Still don't understand vaccines for kids (don't flame me)

[bigbeachedwales]

I know I should know this by now. But... everyone saying schools are more likely to stay open if 12-15 year olds get jabbed. But if the jab doesn't stop them catching COVID and only means they'll get less ill if they do catch it (and kids are unlikely to get seriously ill anyway) then I don't see the need... am I missing something?

@bumbleymummy

Just replying to your point that they were vaccinating all children in that age group. They aren’t.

Just making a pointless point as you know perfectly well what I meant.

Probably best to just say what you mean and save people having to make pointless comments then. :)

@bumbleymummy - what do you think the reason is for offering to vaccinate all 12-16 year olds against seasonal flu when the vast majority do not get serious symptoms from it?

And apologies, I didn’t realise you were being actually dim, rather than intentionally obnoxious .

Vaccines are there to train your immune system. They show our immune system how the virus looks like and a way to stop it.
Most of us get the chickenpox vaccine when very little. We still get it but as a mild illness, when it used to wreck lives and be deadly before.
Same for covid.
If you are unlucky to encounter the virus, your immune system will recognise it and attack. It is likely that it will get rid off the virus, so you do not then pass it to others.
But if the virus has hidden cleverly or you got exposed to a good dose, it could be too much for your immune system to get rid of all of it, so you will get slightly sick.
So, the vaccine reduces the risk to falling ill, to spread it to others, and the severity of the illness if you are unlucky. But it does not elimate the risks. No vaccine is 100% effective.

@MushMonster most people in the UK don't get the chicken pox vaccine.
It's not offered routinely on the NHS.
Most children get chicken pox.
Apparently the majority of children have already had covid.

Simple video showing how vaccine works.

UK vaccination program is just plain weird then.
I had a quick look to incidence of shingles in adults, and first search shows UK having a mahoosive higher number!
Varicella zoster is a herpes virus. It remains dormant in your nerves for the rest of your life. So better to take as many precautions as we have available.
In our area, it is not true that most kids already had covid. It is spreading at present. The latest variant is showing to spread more around them. Some schools are plagued with this one at present. And we had to go for PCRs recently for first time in the pandemic.
That may be more accurate for areas like London, where the numbers were so big during other waves.

The JCVI did not recommend it being rolled out to 12-15 year olds. The fact that the government decided to ignore this and carry on regardless is shocking. Witty’s justification that it would improve mental health and school disruption was nonsensical.

The insistent pushing of this vaccine on ever younger children is nothing short of creepy.

@TinaYouFatLard and the US are trying to get it approved for over 5 year olds. Madness. Although they have also been putting little children in masks all day :(

Now parents can decide themselves whether they want their children vaccinated or not. Children do have an input in what they want for themselves too.