If you do not want your 12-15 yr old to have the vaccine but are vaccinated yourself, why?

[Cupoteap]

Just reading through the Will your 12-15 be vaccinated thread. If you are vaccinated, but do not want your 12-15 year old to have due to low risk if they catch it, what age would be the ideal time to get it?

^It is NOT the duty of children to protect/serve those older than they and a society that expects that of them is no better than one that employs child soldiers or child labourers

Don't be ridiculous, it's nothing like employing child labourers or soldiers. A vaccine protects both the person themselves and society as a whole. There are a lot of things we do that individually have little impact but as a whole impacts society greatly.

Why on earth do you think children should be furious with our generation for them missing out on two years of their childhood and education because of an unforeseeable disease that has killed millions across the world? I don't disagree they have been impacted, as have so so many people but it's hardly the fault.of our generation for letting this happen.

I can only assume you are one of those people who has refused to wear a mask, socially distance etc as we just "need to get on with it". If not, I am really struggling to understand your argument.^

Because @APerfectSky a highly damaging panic measure - closing schools - was used not once but twice, resulting in months of missed schooling. Given that prior to the pandemic a week of missed school was considered a massive problem, the fact that such a measure was accepted and even demanded by parents to me represents a complete and utter failure to consider the balance of risks - it shows a highly destructive, tunnel-vision response that was all around managing one risk while ignoring the risks to children. At the very least I think this generation of children would be forgiven for looking back and thinking 'that was a really poor response, based on fear and overreaction rather than any real consideration of the long term outcomes.'

In wars, in disasters, in droughts, schools keep going. It is possible to have the courage and imagination to find a way to give children what they need while also managing risks. Just sending them home is not a solution - it is a situation in which the most disadvantaged suffer the most. It's an embarrassment.

Because it's a risk / benefit analysis. For me, middle aged, underlying condition, definitely worth the teeny risk. For my son, he is at greater risk from the vaccine via myocarditis than he is from covid. If he was female, it might be different, but for boys, nope.

Like PP have said, I’m perfectly happy to take the risk myself on an emergency vaccine but I’m not willing for my children to risk it.

I have no issues with the vaccine, I just (selfishly) don’t want my children to be the ones who trial it being vaccinated during puberty - any issues they’ll be living with for the rest of their lives.

I’m aware that’s a selfish stance, I can’t help it and won’t be changing my mind about it.

I’ve been pushed into early menopause potentially as a vaccine reaction (the GP is investigating but I went from regular as clockwork to non-existent, heavy as hell when they do deign to appear, hot flashes, aches, pains and all the other lovely menopause symptoms) why would I ask a 12 year old to risk that?

@beattieedny

Because it's a risk / benefit analysis. For me, middle aged, underlying condition, definitely worth the teeny risk. For my son, he is at greater risk from the vaccine via myocarditis than he is from covid. If he was female, it might be different, but for boys, nope.

^^ This, all over. I'm double jabbed and even volunteered at my local vaccination centre, so I'm all for mass immunisation, but I'm not sure my 12 year old would actually benefit. Most kids I know of his age who had covid recovered quickly and my personal experience of the jab leads me to suspect he'd be poorly for a day or two anyway.

As it happens he's not 12 for a couple more months and Covid is doing the rounds in his friendship group. I think it's quite likely he'll catch it before being offered the jab anyway - in which case it's a firm no from us.

We were very ill after the vaccine. Side effects lasted for a month, for me.

I don’t want my kids to be put through that. They’re likely to miss loads of school purely through being vaccinated.

I just don’t want to take the risk of side effects, short term or long term. Like others have said, I’m double jabbed and prepared to take the risk for myself but not my DCs. My DD is 13 and just started her periods, I’m worried about all the reports on menstrual cycles being disrupted. My DS is 15, I’m worried about the myocarditis risks for him. I would be much happier if it was over 18s. If the vaccine stopped you being able to pass Covid on, then I would maybe feel differently but it doesn’t and no one knows how long immunity lasts for. If it’s only 3-6 months what’s the point? It’s not my DCs job to protect adults who have chosen not to have the vaccine, especially when the scientists didn’t recommend it for this age group.

Also my DH had side effects after his 1st vaccine which he is still suffering from now months later.

Simple:

1. Teen has had covid and was under the weather for one night and half a day. No long term effects.
2. I still believe natural immunity exists
3. Experts at JVCI didn’t recommend it
4. Covid virtually no risk to this age group
5. Risk of side effects, some very dangerous and life altering.
6. NO long term data whatsoever
7. Still in final stage of trial and I would never offer my children up for a vaccine trial.
8. Don’t agree generally with the massive push for young and healthy people to get vaccinated when it doesn’t stop transmission and the illness is of little to no risk to them.
9. No evidence it will stop class closures or education disruption. Only way to do that is for unwell kids to stay at home and the rest carry on as normal like it always has been previously.

10. Starting to worry about general world politics and human rights and freedom issues and where this is all heading.

@Lostinacloud

Simple:

1. Teen has had covid and was under the weather for one night and half a day. No long term effects.
2. I still believe natural immunity exists
3. Experts at JVCI didn’t recommend it
4. Covid virtually no risk to this age group
5. Risk of side effects, some very dangerous and life altering.
6. NO long term data whatsoever
7. Still in final stage of trial and I would never offer my children up for a vaccine trial.
8. Don’t agree generally with the massive push for young and healthy people to get vaccinated when it doesn’t stop transmission and the illness is of little to no risk to them.
9. No evidence it will stop class closures or education disruption. Only way to do that is for unwell kids to stay at home and the rest carry on as normal like it always has been previously.

10. Starting to worry about general world politics and human rights and freedom issues and where this is all heading.

1. Fair
2. No one is denying natural immunity exists, but plenty of studies to demonstrate the importance of bolstering existing immunity with vaccination.
3. JCVI didn't recommend it on direct medical benefits alone, they did say there are other benefits to children that they were not considering, and should be evaluated by CMOs.
4. Fair - but virtually no risk is not no risk, and the JCVI themselves stated the medical benefits marginally outweighed the risks, if this is an argument you're going for.
5. Currently still under evaluation but the balance of evidence looks like the risk of SE from infection is greater.
6. There is no precedent or plausible mechanism for side effects that only emerge in the long term for previous vaccines or this vaccine. This is contrast to the huge amount of data we have for other viruses causing AI disorders, and the emerging evidence for long term effects of COVID.
7. It is not "still in final stages of the trial", it has been approved. Ongoing follow up and trials in various subgroups is standard protocol.
8. The vaccines reduce chances of infection and transmission.
9. There categorically is evidence that it will reduce disruption to education - children far less likely to be infected therefore no need to isolate, for example. Other countries with vaccination programmes in this age group have demonstrated the benefits in schools.

10. Why? It's an offer, it can be turned down. You not wanting your teen to have it does not mean all teens should be denied the option.

@ollyollyoxenfree haven’t we had this discussion already?

All I can say is that maybe I’m in the privileged position to be certain that my teen (and other DC) suffered no worrying illness or after effects and so the risk/benefit way up is now firmly on the side of not vaccinating, especially as they are boys.

As I said on our last thread together, I’m not against the choice to have it or not, I’m against the inevitable punishment that comes from choosing not to have it. You say that’s a hypothetical fear, but as you saw on the last post, the poster immediately above you already stated that they would feel sorry for kids who’s parents chose not to vaccinate. The slander against an adults choice not to be vaccinated has gone too far not to filter down to teens.

It's not to benefit them it's to benefit others. I'm not happy taking the risk. It's the first time I have ever refused a vaccine for my kids but the benefits do not outweigh the risks on this one. I had one so I can travel - they will just have to take tests instead

@APerfectSky I don't need to look at the bigger picture. I care about my children more than the rest of society I am afraid

Surely the death rate of unvaccinated 80+ is greater than 120 per 100,000? That's only 0.12%. Excuse my ignorance if I have got it complete wrong though.

I’m glad I don’t have to make this decision as I’d be really stuck with what to do and will probably lean towards not letting my son have it (he is far too young to be offered it anyway)

I don’t think uptake will be massive in this age group. It’ll only take 1 publicised death as a direct result of vaccination in this age group for the rollout to suffer.

Two of my DC have it at the moment.. one aged 12. They have very little symptoms - one slight sore throat.
I see no benefit in giving them the vaccine as they have natural immunity, very mild or no symptoms. It doesn’t stop transmission so no benefit to grandparents etc.
I also have had infrequent and heavy periods since my first vaccine and I do not want to risk any side effects on children when there is very little benefit if any.

I'm glad it's not a decision I have to make . Even for my DC age 20 his reaction to the vaccine seemed similar to when he had Covid . I'm glad that he's had it for the impact it will have on transmission in general, and of course who knows he could have had Covid a second time with worse symptoms, but I would have understood if he had chosen not to have it.

I am very pro-vaccine for older adults though and am looking forward to booster top up if we are offered .

@Lostinacloud

"As I said on our last thread together, I’m not against the choice to have it or not, I’m against the inevitable punishment that comes from choosing not to have it. You say that’s a hypothetical fear, but as you saw on the last post, the poster immediately above you already stated that they would feel sorry for kids who’s parents chose not to vaccinate. The slander against an adults choice not to be vaccinated has gone too far not to filter down to teens"

Agree with the statement.

I haven't had the covid injection myself, but understand why some of my older relatives have decided to have it (others in their fifties have decided against it). DS and I have both had covid so I do not think it is worth the risk.

Thank you to everyone for you input. And to the poster that asked, yes thanks that is a good enough reason!

I asked the question as I wanted to know others thoughts, I'm in the process of having this discussion with my teen and knew I could get some good info here. Big thanks for the graph.

I had said when it came out I would have it due to age but that dc were another matter to be considered when/if it happened.

I've had COVID (was like bad flu for me) and I've been tested and did not have antibodies.

@BigSandyBalls2015

Look at the death rate for this age group ... non existent ... so why would you vaccinate and risk side effects 🤷🏼‍♀️

Agreed

"Even more problematic when you dig deeper into the anti-mask, covid-denying, anti-vaccines groups, who typically have strong ties to anti-Semitic beliefs."

I agree with your previous comment until this last paragraph. Where is your evidence that these groups are anti - Semitic?