are also minimums and maximum days from that first dose to be counted.
A minefield. And it doesn’t bear thinking if one was to travel to multiple countries in a summer (post A levels interrail-style)….

My 17 year and 4 month year old has just had covid , so I guess delaying his jab for a few months makes sense , so that he will be entitled to a second dose by the time the 12 week gap is up?

@Piggywaspushed He will have natural immunity so, yes, probably makes sense to wait until he’d be eligible for both doses.

Yes, guess so : my main feeling would be that he will be safe himself and also around others - ie he can't be infecting anyone else either. I would never delay it otherwise as covid is so disruptive to education... as we know. Sigh.

Wish the press conferences were still on on the off chance that someone could ask this question. Not that it would be answered!