Age appropriate covid testing for children

[Michellehurd77]

Hi, I have started this petition in Wales and just wondered if anyone would consider signing and sharing.. I would like the government to consider adopting a different method to testing children for COVID, an age appropriate PCR test nicknamed the lollipop test. All the children need to do is to suck on a cotton swab for about 30 seconds which is a much less distressing experience for them. It’s what they use in Germany. I have had so many bad stressful experiences of testing my children and wanted to try and do something about it.. petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/244972

I can't sign as I'm in England, but that sounds amazing!

Omg, I wish they’d do that here 😭😭 My 4 year old & 18 month old are hysterical every time 😩

I wish this was brought in here. I’ve had to wrestle my two little ones, it’s nothing short of brutal

It’s awful isn’t it, I hate the fact that there is an alternative and we are not offered that instead we are expected as parents to subject our children to it :(

@AnnoyedByAlfieBear

I can't sign as I'm in England, but that sounds amazing!

I'm in England and just managed to do it - I think!

I paid £160 for two spit tests for my DS as he can't tolerate the swabs.

This would have been a lot simpler

There is currently a UK government petition for this petition.parliament.uk/petitions/598824?fbclid=IwAR1RVQgLwMn0fajsolp2T0qiARzoeO9mWDdNrJaF7hJkbUcXt5ilAPHMZVc

Sign both please.. we need to make the government change their approach

It really is rotten for them. DD had her flu vaccine the other day and the nurse said they'd had way more kids than usual being upset about it because they thought it was another Covid test I've only done it one for DD - the other times I've caught the same bug and have just tested myself to avoid having to test her cos it's absolutely horrible trying to do it to a toddler. Something like this would be so much better.

Brilliant, I was hoping someone would set one of these up. Have signed both, thanks

Well that sounds very sensible OP. Have signed both.

“Hey Boris the Germans want to know if we’d like to buy their new covid test that only needs saliva? It’s reliable and doesn’t traumatise kids like our test does.”

“What? European?! No no can’t buy European stuff that might actually work. If my kids need it we’ll just go private obviously.”

I've signed both petitions mentioned in this thread. I'm very lucky that I've never had to test my 3yo dd, but I absolutely dread ever having to do it. This would be much better.

@SylvanasWindrunner

It really is rotten for them. DD had her flu vaccine the other day and the nurse said they'd had way more kids than usual being upset about it because they thought it was another Covid test I've only done it one for DD - the other times I've caught the same bug and have just tested myself to avoid having to test her cos it's absolutely horrible trying to do it to a toddler. Something like this would be so much better.

I'm signing.

Exactly this happened to me with DS at his nasal flu thing, he's nearly 4. He's usually OK with injections, pretty good really. Everytime I've had to do a test on him I've literally had to head lock him, just awful. He absolutely lost his mind with the nurse it took three of us to administer half of it. She said just the same to me about lots of kids being really traumatised. Bloody awful.

DD1's special school are part of a saliva testing trial. Spit in a little bottle, stick a pre-printed label on, then put it in a bag within a bag.

This is a fantastic idea, thanks for raising this. Testing has been so invasive - and scary/painful - for younger kids and kids with SEN and it would be great to have an alternative. I would also not mind if they rolled it out for adults too, as I nearly took down the kitchen wall with a nose-swab induced sneeze this morning!

@Lougle

DD1's special school are part of a saliva testing trial. Spit in a little bottle, stick a pre-printed label on, then put it in a bag within a bag.

Oh that sounds promising!

Signed!

Dd was part of the spit testing trial at university, took spit tests and pcr a weekly for 3 months. Her spit test didn't pick up covid unfortunately (pcr obviously did)

Good idea. I work in a nursery and I'm convinced that a significant minority of parents lie about testing or do it but don't do it effectively. Over the past year we've sent so many children home with classic Covid symptoms yet tests always come back negative. I'm very suspicious 🤔 Unfortunately, I can't sign as I live in England.

I think you can sign anyhow it just shows in the data where you are. Also please sign the uk one which has been setup the link is further up..

Signed, thanks

Signed. Thanks

Hi all, I’m the person who set up the UK one so thank you OP - I completely agree and have been trying to drum up support for this!

Unfortunately we won’t get anywhere near 10k signatures if people sign but don’t share, so please consider also sharing on your own social media platforms to help boost. Mine is at 191 but I’ve exhausted my platforms and need others suppprt now.

Testing under fives in Wales is no longer recommended unless a medical professional deems it necessary

It would be useful to have the option of an alternative test though.

My three year old had to do it twice last week because the issues with PCR tests meant we had to retest, the first time was bad and the second time (with the first still fresh in his mind) was just horrible, so much worse than any of his jabs, I actually don't know how we got it done. Neither am I confident in the result as he grabbed the first swab so we had to try again with a new one and it barely touched each of his nostrils he was thrashing so much. Frustrating that there are better options but not available here.