Antivaxxers targeting kids and schools with harassment and abuse

[noblegiraffe]

With the announcement that the covid vaccination will be offered to all 12-15 year olds in schools in the coming weeks, schools and children are increasingly been targeted by people who disagree with this decision.

We have: protesters approaching kids in the streets and forcing a school to lockdown (as well as reports on MN of protests outside schools and protesters coming on site to leaflet staff cars)
www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/anti-vax-protesters-descend-christleton-21558684

Headteachers reporting legal threats to their school if vaccinations go ahead www.bbc.com/news/education-58556614.amp

Hit piece in the Daily Mail claiming that kids are being vaccinated to protect teachers who have done nothing all year (as if the govt gives a shit about teachers and would lift a finger for them that wasn’t the middle one) www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-9990599/Why-jabbing-millions-kids-no-risk-Covid-simply-teachers-work.html

And I can only see it getting worse as the vaccinations get closer.

1. this decision is nothing to do with schools who really would rather have nothing to do with it. Teachers won’t be vaccinating your kids, we’ve got our own jobs to do. We won’t be coercing them or jabbing them behind your back, we won’t know which kids get the jab or not. It is nothing to do with us, leave us out of it.

2. Anyone targeting kids with banners, protests, intimidating them as they walk to school or approaching them on the street cannot claim to care about kids. They should stay the fuck away from them.

@madmomma

piggy forgive me if I've not understood, but I thought part of what the protesters were against was the giving of the decision to children, rather than the vaccine itsself?

I think this is the government being unhelpful in what they are saying. The reality of vaccinations in school doesn't match this:

1. Parent consents and child allows vaccination to happen - Jab done, all happy.
2. Parent consents and child refuses - someone will ring home and inform parents, they will probably need to take child elsewhere for jab
3. Parent doesn't consent - no jab. We wouldn't let children lateral flow without consent from a parent (which doesn't involve anyone doing anything to the child as it's self administered), so no way they will jab children in school without consent. A child presenting for vaccine elsewhere could well be considered competent though.

If they don't want it themselves fair enough, leave others out of it
Exactly, they should do what they want for themselves and mind their business when it bcomes to your family

But the point I am making is they would still be outside the schools just to get at the parents and children.

I think less so, they’ll want to be where the vaccines are actually happening. And I think they are less likely to be aggressive outside of schools if they know the kids aren’t actually having them done there that day, week etc.

@kowari

A vaccine centre with a parent present seems much more appropriate. 100% agree with this, it should not be done in schools.

Our school already has organized flu and covid vaccines together. I see no reason why schools should agree to be intimidated by these thugs? It's hypothetical for us anyhow as any protesters coming our way would be massively outnumbered by articulate teenagers keen to explain the science and relishing an argument.

I think this is the government being unhelpful in what they are saying. The reality of vaccinations in school doesn't match this:
Yes, it's not at all helpful. I know parents who are worried enough to consider keeping their child home on the day.

flags are you sure they won't vaccinate 12-15 yr olds without parental consent? Do you have a source you got the info from? Not asking in an arsey way, genuinely would feel reassured! I was told that parental consent wasn't necessary by someone in the nhs, but to be fair they aren't a medic, so maybe it's nonsense.

Legally parental consent isn't necessary. The process that was outlined involved parents being contacted, a chat with a clinician and an attempt to arrive at a joint agreement between parent and child.

Realistically That's not going to happen in schools with 1000 kids lined up outside. I don't know why ministers keep talking about it when it's damaging the trust between parents and schools. They are wankers.

Our school already has organized flu and covid vaccines together. I see no reason why schools should agree to be intimidated by these thugs?

Great in theory, but too late if a child if frightened or injured.

It's hypothetical for us anyhow as any protesters coming our way would be massively outnumbered by articulate teenagers keen to explain the science and relishing an argument.

Children should not be encouraged to engage with these people, regardless of whether they agree with them or not or how articulate the kids may be. These people are totally wrong to try to intimidate children and they will do that even just by standing there, but the main thing is that children are kept safe and that means getting them past the crowd safely and therefore not engaging/provoking etc.

I was told that parental consent wasn't necessary by someone in the nhs, but to be fair they aren't a medic, so maybe it's nonsense
Under Gillick competence parental consent isn't needed if the child is deemed "compentent to decide".

What will happen is anybody's guess though.

Shit state of affairs

And I think they are less likely to be aggressive outside of schools if they know the kids aren’t actually having them done there that day, week etc.

So you're saying we should expect aggressive protesters outside schools on vaccination day.

Awesome. As if schools didn't have enough shit to deal with.

I was basing it on we get consent for everything else (school photo, covid test, flu jab, etc). It would seem very odd that we are going to ditch it for a covid vaccine. Seems likely to cause major issues if a parent complains. I just can't see schools risking it.

I don't think parental consent is legally necessary if gillick competent. I just can't see them going down that route in a school.

The flu vaccine form I just got was very clear that if I hadn't provided consent, the vaccine wouldn't be given. Someone on MN said that they'd had the covid consent form through and it also said the same thing. As you'd expect. Schools will not be stealth jabbing kids.

I don't know why ministers keep stirring this up. Do they want trouble?

I don't think parental consent is legally necessary if gillick competent. I just can't see them going down that route in a school
I think you are right but you shouldn't even have any doubt about what will happen .

So wrong.

Also, just went on DM to find the article mentioned above and there is another article about vaxxing six month old babies.

Madness

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9993523/American-BABIES-given-low-dose-Pfizers-jab-winter.html

@LiamGallagherIsHot

Our school already has organized flu and covid vaccines together. I see no reason why schools should agree to be intimidated by these thugs?

Great in theory, but too late if a child if frightened or injured.

It's hypothetical for us anyhow as any protesters coming our way would be massively outnumbered by articulate teenagers keen to explain the science and relishing an argument.

Children should not be encouraged to engage with these people, regardless of whether they agree with them or not or how articulate the kids may be. These people are totally wrong to try to intimidate children and they will do that even just by standing there, but the main thing is that children are kept safe and that means getting them past the crowd safely and therefore not engaging/provoking etc.

If these protestors threaten or intimidate children, then just get the police and throw the book at the scum?

So you're saying we should expect aggressive protesters outside schools on vaccination day.

I think schools will have to plan for the worst unfortunately. The fact that these people are prepared to stand and knowingly intimidate children, in my opinion means they are not thinking of the best for the children. Who knows how far these people are willing to go.

I don’t really think it’s necessary to vaccinate healthy kids, but I obviously would not dream of protesting outside a school. I don’t feel that strongly about it and respect others decisions. These are people that do not respect others decisions and as a parent I’m concerned about them being near to my child.

Anyhow, I don't think they would target a boys school with burly teenagers arriving in army combat gear for CCF etc --I imagine these are cowards looking for soft targets

@LiamGallagherIsHot

My kids have decided against the vaccine but I think due to the controversy surrounding it and the potential danger these protestors pose, these vaccinations shouldn’t be done at school. A vaccine centre with a parent present seems much more appropriate. I think it’s too much responsibility to put on school staff and could be very frightening for children dealing with these people without a parent/carer present.

Why? I had at least one vaccination on school property. It didn't upset or scar me. This one wouldn't either if the stupid protestors would just let people make their own minds up. I thought they were all for free will.

If these protestors threaten or intimidate children, then just get the police and throw the book at the scum?

And if we’re lucky the police will arrive 2 hours afterwards because they just don’t have enough resources if these people are outside many schools.

Why? I had at least one vaccination on school property. It didn't upset or scar me. This one wouldn't either if the stupid protestors would just let people make their own minds up. I thought they were all for free will.*

Precisely because of the protestors. They are of course wrong to stand outside of schools, but when we probably won’t be able to stop them, the next best thing is that they’re done elsewhere to ensure safety of children and staff.

Well these idiots can't have that many people willing to do something so niche, I just can't believe it is going to be that big a problem across that many schools

the next best thing is that they’re done elsewhere to ensure safety of children and staff.

Or maybe get parents to bring their kids to school that day and see how brave the wankers feel when faced with adults.

@LiamGallagherIsHot

Why? I had at least one vaccination on school property. It didn't upset or scar me. This one wouldn't either if the stupid protestors would just let people make their own minds up. I thought they were all for free will.*

Precisely because of the protestors. They are of course wrong to stand outside of schools, but when we probably won’t be able to stop them, the next best thing is that they’re done elsewhere to ensure safety of children and staff.

I suppose you're right, but it really sticks in the craw to pander to these idiots or change behaviour because of them. Do they feel big picking on the young and vulnerable?

@noblegiraffe

the next best thing is that they’re done elsewhere to ensure safety of children and staff.

Or maybe get parents to bring their kids to school that day and see how brave the wankers feel when faced with adults.

That sound like a good solution.

My child has already been vaccinated, but I would be very happy to come (FFP2 masked) to support the kids, this would be outside