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Original poster

Take up of vaccine in 12-15 yo is as low as 10%

184 replies

Mellowfruitfulnessy · 18/10/2021 12:47

Guardian story on the low take-up of vaccines in teens.

I had wondered if this issue would arise. All the (normally intelligent) teens I know are really anti-vax. Strong belief it renders you infertile. I guess a lot of this must be social media influencing.

Hardly anyone showed up for the vax clinic at dc school. In the end they made all the teens talk to the nurse but the take up was almost zero. This must be happening elsewhere too. Any other experiences? It’s really worrying and I don’t know how it will be addressed. I also wonder how it will impact families wanting to travel abroad next year.

OP posts:
MySaladDaysAreGone · 19/10/2021 19:36

No fucker can get it that’s why uptake is low! My 14 year old had COVID when he was due his, still too soon after for catch up session. Anecdotal reports were that it was about 70% uptake out of those who managed to get in the queue in time. But by no means was everyone eligible available to get it in school, they ran out of time. And I’ve phoned 119 and tried to book online as directed by Saj Jav - not eligible. How about they open up for bookings before they announce it in parliament?! No - too organised for this shitshow of a govt. 🤬🤬🤬

Geamhradh · 19/10/2021 19:37

@soredust

If they have had covid, they don't need the vaccine as will have strong natural immunity.
Not true that is it? Or do you know something the CMO and WHO don't?
OnceuponaRainbow18 · 19/10/2021 19:44

Ours was about 40% and that was only doing those who’s parents consented

Frazzled2207 · 19/10/2021 19:55

pretty misleading headline. round here most kids in high school just haven't had the opportunity yet either because the school vaccination service hasn't got to their school or they did but they could only vaccinate a relatively small number as you can't vaccinate within a month of actually having covid which counts out a massive chunk.
Is a complete mess. They should have all been offered a chance to go to a walk in centre in August.

Helocariad · 19/10/2021 21:26

Is a complete mess. They should have all been offered a chance to go to a walk in centre in August.

@Frazzled2207 couldn't agree more. We have friends in France and Belgium and their teens were all fully (2x) vaxxed before returning to school at the beginning of September. No wonder their covid rates are far lower than the UK's

legosunqueen · 19/10/2021 22:51

DS missed his last week & has covid now so will also miss the one catch up session that week that the LA kids immunisation team is offering to school. Schools are only hosting the jabs, not delivering them. I hope we can book online or take DS to a walk in December. Although the teens really need two in order to be allowed to travel anywhere - this age group are being short-changed again...

3asAbird · 20/10/2021 04:04

The headlines i have seen totally misleading.
Many haven't had opportunity or had civid so can't have jab with no option mop up sessions.

3asAbird · 20/10/2021 06:58

Hopefully take up increase within the next few weeks

www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/oct/19/vaccine-centres-to-take-childrens-bookings-within-weeks-says-no-10

Does anyone know how soon the vaccine takes effects I wasn't sure if 14days or 21.

Abraxan · 20/10/2021 22:12

@soredust

If they have had covid, they don't need the vaccine as will have strong natural immunity.
That immunity will also wane. Plus there is no guarantee you will get/retain antibodies from natural covid it would seem. Apparently some people have tested negative for antibodies despite having had a positive test within the last 6 months.

The highest antibodies is to have both natural and vaccine linked immunity iirr.

Madcats · 22/10/2021 12:01

I've just been able to book online for next week on the NHS booking website.

Veuvelily · 23/10/2021 12:05

Ds had his in school yesterday, informed the day before!

PiousPenelope · 23/10/2021 12:19

Take up in my school was 80%

DoctorSnortles · 23/10/2021 13:02

Take up is zero is my school. Because no-one has been offered it yet. At the end of term, 15% of kids were off with Covid. I’m sitting here waiting to find out if my half term is ruined, too, having taken a PCR yesterday after being recommended to do so by senior leadership, given the high rate of transmission in one of my classes.

Someone needs to get their fingers out and get these kids vaccinated.

Iwantthesummersun · 23/10/2021 13:07

Not the reality in our corner of Scotland. I find the difference very interesting. Initially it was open access clinics and then appointments were sent out. My DD couldn’t have hers as she had covid. She had it last week at a walk in hub. Schools are not involved at all. Almost all of DD classmates and the 12-14 year olds we know have had it. DD is classed as vulnerable and will have a second dose in 8 weeks.

tigger1001 · 23/10/2021 13:29

@Iwantthesummersun

Not the reality in our corner of Scotland. I find the difference very interesting. Initially it was open access clinics and then appointments were sent out. My DD couldn’t have hers as she had covid. She had it last week at a walk in hub. Schools are not involved at all. Almost all of DD classmates and the 12-14 year olds we know have had it. DD is classed as vulnerable and will have a second dose in 8 weeks.
This is our reality where I am in Scotland too with the exception that we are struggling to get to a drop in clinic. Communication as to where they are here is woeful. One locally popped up with less than 12 hours notice. Wasn't on the nhs page in the afternoon when I checked but was there by 6pm. Zero use to me as I couldn't get him there. With more notice I could have.

The communication was drop in clinics would be open 7 days per week in the holidays. Great I thought I will get him there this weekend. That stopped yesterday and none locally now at all at the weekends.

CarrotCakeMuffins · 23/10/2021 13:41

The take-up is so low, because many teens have not been able to have the vaccine yet despite wanting it.

The immunisation team have been to my DCs school and despite taking enough vaccine for approx 2/3 of the children, only had time to do 1/3 - not including my DD :(.

Luckily you can now book teens in on the NHS booking site and DC is booked in for next week.

Iwantthesummersun · 23/10/2021 13:52

I found ours by hunting through the nhs Lothian vaccine site @tigger1001 but yes I agree, it’s poor. There was only the airport or two sites in North Edinburgh. Nothing at all elsewhere in the south or in Midlothian. They also can’t use the vaccine buses currently but they could at the start.

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 23/10/2021 13:58

They haven't even come to my DS' school yet. How are they measuring take up?

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 23/10/2021 14:11

My older kids want it but they've not had a session at their school yet and they are not allowed to go to the hubs (over 16 only) so yeah, not a lot I can do about that.

SecretKeeper1 · 23/10/2021 18:44

My city is allowing walk-ins for 12-15s every day next week (half term) so hopefully a few will get dosed up if they’ve not had it at school already.

Dancerinthedark01 · 23/10/2021 19:07

This is just more of the blame game.

Government blaming teens and parents. Whereas the true story is they’ve been intentionally slow to vaccinate.

Deano7979 · 23/10/2021 19:15

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aramox · 23/10/2021 19:26

Opposite here- nearly all ds's y11 group had it. They're a sciencey bunch.

Guacamole001 · 23/10/2021 19:43

My concern would be that age group getting long covid. However vaccines that young is a bit of a worry.

toodizzyizzy · 23/10/2021 19:59

They are low because people cannot access them. My son has had two opportunities cancelled this week.

Firstly, the school vaccination service missed out a sizeable number of students who had consented. No explanation and they aren't coming back. This is in Trafford where we have recently had the highest number of cases.

Secondly, he was booked into a local vaccine centre today but was turned away as they "weren't ready" for 12-15 year olds.

It's ridiculous, surely we can do better than this! It really should not be this hard to get your teen vaccinated.