Vaccine for 5-11 year olds - would you go abroad to get it?

[Kirkybean2]

Has anyone done this already for their 12+? I’ve heard vaccine tourism is a thing. My kids were born in the USA, we lived there for a few years, so I’d consider travelling to get them jabbed if the U.K. drags its feet on vaxxing younger kids. In some states you don’t have to be resident to qualify. Anyone know anything more about this? An expensive option, but one we’d consider if it was a sure thing and there’s no other option in sight here at home.

I don't have kids of that age, but I'd be very very tempted by a few days jaunt to Ireland to see relatives if the the Irish govt approve it for that age group. We're vaguely discussing it to get our 13 & 15yos double jabbed rather than single. But the issue will be getting it registered on the NHS England records which would be what's necessary for further travel and accurate records.

Has any country approved the vaccine for small children?

I think it's a crazy idea. Are you going to take them to the States again for a 2nd dose and then every 6 months.
Who are you trying to protect?

I don't have a child in that age group, but in 12-15. I did consider going to my native country to get him vaccinated since they are offering vaccination for people living abroad.
Luckily we didn't have to since UK started vaccinating 12+. But if they didn't, I would have.

They aren't even giving children 12-15 2 shot despite many other countries have been, I think 5-11 would be a long wait if it ever happens, I would imagine.

@trumpisagit

I think it's a crazy idea. Are you going to take them to the States again for a 2nd dose and then every 6 months. Who are you trying to protect?

Children may not even need boosters, tbh. UK isn't giving 12-15 second shot, since vaccine + natural immunity seems to be the best protection. And you can have shots 3 weeks apart, you just need to stay there for a bit longer?

I think I would only do it if they had regular contact with someone extremely vulnerable. And isn't it the case that if the parent the child will already have been prioritised for vaccination?

I think when it comes to kids the direct benefits to them are fairly small (and fairly finely balanced against the risks). And though I support vaccinating children, and would get my child vaccinated, it is more for "the greater good" than anything else and not really worth the trips abroad.

The main advantage i can see to vaccinating children would be the parents not having to have time off work to look after them.

No, because afaik getting foreign given vaccines registered in the NHS system is nigh on impossible, and many of the rules are written to exclude non NHS vaccines.

No, because afaik getting foreign given vaccines registered in the NHS system is nigh on impossible, and many of the rules are written to exclude non NHS vaccines.

True. Plus many of the rules eg self-isolation following contact, don't apply to under 18s

Some parents just want to get their children vaccinated to protect them. So maybe it may/may not be recognised by nhs is not the deciding factor?

There were studies published recently that 1/4 of people aren't getting any immunity if they are elderly or have it asymptomatic. So there's the possibility the child can be exposed and get ill multiple times, each time doing damage inside of them.

Please don’t attack me but is anyone worried about potential adverse reactions for this age group?

In Australia the TGA confirmed 60 likely cases of myocarditis in one week.

My daughter is almost 3 and I would be apprehensive to give her the shot.

@ColettesEarrings

I don't have kids of that age, but I'd be very very tempted by a few days jaunt to Ireland to see relatives if the the Irish govt approve it for that age group. We're vaguely discussing it to get our 13 & 15yos double jabbed rather than single. But the issue will be getting it registered on the NHS England records which would be what's necessary for further travel and accurate records.

Don't think that will work out too well for non-residents. We are Irish. My teen DCs had to apply online and provide personal details including address, postcode, PPS number and parental details/consent. They had to bring passports to vaccination centre. Vaccination appointment was for a specific time, date and vaccination centre.

You can't just rock up to any vaccination centre without an appointment and identification and crucially, a PPS number. The walk-in opportunities will be on different dates to the pre-booked appointment system.

And, Ireland will be more concerned with sending vaccines to health workers and vulnerable people in developing countries rather than vaccinating those from a rich neighbour.

The UK has a plentiful supply of vaccines, why don't you lobby your MP to have vaccines available for your teenager/all teenagers who would like to be fully vaccinated?

Adverse reaction of myocarditis seems to increase with age, so you are more likely to get it if you are teen, and male.

In Australia the TGA confirmed 60 likely cases of myocarditis in one week.

What is the age of these children?
One thing I heard about this age group(5-11) is the adverse effect is very rare. And doses are smaller too.

@Kohby190

Please don’t attack me but is anyone worried about potential adverse reactions for this age group?

In Australia the TGA confirmed 60 likely cases of myocarditis in one week.

My daughter is almost 3 and I would be apprehensive to give her the shot.

Given that that is a higher number than previously experienced per million vaccines given (actual vaccines given and actual people vaccinated) I presume you have a link to a reputable source?

@Kohby190

Please don’t attack me but is anyone worried about potential adverse reactions for this age group?

In Australia the TGA confirmed 60 likely cases of myocarditis in one week.

My daughter is almost 3 and I would be apprehensive to give her the shot.

"Results For the 12-17-year-old male cohort, 6/6,846 (0.09%) patients developed myocarditis overall, with an adjusted rate per million of 876 cases (Wilson score interval 402 - 1,911). For the 12-15 and 16-19 male age groups, the adjusted rates per million were 601 (257 - 1,406) and 561 (240 - 1,313).

For 12-17-year-old females, there were 3 (0.04%) cases of myocarditis of 7,361 patients. The adjusted rate was 213 (73 - 627) per million cases. For the 12-15- and 16-19-year-old female cohorts the adjusted rates per million cases were 235 (64 - 857) and 708 (359 - 1,397). The outcomes occurred either within 5 days (40.0%) or from 19-82 days (60.0%).

Conclusions Myocarditis (or pericarditis or myopericarditis) from primary COVID19 infection occurred at a rate as high as 450 per million in young males. Young males infected with the virus are up 6 times more likely to develop myocarditis as those who have received the vaccine."

Wow. I’m not up for debating vaccination for children on this thread, please don’t bother. I want my kids vaccinated, end of. USA has approved Pfizer for 5-11 year olds. I’m more interested in hearing people’s views on logistics of doing something like this. I don’t care about having something on the NHS system, all of my kids’ vaccinations as babies and toddlers were done in the States, it’s not a problem.

Ok, you’re not worried. That’s fine, I am.

Here’s the link if anyone wants to have a read. Australia is vaccinating 12+ but ages are not listed in this article. Everything can be found on the TGA website but note that people are able to self report so data may be skewed.
www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/sixty-new-cases-of-myocarditis-in-tga-s-latest-saf

235 have been classified as likely to be myocarditis out of approximately 21.5 million doses of mRNA vaccines administered in Australia.

That's really worth not to get vaccinated, Kohby190?

With respect, start your own thread.

If you ask a question expect a range of answers including ones that disagree with you.
I don't think the US should be vaccinating 5 year olds.

If you ask a question expect a range of answers including ones that disagree with you.

Yes, I totally agree with it. Which I don't like? It's clear, someone talking about the things from their own experience and perspective, or someone tells others to start their own thread. I 'm definitely in favour of the former, even if I disagree with their view.

The problem, OP, is that on any thread mentioning the vaccine, you'll get the anti-vaxxers sending out the bat signal. The pro-vaxxers (like me) get the signal too though (it'll be in our 5g chips) so we come along to share the bantz.

I'm in Italy and it's rumoured that our health ministry will soon approve the vaccine for 5-12 year olds as that is one of the two groups seeing a current surge in cases. The other being the city of Trieste, which is the hub of the anti Vax protests. It has something like 4x as many cases X 1000 as any other city in Italy. To the point that there's talk of local restrictions being tightened.

We know a lot of international families and I’d say most of them that have teens plan on doing this to get them the second dose.

Behave yourself. Seriously.