Tell me why my son of 14 should have the covid jab?

[Notagoodtime]

This is not a antivax question. My husband and I are double jabbed. I am currently in bed with COVID. My reason for wanting my kids to have the jab was to protect others. As I seem to know lots of people at the moment who are double jabbed and have or have had covid this reasoning isn’t really valid. If we are being are being told that kids get the virus mildly what are the reasons? If my son could still get covid it doesn’t really make feel more confident about him spreading it to the vulnerable. I’m trying to get my head around the advantages before I make a decision. I’m glad I have had the vaccine as I still feel rubbish so dread to think how I would be without but surely this isn’t the same for kids?

He is less likely to get Covid if he has the jab. He is less likely therefore spread it to others. He is less likely to have his education disrupted by being ill with Covid. He is less to disrupt the education of others by passing on Covid. He is less likely to pass on Covid to teachers and therefore disrupt the education of a whole class. He is even less likely to be one of the tiny minority of teenagers that gets seriously ill. He is less likely to get long Covid. He is less likely to pass Covid on to elderly or vulnerable relatives.

It makes it less likely that they will spread it other people?

Yep. What @@EducatingArti said.

If he does catch it, he's far less likely to end up in hospital.

He's far less likely to suffer long term with long Covid.

He's far less likely to die.

Isn't that enough?

What everyone else said and there seems to be a very small but real risk of serious side effects with covid infection, which seem slightly higher than the very small but real risks associated with the jab.

My 12 year old Dd has just returned to school after two weeks off with covid.

She was wiped out. I think if she'd had the jab she'd have got over it quicker and not missed the first two weeks of year 8 (and the first time ever of non- bubbled non-zoned secondary).

In the grand scheme it's all fine of course but if I had any child of 12-15 in the house who had not yet had covid I would be keen for them to be jabbed to avoid DDs experience.

Of course many kids are hardly affected - my youngest was ill for day. But I do think teens can be ill for a while.

What @EducatingArti said.
I just think, why wouldn't you? Mine have had Covid and I don't want any more disruption to their education.

To make him less likely to catch it, be I'll, spread it to others, miss school

He shouldn’t.

He's 14, what does he want?

Getting the jab is entirely up to him. And if he's up to making that decision then he's up to finding out the advantages and disadvantages. Though he might appreciate your input, you have no real say in this. If he turns up and says he wants a jab, he'll get one. If he doesn't turn up no one is going to make him. If my child was open to influence then I would encourage him to have the jab for all the reasons upthread though.

I am asking myself the same thing for my DD age 12.
She really is at such a tiny tiny risk from covid. The risks of getting the vaxx are only just a fraction smaller than actually getting covid- there are still risks associated with the vaxx. It’s not totally risk free.
She’s already had covid anyway and it was 1 day of feeling tired.
She could still get covid again with one jab (or even two!) and would have to isolate anyway.
She can still pass it on to others.
Where is the data to tell me by how much does 1 vaxx in a 12 year old prevent spreading or catching covid?
Nothing is known about the long term risks of this vaxx.
Nothing is known about the long term risks of covid either but as I said, shes already had it so that horse has bolted.

My 14 yo got Covid... Not nice.
Why would you not want to prevent that?

Holidays abroad without having to quarantine

@Brollywasntneededafterall

My 14 yo got Covid... Not nice. Why would you not want to prevent that?

Is one jab actually going to prevent it though? We have been told for months 1 jab really doesn’t do much against delta!

@ChimChimeny

Holidays abroad without having to quarantine

That’s by no means guaranteed seeing as 1 jab is not fully vaccinated in every other country!

Kids don't need to be vaccinated.

My adult dd had 1 jab and caught it the same time. Ill for a fortnight.. Also not nice. I had both jabs and also caught it.
Ill for 5 days...
Def could have done without it!

There isn't any. Other than him being allowed to remain in school if he ever did test positive instead of isolating. That for me, isn't enough of a reason to agree to my children having this shot.

1 dose is still at least 33% more effective than no jab in adults. Teens in general have better immune systems than olde people so we will have to wait to see what the figure is for teens.

@TheChip

There isn't any. Other than him being allowed to remain in school if he ever did test positive instead of isolating. That for me, isn't enough of a reason to agree to my children having this shot.

So you don't think being less likely to pass it on to others ( including teachers/elderly/vulnerable) is worth anything?

Not when they already have their own protection.

The risk of a 14 year old boy getting myocarditis as a side affect of the vaccine is higher than the risk of them being hospitalised with Covid. Therefore my 14 year old boy won't be getting the vaccine.

With delta we are unlikely to reach herd immunity unless teenagers are vaccinated. So unless you want them to suffer endless lockdowns and education disruptions plus risking getting corona at a more risky age. It makes sense to do it. Teenagers as a group are better off if they are vaccinated

To minimise disruption to education.