Vaccinating kids

[Hotcoffee10]

Just wondering, now it is clear that the vaccine does not provide long term protection is everyone still keen to vaccinate their kids? I was okay with DD having one (she is 12) but yearly injections for the rest of her life doesn’t sit well with me. Covid is presumably not going to magically vanish - so it seems once they have a jab there will be pressure to get it again next year. Anyone got any thoughts?

If the vaccines wane eventually and you can still pass it on and catch it even if vaccinated. With kids being such low risk from any really bad symptoms as it is, it just doesn't seem worth it to me. Mine, at least, would be better off with natural immunity.

I didnt consent to mine getting theirs. But for those who have children who are vulnerable, then I can understand their parents wanting them to have it.

@Hotcoffee10

Just wondering, now it is clear that the vaccine does not provide long term protection is everyone still keen to vaccinate their kids? I was okay with DD having one (she is 12) but yearly injections for the rest of her life doesn’t sit well with me. Covid is presumably not going to magically vanish - so it seems once they have a jab there will be pressure to get it again next year. Anyone got any thoughts?

No one had advised that children will need "yearly injections for the rest of their lives"

personally, given it's a novel virus that kids have no prior immunity to, I think it's sensible to accept the offer of a first vaccination and take it from there

having some protection before infection, or boosting that from a single prior infection makese sense given the context

If the vaccines wane eventually and you can still pass it on and catch it even if vaccinated.

Vaccines allow you to get infected whilst minimising the risk of illness and complications

These repeated infections will allow children to generate robust, longer last immunity, much like flu.

Well no no one has said it yet but given the mission creep we’ve already seen it seems likely that everyone will be offered boosters eventually and that’s going to include kids? Otherwise what’s the point of the first injection? Why bother giving something that will only provide short term protection, why not let them catch it then since it will happen anyway.

Oh for heavens sake, NOBODY is talking about anyone having Covid vaccines for 'the rest of their life'!! Let alone children. Immunity will mount, the virus will probably, going on the experiences of other viruses, become less dangerous and become background noise.

I'm very happy that my son had one dose. Just anecdotally, I know of a couple of boys of his age locally who've been unpleasantly unwell with it. Really glad that he's far less likely to experience that now.

@Hotcoffee10

Well no no one has said it yet but given the mission creep we’ve already seen it seems likely that everyone will be offered boosters eventually and that’s going to include kids? Otherwise what’s the point of the first injection? Why bother giving something that will only provide short term protection, why not let them catch it then since it will happen anyway.

see my post above

children (and everyone else) will be repeatedly exposed to coronavirus

being vaccinated minimises the risk of getting ill or having complications, whilst allowing this process to happen

it's a way of having a level of protection whilst your body adjusts to coronavirus being endemic. Yes, vaccine-induced protection may wane, but it will be boosted by this repeated exposure.

My DD has the flu vaccine every year, not to protect her from the flu but because science has shown that vaccinating kids reduces transmission to those who are vulnerable to dying of the flu like over 70s.

So yeah, if she were allowed to have the Covid vaccination (too young at the moment) I'd be fine with her getting it yearly.

Kids get nasal flu vaccine at school every year (ok maybe not every year group but..) how is this different?

So you think no need for boosters for kids @leafyygreens? You believe vaccines and infection on top of vaccines is going to generate the best immunity. It would be nice if I was convinced that was the case and next autumn is not going to be same story but I seriously doubt it. I think it will be a booster. Kids do get flu vax but teenagers don’t and most adults do not either.

@didireallysaythat

Kids get nasal flu vaccine at school every year (ok maybe not every year group but..) how is this different?

No affects to boys hearts or girls periods from the flu jab- and actually I wouldn’t give my child the flu “jab”, kids aren’t overly affected by flu. Again we are immunising children to protect adults- wrong!

@Hotcoffee10

So you think no need for boosters for kids *@leafyygreens*? You believe vaccines and infection on top of vaccines is going to generate the best immunity. It would be nice if I was convinced that was the case and next autumn is not going to be same story but I seriously doubt it. I think it will be a booster. Kids do get flu vax but teenagers don’t and most adults do not either.

I have no idea if boosters will be needed for children @Hotcoffee10 given that experts aren't sure either

I'm just pointing out the your "vaccine induced immunity wanes therefore there's no point in having it" doesn't really make sense

@Hotcoffee10

So you think no need for boosters for kids *@leafyygreens*? You believe vaccines and infection on top of vaccines is going to generate the best immunity. It would be nice if I was convinced that was the case and next autumn is not going to be same story but I seriously doubt it. I think it will be a booster. Kids do get flu vax but teenagers don’t and most adults do not either.

Do find it odd people saying no boosters- within a year adults have been asked to have 3 bloody jabs with no sign of stopping. When will we be considered protected in 2023..after 6 jabs.

Nasal flu has long established safety record for one. Also only primary age kids.

There was also little social or formal pressure to have it meaning truly informed consent was possible. There is a great deal of rhetoric around covid vaccines that prevents this.

@leafyygreens the point is that the vaccine carries some serious risks which might be worth it for long term protection but seems less worth it for short term…so boosters it is. But children have many years of life to develop problems with vaccines and there is no long term safety data. So I’m very reluctant to start my child down that road.

I’m really worried also that it won’t be long before Covid vaccination will be mandated for education. And then I’ll have no choice and have to advise my kids to get it.

Do find it odd people saying no boosters- within a year adults have been asked to have 3 bloody jabs with no sign of stopping. When will we be considered protected in 2023..after 6 jabs.

But so what? Genuinely what is the problem with having annual vaccines? I've never heard anyone say oh ffs I just had the flu vaccine last year and hear they are asking me to have it again.

My kid is fully vaccinated and no the fact that this vaccine might not give him lifelong protection does not make me think that I made a mistake.

My secondary dc have just had the nasal flu spray. All the secondaries did it.

@Tailendofsummer that’s new this year. Used to be just at risk secondary age kids who got it.

[quote Hotcoffee10]@leafyygreens the point is that the vaccine carries some serious risks which might be worth it for long term protection but seems less worth it for short term…so boosters it is. But children have many years of life to develop problems with vaccines and there is no long term safety data. So I’m very reluctant to start my child down that road.

I’m really worried also that it won’t be long before Covid vaccination will be mandated for education. And then I’ll have no choice and have to advise my kids to get it.[/quote]
Why would you be worried about mandated vaccines when no other vaccine in the UK is mandatory? Why would this even occur to you?

[quote Hotcoffee10]@leafyygreens the point is that the vaccine carries some serious risks which might be worth it for long term protection but seems less worth it for short term…so boosters it is. But children have many years of life to develop problems with vaccines and there is no long term safety data. So I’m very reluctant to start my child down that road.

I’m really worried also that it won’t be long before Covid vaccination will be mandated for education. And then I’ll have no choice and have to advise my kids to get it.[/quote]
you're conflating several points here

there's benefits in children being vaccinated in the current situation for reasons that have been outlined

choosing to have it now isn't "starting down a road" that somehow means if you have it now you have it have next year, it has literally zero impact on what will happen in terms of vaccine guidance

@Mynameismargot seriously? Do you watch the news? Yes no previous vaccine was mandated but we live in unprecedented times. Vaccine passports in Scotland, England too soon no doubt, sacking carers, nhs staff to follow soon. Worldwide much the same. Maybe you think it won’t happen and I hope not but you can’t say it’s not a legitimate concern!
For the avoidance of doubt I am not anti vaccination my children are fully vaccinated as per UK schedule and I have had both Covid jabs as has my husband. Still concerned about giving the oldest the Covid jab however and also that mission creep is going to extend to primary kids soon.

No my son didn't have it (nor the flu nasal spray which seems to be going round)
Interestingly the children of the medics at our school didn't have the Covid vaccine either. Not sure what that says!

@leafyygreens if only people were that rational. Like it or not having had a vaccine once I do think it the likelihood is there will be pressure to offer boosters. It will clearly have an impact on vaccine policy, it 80% or whatever teens are vaxed this year the argument will be how can we not protect them next year - and on it will go.

[quote Hotcoffee10]@leafyygreens if only people were that rational. Like it or not having had a vaccine once I do think it the likelihood is there will be pressure to offer boosters. It will clearly have an impact on vaccine policy, it 80% or whatever teens are vaxed this year the argument will be how can we not protect them next year - and on it will go.[/quote]
So you're refusing the offer of a vaccine on the mistaken logic that by doing this it will make it less likely that they will be mandated for children next year...?

If you don't want your child to be vaccinated based on the current evidence then totally fair enough @Hotcoffee10 Don't take up the offer, of if your children is older then explain your reasoning.

but refusing on the grounds that immunity doesn't last forever, or that it someone means they will have to have it every year for the rest of their lives because they've had it once, makes no sense

If the vaccines wane eventually and you can still pass it on and catch it even if vaccinated. With kids being such low risk from any really bad symptoms as it is, it just doesn't seem worth it to me.

This!