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Original poster

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

209 replies

Notagoodtime · 21/09/2021 20:47

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?

OP posts:
whenwillthemadnessend · 21/09/2021 21:55

That isn't true about myocarditis

A study in US showed 450 cases of myocarditis in young men under 30 covid patients

In vaccinated patients there were 67 cases most of which occurred after the second vaccine. .

Myocarditis also occurs in rare cases after the flu vaccine and after taking recreational drugs.

EducatingArti · 21/09/2021 21:57

@TheChip

Not when they already have their own protection.
Even if it improves the protection of others and lessens the disruption to education for all teenagers?
whenwillthemadnessend · 21/09/2021 22:03

Link to study New scientist publish so I would Definitely trust the source

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.newscientist.com/article/mg25133462-800-myocarditis-is-more-common-after-covid-19-infection-than-vaccination/amp/

Lovemusic33 · 21/09/2021 22:07

My dd got covid after vaccination and was quite poorly, I got it too but wasn’t poorly, my un vaxxed child didn’t catch it. I have decided not to vaccinate my youngest (15). I won’t argue the reasons why but for me there’s more reasons not too than there is to to vax.

Tryingtryingandtrying · 21/09/2021 22:17

@HannibalHayeski How is he far less likely to die? What is the differential?

MaxNormal · 21/09/2021 22:25

Here's the FDA committee - go to four hours thirteen minutes and have a listen.

HairyToity · 21/09/2021 22:32

My kids were asymptomatic when they had covid. They are not having the jab. I don't get the argument for children being jabbed.

Guineapigbridge · 21/09/2021 22:40

@MaxNormal Shock

TheChip · 21/09/2021 22:50

@EducatingArti but it doesn't improve the protection of others, and even if it did or does, children should not be made to be shields for their elders. We should be protecting them, not giving them medication for something that rarely even effects them. Especially when we do not know the impact it could have on them immediately or further down the line.
We also don't take medication to ensure we can have an education.

shellstarbarley · 21/09/2021 22:56

The JCVI have said that the benefits do not really outweigh the risks. Makes no difference to their education as regardless as to whether they are vaccinated or not they still have to isolate for10 days if they test positive.

Valhalla17 · 21/09/2021 23:03

He doesnt need it unless he has an underlying condition.

severusvape · 21/09/2021 23:07

I’m with JCVI on this one, they don’t recommend so my child will not be having it. Not saying never, but certainly not until more data becomes available.

From JCVI:
The available evidence indicates that the individual health benefits from COVID-19 vaccination are small in those aged 12 to 15 years who do not have underlying health conditions which put them at risk of severe COVID-19. The potential risks from vaccination are also small, with reports of post-vaccination myocarditis being very rare, but potentially serious and still in the process of being described. Given the rarity of these events and the limited follow-up time of children and young people with post-vaccination myocarditis, substantial uncertainty remains regarding the health risks associated with these adverse events.

Overall, the committee is of the opinion that the benefits from vaccination are marginally greater than the potential known harms (tables 1 to 4) but acknowledges that there is considerable uncertainty regarding the magnitude of the potential harms. The margin of benefit, based primarily on a health perspective, is considered too small to support advice on a universal programme of vaccination of otherwise healthy 12 to 15-year-old children at this time. As longer-term data on potential adverse reactions accrue, greater certainty may allow for a reconsideration of the benefits and harms. Such data may not be available for several months.

TheCatsPjammas · 21/09/2021 23:13

Reasons why:
Lowers risk of disruption to schooling in event of illness, quicker recovery more likely

Long covid, you have no clue how he will react if he does get infected, not everyone has a ‘mild’ experience. Lucky for those that sneezed and missed it!

Risk of myocarditis is greater from a natural infection than the vaccine

Protect others, (we have measles vaccine to protect pregnant women )

Be a part in helping bring COVID under control

Anecdotally, kids I know that went to big festivals who were jabbed (care workers) didn’t catch it while lots of their friends did

Why would you run the risk of a sickness that could put you out for 2 weeks when a possible 24 hours of discomfort offers protection.

Uk is an outlier in the developed nations! Listen to the scientists from other countries.. new info coming from all corners that supports teenage vaccination.

Will be scant consolation if one ends up in hospital watching your child struggle for breath and on oxygen, respiratory infections can be nasty ( been there)

Bizawit · 21/09/2021 23:26

@whenwillthemadnessend

That isn't true about myocarditis

A study in US showed 450 cases of myocarditis in young men under 30 covid patients

In vaccinated patients there were 67 cases most of which occurred after the second vaccine. .

Myocarditis also occurs in rare cases after the flu vaccine and after taking recreational drugs.

Under 30 is not the same as 14.
QueenofLouisiana · 21/09/2021 23:39

Anecdotally, DS currently has Covid. He had a horrible headache for a day or so, he’s complaining of a sore throat. He takes paracetamol for the headache- took some this morning and another before bed. He’s taking strepsils but complains that the soothers are nicer- so I’m not sure that just got the medical need! Hmm He’s gaming with mates for a while in the evening and joining in with the majority of his lessons- missed a few due to T&T calls and falling asleep on day 1. He was vaxxed in August.

Friend’s DD caught it in July. She needed help to get to the loo and was barely able to leave her room for a week. Couldn’t get her temperature stable and coughed for weeks. No vaccine available for her age at the time.

bumbleymummy · 21/09/2021 23:53

He may have had the virus already. Apparently 50-70% of teens have.

bumbleymummy · 21/09/2021 23:56

And if we’re going down the anecdote route, I don’t know a single child/ teen who has been unwell with covid. Nothing more than cold-like symptoms. I don’t think there’s much point in anecdotal evidence tbh but my experience is reflected in the data - the vast majority of children have it mildly/asymptomatically. There are always worst case scenarios on MN though.

CimCardashian · 22/09/2021 00:09

I thought this thread would help me decide whether I think my DD (13) should have it..... it hasn't helped!

The fact that so many women have had disrupted periods makes me worry a bit for my DD.

My DC are fully vaccinated,and they also get the flu jab but I'm just not convinced with this one.

sleepwouldbenice · 22/09/2021 00:16

Putting the issue of kids to one side, as to me it’s not clear cut

I am so very bored with people saying that they know lots of jabbed people with covid so the vaccine doesn’t work. How many many times do you have to be told it’s not 100 %effective but it greatly reduces transmission, severe illness and death. Can you really not see that we have more freedoms than we have had since March 20 and cases have risen but not exploded. Do you really not remember that alpha then delta variants are so much more transmissible yet vaccines are still having an incredible effect.also about reareach on waning impacts All this info is so readily available and also incredibly obvious.

Argue about kids all you like but stop the rubbish about overall vaccine effectiveness

EducatingArti · 22/09/2021 02:18

[quote TheChip]@EducatingArti but it doesn't improve the protection of others, and even if it did or does, children should not be made to be shields for their elders. We should be protecting them, not giving them medication for something that rarely even effects them. Especially when we do not know the impact it could have on them immediately or further down the line.
We also don't take medication to ensure we can have an education.[/quote]
Well of course it improves the protection of others. If they are less likely to get Covid, they are less likely to pass it on. The more people with a reduced chance of passing it on, the less Covid can circulate.
The latest stats show that about 2 %of children get long Covid. In an unvaccinated child/teenage population nearly every child will get Covid eventually whereas in s vaccinated one fewer will. Vaccination won't stop all of them getting Covid but it will stop some
2% would be at least one student in each year of a smallish secondary school getting Long Covid. That's an awful lot of teenagers with long Covid. Chances are of course that it won't be your child, but it will be someone's.

ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs · 22/09/2021 02:33

I've discussed with ds (13). He wants to have it. His sister (17) currently has covid. We are all trying to self isolate from each other. It's a nightmare! He is fed up with all the disruption, and is sensible enough to understand the pros and cons.

Hihelp · 22/09/2021 02:52

I thought you can still spread it, even if vaccinated. The virus will still enter your system but not affect you, but can affect others. Can a proper scientist confirm this please?

Brindle88 · 22/09/2021 03:22

I’ve got two secondary kids, one due to do her GCSE s this year. I’m hoping the jabs will minimise disruption to their education.

TubeOfSmarties · 22/09/2021 06:01

@EducatingArti

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.
😱 Is this what people think? That if you are vaxxed you don't have to quarantine if positive? Noooooo. If you test positive, you isolate, vax or no vax.
Aroundtheworldin80moves · 22/09/2021 06:13

My DDs school is on the brink of being in 'outbreak'. I'd love some extra protection for DDs right now (8&10). The relative freedoms they had at school this term are being scaled back, the open evening at the secondary school is in jeopardy. Not seeing vulnerable relatives.

Vaccination might be the main thing to break this cycle in schools .