Are autistic 12-15 year old children put into the vulnerable category?

[Anon778833]

My 12 year old daughter got a letter today to say that she’ll need 2 vaccine doses because she’s considered vulnerable. She’s had the first one already. I’m just wondering if her autism could be the reason?

It can be but it's not automatic. Ds is 17 and autistic and only allowed one dose.

My DS is 12 and has ASD, he’s had his first jab and we have an appointment for his second. I asked if his ASD made him priority and they confirmed this is the case.

Yes autism was added to the vulnerable list in September.

@Comefromaway

It can be but it's not automatic. Ds is 17 and autistic and only allowed one dose.

From September autism was added to the vulnerable list and eligible for two doses.

Our GP said that being autistic alone doesn't make ds eligible.

Can you direct me to a link? Is it the something book as he is desperate to be double vaccinated.

@raffle

My DS is 12 and has ASD, he’s had his first jab and we have an appointment for his second. I asked if his ASD made him priority and they confirmed this is the case.

Thank you! I thought if probably was this but wasn't sure.

@Comefromaway

It can be but it's not automatic. Ds is 17 and autistic and only allowed one dose.

Hang on, I thought all over 16s get 2 doses anyway? My 17 year old is having her second dose this week.

Ds is 17 and autistic, with quite significant mental health difficulties and an eating disorder which has resulted in him becoming severely underweight. We have never been told he comes into the 'vulnerable' category.

Due to his needle anxiety, he is currently refusing to be vaccinated.

@Comefromaway

Can you direct me to a link? Is it the something book as he is desperate to be double vaccinated.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/jcvi-statement-september-2021-covid-19-vaccination-of-children-aged-12-to-15-years/jcvi-statement-on-covid-19-vaccination-of-children-aged-12-to-15-years-3-september-2021

It is included in the updated advice.

Yes, my 13 year old ds received a letter today as well. I didn't look at it properly and assumed it was for dd who had a congenital heart defect (now corrected) - she isn't quite 12 though (birthday soon). He is incredibly robust and hardly ever ill (in fact, we have had Covid in the house for over a week and he hasn't caught it yet), so I don't feel he is at any additional risk personally. Obviously can't speak for other children.

I have read somewhere that they consider children and adults with learning difficulties to be more at risk. It's not to say that if they were to get covid they'd be more seriously ill but I think it's something to do with being more likely to catch it. I'm not really sure, sorry op!

Autistic people struggle with interoception (I'm autistic myself) so it might be to do with that meaning that autistic people are more likely to end up in hospital.

They no doubt will have looked at the statistics on which children get seriously ill with covid.

My (just!) 12yo son was jabbed by our GP because I rang up & begged. He struggles with interoception and can’t always communicate to me that he feels unwell/how unwell/where. He ended up in a drip in hospital with a d&v bug a few years ago. I am hoping they will offer him a second jab.

Thanks for starting this thread. We got our letters today. Thought it must be autism as it the only thing they have in common.

My DS 11 has Autism and so do I ive had both mine he isnt eligible yet but ive not heard anything about this?

He did however have covid last Christmas, he coped and was fine with it, but my other son 12 is currently just getting over it, this has triggered huge anxiety hes extremely anxious about getting it again, every LF test hes meticulous over them, xx

I'm not sure if it's autistic adults too but I would think it is.

I was already on that list anyway.

DD2 (14) got her 2 dose letter today - she has ASD. DD1 (15) was already called forward for her first dose (ASD and LDs), so we haven't had a letter for her, but I need to contact them about her second dose in a week or two, as she has to wait 4 weeks after having Covid.

Nothing for 16/17 year olds apart from “severe” neurodisabilities. Which tings us back to the old argument about autism being a spectrum not a line.

However, I’ve just realised Ds turns 18 in 3 and a half months so he can book his 2nd dose in a few weeks.

We got the same letter today for DS15 - Aspergers

I started the same thread too! www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4386506-NHS-letter-for-dd-saying-she-needs-two-doses

Oh FFS

My 16 year old had a first dose months ago, but hasn't been offered a second dose.
My 13 year old has had a first dose but was never told she would be entitled to a second dose.

Where is the communication on this?

Looks like using up more GP time tomorrow trying to figure this out.

Yeah the communication certainly is rubbish.

I think the communication isnt very good either. My son with ASD is only 9 and extremely robust ( possibly because he doesnt really feel pain). But his older brother also in a special school hasnt been told anything about doubled shots. Most of his peers have ASD and this is the first I have heard of this.

I have had my 12 year old single jabbed so far . Although my dr has written a letter for my daughter regarding autism, we submitted her consultants report etc. I am not 100% sure she would have the autism "box" ticked at the surgery.