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Original poster

Parental Consent for Vaccine

467 replies

naughty40me · 08/09/2021 10:56

news.sky.com/story/covid-19-12-to-15-year-olds-to-get-final-say-over-covid-jab-if-disagreement-with-parent-occurs-12401914

Not sure if link worked, never done it before.

Sajid Javid saying that parental consent for the vaccine won't be needed if the child decides to take it.

I am livid at this!

I have a 2DC 12 and 14. I really do not want them to have the vaccine.

I am going to have to sit and have a proper discussion with them.
Up to now, when it has been mentioned all my kids say is "but if we don't have the vaccine we won't be able to go to the cinema"...

I'm not anti vax. I've been double jabbed myself being over 40 with long term conditions and in the vulnerable category.

However, as the JCVI says, the benefit to healthy children in this age range is marginal.
I am worried about side effects, both short and long term.

I think vaccines should be a choice.
Those who want their children vaccinated should have that choice.
But those of us who don't should also have a choice.

I don't think my dc are capable of making a fully informed decision. They are children fgs.
They are having their heads filled with crap, making them watch Newsround every day in school for example.

I feel so strongly about this.
I honestly think they will end up making it a condition of school entry.

It's so wrong.

I know not many on here will agree but I for one am not happy about this at all.

OP posts:
sashagabadon · 08/09/2021 14:13

completely agree with the point that covid has made normal rational people lose their minds - it really has!
That anyone can argue with a straight face that parental consent is not required in this scenario blows my mind.
Gillick competence even if you accepted this was covered by that ruling (which I don't) should be used as a last resort after discusses with everyone, parents, health professionals etc .
Not a blanket threat to parents that we are going to do it anyway.
This will turn even me furious! and I go along with most things, always tries and sees others pov's, understands the greater good arguments - I was/ am still even on the AZ trial for goodness sake so was one of the first people in the world to get a covid jab in the first place!

illuyankas · 08/09/2021 14:16

@TinaYouFatLard

FFS the pharmacist won’t even let me give my son fucking nasal spray for his hay fever.
Maybe because it wasn't prescribed by the doctor? My dc was prescribed the meds even ones out of his age range, prescribed by the dr, and pharmacist was happy to hand me the meds. Certainly had nasal spray for hay fever too, but it had to be monitored properly, since it caused regular nose bleed, as leaflet stated as side effects.
Tal45 · 08/09/2021 14:20

It hasn't even been decided if it's going to be offered yet has it? While I think there should be parental consent I definitely want my son to have it. It's been going out to this age group in a number of countries for a while already and I'd rather my son had this than risk long covid especially when he is in a vital year at school.

Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 08/09/2021 14:28

But surely if you knew your child really didn't want it (after having a balanced discussion of pros and cons) you wouldn't sign the consent form? Confused

Thankfully my DD (15) does want it so we're in agreement, but if she didn't want it after weighing things up, I wouldn't go against her wishes and sign the form.

Notthemessiah · 08/09/2021 14:36

@Sweetpeasaremadeforbees

But surely if you knew your child really didn't want it (after having a balanced discussion of pros and cons) you wouldn't sign the consent form? Confused

Thankfully my DD (15) does want it so we're in agreement, but if she didn't want it after weighing things up, I wouldn't go against her wishes and sign the form.

But the whole point is that the govnt are implying that they don't care what parents put on the consent form - they would still consider it OK to pressure ask the child whether they really didn't want it when all your friends are having it, and you don't want your granny to die do you?
Nat6999 · 08/09/2021 14:36

Whenever we have had vaccine consent for school I just decline as ds prefers to have him jabs at the doctors when I can be there with him. On the rare occasions school have rung to ask why I have declined I have just told them he is booked in at the doctors.

frazzledali · 08/09/2021 14:49

You're all getting whipped up into a frenzy over something that hasn't happened yet and will have clear guidelines when it does happen. The vaccine may be new but the competency guidelines are not.

All the talk of propaganda etc really doesn't make it sound like any of you are particularly well placed to make a competent decision either.

When you're all whinging about schools being closed etc do please remember your own personal part in it.

Wellbythebloodyhell · 08/09/2021 14:51

The parental consent and child decision scenario also works both ways , the parent could be consenting to the vaccine and the child doesn't want it, the child's decision would override

sashagabadon · 08/09/2021 14:55

@frazzledali

You're all getting whipped up into a frenzy over something that hasn't happened yet and will have clear guidelines when it does happen. The vaccine may be new but the competency guidelines are not.

All the talk of propaganda etc really doesn't make it sound like any of you are particularly well placed to make a competent decision either.

When you're all whinging about schools being closed etc do please remember your own personal part in it.

Then the government shouldn’t be implying 12 year olds are Gillick competent in this scenario if they don’t want to whip up a frenzy. Idiotic of them. It just encourages distrust and is unnecessary if parental consent will be required. I’d have no problem with that at all.
Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 08/09/2021 14:57

I think the school would be in deep shit if you and your child agreed no vaccine and they went ahead anyway.

And I'm not convinced that there would be peer pressure. As I said on the thread the other day, teens don't give a toss about this. Some kids won't be there for it, others will have had it under CEV rules, others won't want it. My DD didn't have the HPV vaccine initially because she was petrified and we said we'd arrange for it privately. No-one, school or other kids mentioned it. Then we found out how much it cost..... Anyway because of Covid second boosters were delayed and she decided she'd have it at school after all. No-one gave a toss.

I'm pretty sure that neither teachers nor school nurses will want to get into arguments with parents over this.

FourTeaFallOut · 08/09/2021 15:00

Holy hell, the narrative from - this would never happen and you are being paranoid and inflammatory- to -this was always going to be the case, idiot- flipped quickly.

Fwiw, I want my dc to get the vaccine but this grade a gaslighting by amateurs is the shit that will shred the little remaining trust capital for those who feel fucked over and manipulated by society.

Notthemessiah · 08/09/2021 15:01

@frazzledali

You're all getting whipped up into a frenzy over something that hasn't happened yet and will have clear guidelines when it does happen. The vaccine may be new but the competency guidelines are not.

All the talk of propaganda etc really doesn't make it sound like any of you are particularly well placed to make a competent decision either.

When you're all whinging about schools being closed etc do please remember your own personal part in it.

Clear guidelines? From this government? I admire your optimism.

I also like your insinuation that people questioning this approach are clearly too stupid to make informed decisions. Do you find calling people idiots often brings them round to your side of the argument?

While you're whining about what a rude and divided society we live in, I hope you also remember your own personal part in it

DoubleShotEspresso · 08/09/2021 15:02

We might as well be done with it and allow 12 year olds to drink, vote, visit nightclubs and drive.
Just when you think this lunacy cannot go any further the Tories drop yet another insane stunt. This is disgraceful. I hope they get voted out as soon as possible.

SafferUpNorth · 08/09/2021 15:12

@illuyankas

As parents we cannot be sure that our children will be given the full facts and evidence relating to myocarditis etc, nor the time to properly weigh it up.

Why not? As parents, we can give our own children the full facts and evidence they need to make up their mind. They are old enough to have honest discussion with parents.

I really don't understand this argument. I'm pro vax, and I gave all the information I can find to my dc. I don't hide the fact that there are small chance of having a adverse effects. Same for any meds or procedures.

Yes, which is why I had said in a previous post that I've done just that - sat down with my 12 year old and talked through all the facts and evidence.

But not all parents would have done that. When I say 'we' I guess I meant parents in general.

FflosFfantastig · 08/09/2021 15:14

@naughty40me

It just seems to me that there is this "push" to have the vaccine. Older teens needing a passport to enter a nightclub!

The vaccine doesn't even prevent transmission.

My DD age 12 is due her HPV vaccine next week. I have no qualms about that but if I did not give permission I can't really see anyone from the school or immunisation team bothering to talk me out of it.

But I get the distinct impression that a no consent for the covid one will result in an intervention. Maybe I'm a conspiracy nut now.

Kids this age don't know or care about the details, they just want to enjoy life and fit in with everyone else.

It's going a step too far now.

What happened to all the "schools are safe", "children are at very little risk from this disease"....??

The only way you can be sure they won't have it is to withold them from school that day and home school them. That's what I would be doing.
NCBlossom · 08/09/2021 15:14

It really is the same with most medical decisions though.

Most are quite a tricky cost / benefit analysis. I don’t think the vaccine is any different for a child deemed competent enough. They are also able to decide whether to go on contraception (also a big choice), opting in or out of treatment for say disease or cancer.

As a parent children do usually look to us for guidance. And we should be as objective and factual as possible with them and then let them decide.

RedMarauder · 08/09/2021 15:17

@sashagabadon children develop at different rates so some 12 year olds can make better decisions e.g. have the ability to weigh up pros and cons than a 15 year old.

Regardless it is their bodies if they don't want any vaccination no adult should force them to have it.

NCBlossom · 08/09/2021 15:17

Although on another note, thousands and thousands of kids have already been vaccinated. We do have the benefit of knowing about what short term effects there are. Those first wave of children did not have that benefit.

Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 08/09/2021 15:18

The only way you can be sure they won't have it is to withhold them from school that day and home school them. That's what I would be doing.

If you don't trust your child's school to abide by the parental+child decision this is also what I would do.

RedMarauder · 08/09/2021 15:25

@DoubleShotEspresso

We might as well be done with it and allow 12 year olds to drink, vote, visit nightclubs and drive. Just when you think this lunacy cannot go any further the Tories drop yet another insane stunt. This is disgraceful. I hope they get voted out as soon as possible.
Gillick competency has been tested in the Courts after actions that have taken place over decades.

Remember your child is not your possession nor the states. They are their own person.

ollyollyoxenfree · 08/09/2021 15:38

I don't understand this response tbh.

If a child aged 12-15 is offered the vaccine, it will be because experts have decided they should be. The JCVI have specifically stated that their decision is based on medical benefits to children, and that there are other factors that need to be considered, like the impact of isolation and disrupted schooling. So all the posts about it going against advice would be be moot.

The majority of parents want their children to be offered the vaccine. For the minority that don't, really how many are going to be in a situation where their child is going against their wishes? I feel this is a lot of people getting fired about upset a hypothetical situation that is unlikely to impact their own children, and is just being used as an argument against offering it to this age group for the sake of it.

ADreadedSunnyDay · 08/09/2021 15:47

@ollyollyoxenfree

I think the problem is for many people is that the 'experts' may decide that it would be a good thing for 12-15 year olds to be vaccinated for the greater good, rather than because the vaccine is actually of benefit for the individual. I have seen no evidence that the vaccine is of benefit to most 12-15 year olds from a medical perspective.

I was surprised to see my DS consent form for flu had been reworded this year to say that even if there was no parental consent the benefits of vaccination could still be discussed with my child and the child's wishes would take precedent. My DS is at primary school. I have consented so not an issue re flu BUT I am very concerned about the potential for children and young people to be coerced and influenced to make vaccination decisions that are not necessarily in their best interests

Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 08/09/2021 15:47

Yes Olly I agree.

bumbleymummy · 08/09/2021 15:48

Remember last year when people were getting ‘fired up about the hypothetical situation’ of vaccine passports? Yeah, not so hypothetical anymore.

ollyollyoxenfree · 08/09/2021 15:50

[quote ADreadedSunnyDay]@ollyollyoxenfree

I think the problem is for many people is that the 'experts' may decide that it would be a good thing for 12-15 year olds to be vaccinated for the greater good, rather than because the vaccine is actually of benefit for the individual. I have seen no evidence that the vaccine is of benefit to most 12-15 year olds from a medical perspective.

I was surprised to see my DS consent form for flu had been reworded this year to say that even if there was no parental consent the benefits of vaccination could still be discussed with my child and the child's wishes would take precedent. My DS is at primary school. I have consented so not an issue re flu BUT I am very concerned about the potential for children and young people to be coerced and influenced to make vaccination decisions that are not necessarily in their best interests[/quote]
To be clear - the factors being considered are those directly beneficial to children (I gave the examples of isolation and disrupted schooling), not the benefits to wider society.

The JCVI advice was based on medical reasons only, but there are many other factors that directly impact on children that are not specifically related to harms of coronavirus infection itself.