Will you be vaxxing your 5 year old kids?

[WoolyMammoth55]

I'm pro vaccine, have had 3 myself, DH has had 2 and has booked his booster. Our kids are vaccinated according to the normal schedule.

However we have a 4yo and something about the thought of vaccinating him for Covid once he turns 5 feels really wrong to me.

I haven't really got much to go on, although this article about teens and vaccine side-effects is part of it:
www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/10/boys-more-at-risk-from-pfizer-jab-side-effect-than-covid-suggests-study

Basically I just feel like we know some people react badly to the jab, it's not a perfect medicine because it was developed and rolled out under huge pressure. We know kids are at minimal risk of Covid and so it's not for their benefit they'd get jabbed, it'd be to stop them infecting grandparents... To me it feels like the wrong risk-to-benefit ratio for our children.

And I'm fully aware that if we don't get them jabbed, we'll be vax-passport-ed into a second-class existence! This is already happening to my DSis who lives abroad in a vaccine passport country and despite her and her DH being jabbed, they are under house arrest because their 2 kids - who can't be jabbed yet - aren't allowed to go anywhere!

Talk me out of this feeling of dread, anyone...?

No, I won't be.

@FreeBritnee what guidance?

@Turquoisesol

My kids have had covid so I am struggling to feel particularly keen to vaccinate them. The risk to benefit ratio doesn’t seem worthwhile. Not looking forward to feeling forced in to it with vaccine passports

It's not about whether they benefit though, it's for others as well. If they're vaccinated then they're less likely to pass the virus on.

With that being said, I'm not sure if I'll be vaccinating my 6yr old as she's vulnerable

Not vulnerable health wise I mean she has special needs so it could be traumatic

Yes. There is a clear benefit to children as it will enable them to have less disruption to their education and to grow up in a less disrupted society. This alone makes it more than a no-brainer for me, regardless of whether there is an individual health benefit. Vaccines are about public health, not personal health.

@Runaway1

I will because I don't want her whole early childhood to be during this strange restricted, uncertain time. I want the pandemic to end and I want her to be protected from any worse variants that emerge. I think social restrictions and lockdowns are really dangerous to her.

Do you think that this will all end when all the kids are vaxxed then? Gosh I wish I could go back to those sweet naïve times.

Yes because we have a holiday booked to NY that cost a flipping fortune & we are now not allowed to do anything with our 5 year old there if she’s not jabbed.. nightmare. Already had to push back several months & pray they get on with vaccinating kids here 😩

I’m kinda on the fence though really. Luckily, we are so behind on this that there will be quite a lot of safety data by the time we have to make a choice!

“It's not about whether they benefit though, it's for others as well. If they're vaccinated then they're less likely to pass the virus on.”

Yes. For up to 6 months maximum. Then what? Lifelong boosters every 3-6 months?

No

I haven't really thought about it that much tbh.

However, it's not as if five year olds don't benefit from having grandparents! In ten years time will some people be saying 'well, we didn't want to vaccinate you just for their benefit, it's a shame you never knew them'?

No

Vaccinated or not will make no difference to disruption on school as we know vaccinated pass it to vaccinated!!

You can still get it and you still have to isolate for 10 days.

Where is the benefit?

Is self isolation the same rules in primary & secondary? mine haven't had to
isolate when a classmate has tested positive.

No, absolutely not.

I'm glad the vaccination is available for CEV children, however it is not appropriate to offer it for healthy children. Although serious side effects are rare, they do exist and have blighted the lives of some previously healthy young people.

Covid 19 does not pose a significant risk to young children. DD (8) will not be having the vaccination under any circumstances. I'm not having her undergo an unnecessary and potentially risky procedure for 'the greater good'.

Looks like vaccine passports are coming down the line too. I'm not thrilled at the prospect of social exclusion, but I will not be bullied into giving this jab to DD.

On the fence because ds (6) currently has covid.
I think I’d want to wait 6 months.
OTOH the 8yo will be first in the queue

Do you think that this will all end when all the kids are vaxxed then?

This is going to go on and on. The vaccines will not stop the spread of covid in schools.

Yes.

I will, I hate it when my kids are sick

You are letting your imagination run amok, OP.

I know hundreds of children who have been double vaccinated (US). No side effects, all hopefully freer of risk.

US here. Absolutely, my grandsons will be vaccinated on Sunday. Age 5 and 11. As soon as they announced available, my DS (and me, helping!) has been searching for an appointment. Really hard to get, but finally both will be done this weekend. They are excited to get super-powers, and are nervous but being brave. They've had so many vaccines already it is just one more set.

In order to socialize with other children (outside of the very controlled school environment), we regard it as pretty critical. How else can life get back to any sense of normality?

@Rocaille I think this is also what I worry about, it just goes on and on. Schools asking to constantly swab healthy children, it's obsessive and unhealthy and now next will be the pressure to jab but I bet the testing will continue. I'm keeping an open mind and might opt for the vax when I'm happier with solid data but I share the view that it won't end there!

nope

I am not an expert in these matters. I will be following jvci advice.

A medical trial!

Yes. Pfizer estimate that the study will conclude in January 2023.

I feel a bit iffy about my 9 year old having it. No need AFAIK and risks for kids in terms of vaccines not known yet.