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Original poster

Teenager refusing vaccination

157 replies

Hueandcry · 14/12/2021 22:58

My older teen has refused to be vaccinated. It's causing endless arguments between us. Please help me deal with this

OP posts:
MahMahMahMahCorona · 15/12/2021 00:00

Choice is extremely important in such matters, particularly when allowing the administration of the relative unknown into one's person.

Let your DC be. Being able to make up your own mind about these vaccinations is exceedingly important.

PestoSugarPlumFairy · 15/12/2021 00:15

[quote riveted1]@PestoSugarPlumFairy

It has been established that the risk of myo/periocarditis is higher from coronavirus infection itself (and tends to be more severe) than it is from vaccination in teenagers.[/quote]

Hmm yeah okay Hmm

riveted1 · 15/12/2021 00:19

Not really sure what your response adds there @PestoSugarPlumFairy

Can link the relevant studies but it seems you have adamantly made your mind up

I said in my first post that it's his decision, he can always change his mind if he wants to, but is always good to make sure a teen who is turning it down is making an informed choice.

PestoSugarPlumFairy · 15/12/2021 00:19

[quote SickAndTiredAgain]@PestoSugarPlumFairy well yes, I wasn’t attempting to list every single possible reason. And I was mainly asking out of curiosity, I am extremely anti mandatory vaccination of any sort but would be concerned if a close family member started talking about microchips and bill gates trying to control us all, so was just wondering if OP knew the reason.[/quote]

I know you weren't but it's the fact you immediately jumped to a teenager thinking they might be inserting microchips into us rather than them having the brains to, you know, actually do a bit of research and weigh up the risks/benefits and decide for themselves. Why are our teenagers always thought to be so stupid/wrong?

Enough4me · 15/12/2021 00:22

OP I share your pain, but it's a teenager's choice.

I'm double vaccinated, my youngest (preteen) had Covid & still cannot smell several weeks later but apart from that seems well, he'd have the vaccination but currently too young. My teen says she must have natural immunity as been around many with it and not had it. I've stated latest information suggests benefits to risks, including her being able to see friends, but it's ultimately her decision.

riveted1 · 15/12/2021 00:22

actually do a bit of research and weigh up the risks/benefits and decide for themselves. Why are our teenagers always thought to be so stupid/wrong?

@PestoSugarPlumFairy

Given the sheer volume of misinformation out there (like your posts about it being more harmful than infection itself), much of it spread by groups with people using dr/professor titles like HART & FLCCC, it's hardly suprising that people are not able to make an informed choice on this.

A teen being convinced by this hardly makes them stupid, and I don't think anyone is suggesting that. To make an informed choice you need to reading evidence based sources.

Totallydefeated · 15/12/2021 00:30

I wouldn’t be ‘endlessly arguing’ about it, it’s their choice. And unless they’re CEV, why are you so worried anyway? Their risk of being seriously ill with Covid is vanishingly small. Their risk of long Covid is a bit higher, but still not that big and there’s always a risk of getting post viral fatigue or CFS/ME from lots of other viruses too. If you’re not constantly worried about that, then why fixate on Covid?

AlexaShutUp · 15/12/2021 00:37

Ultimately, it's their body so their choice. I would make my views known, but I would then leave the decision to them.

If you believe in the principle of bodily autonomy - and I do - then you have to accept that people will sometimes make selfish and irresponsible choices. For the same reason, I will never support mandatory vaccination. People have a right to be stupid about their own bodies if they so choose.

Wokemon · 15/12/2021 00:41

Since when once you have had a disease do you still need to be vaccinated for it? Flu maybe yes, but they change it. This vaccine is still the same one, but just more of it Confused

They haven't to my knowledge altered it, so why? If they don't want it respect their decision fgs.

Grayskelly · 15/12/2021 00:43

If you let them go eventually they'll come across something they want to to do that requires them to be vaccinated and they'll go and do it. If you keep at it you'll set them up to prove a point.

CheesyFootballsAreEvil · 15/12/2021 03:29

If he was just hesitant you could help but there's no point arguing with someone dead against it it might even make reluctant to admit if he changes his mind

TulipsGarden · 15/12/2021 03:42

@Wokemon

Since when once you have had a disease do you still need to be vaccinated for it? Flu maybe yes, but they change it. This vaccine is still the same one, but just more of it Confused

They haven't to my knowledge altered it, so why? If they don't want it respect their decision fgs.

Most diseases that we vaccinate against can only be caught once. Immunity to coronaviruses wanes over time. It's just a different type of disease, which therefore needs boosters even after you've had it.
Original poster
Hueandcry · 15/12/2021 04:36

He started off not believing covid was a thing but now says he is young, fit & healthy & doesn't think he would even know if he got it. He is 18. He won't do any lft despite working in a customer facing role. He says the vaccine has not been fully tested & side effects down the line are unknown. My concern is more that he is putting myself & his elderly relatives at risk due to his lifestyle - mixing with lots of others at sport & nightclubs etc. Claims to have never been asked for a vaccine passport to enter such events

OP posts:
Suzi888 · 15/12/2021 04:42

@Grayskelly

If you let them go eventually they'll come across something they want to to do that requires them to be vaccinated and they'll go and do it. If you keep at it you'll set them up to prove a point.
^ This Potentially no concerts, cinema, holidays etc.

Ultimately it’s their choice. Have they had covid? (that you know of).
It’s not something I would argue over.

Iwonder08 · 15/12/2021 05:37

Do you want to stop arguments? Stop talking about it with him. He made a decision and it is his decision to make, no matter how strongly you feel about the matter. His body, his choice, you know..i am double vaccinated BTW to avoid any accusations..

whymewhyme · 15/12/2021 05:40

@Hueandcry

He started off not believing covid was a thing but now says he is young, fit & healthy & doesn't think he would even know if he got it. He is 18. He won't do any lft despite working in a customer facing role. He says the vaccine has not been fully tested & side effects down the line are unknown. My concern is more that he is putting myself & his elderly relatives at risk due to his lifestyle - mixing with lots of others at sport & nightclubs etc. Claims to have never been asked for a vaccine passport to enter such events
Don't worry you will be fine...you're vaccinated.
PurBal · 15/12/2021 05:42

My question was going to be how old a teen is he. 15 and legally a child is different to 18 and an adult. Your son is an adult so it’s their choice. If you don’t want an unvaccinated person in your home, that’s another conversation.

PAFMO · 15/12/2021 05:53

@Hueandcry

He started off not believing covid was a thing but now says he is young, fit & healthy & doesn't think he would even know if he got it. He is 18. He won't do any lft despite working in a customer facing role. He says the vaccine has not been fully tested & side effects down the line are unknown. My concern is more that he is putting myself & his elderly relatives at risk due to his lifestyle - mixing with lots of others at sport & nightclubs etc. Claims to have never been asked for a vaccine passport to enter such events
But you must know most of that can't be true.

It's his choice, and he's an adult. I would certainly make sure he took precautions when visiting vulnerable family members.

I don't think he'll be managing to get into big venues without testing/having a pass for much longer (if it's even true now)

MaverickSnoopy · 15/12/2021 06:04

I'm inclined to say you need to respect his decision. His reasons sound fair but they also sound very generic (for lack of a better word). Has he actually done any real research into the science of the vaccine or read any of the peer reviews? If it were my child I would be tempted to say, OK I respect your decision but all I all of you is to read this material, and then present him with the science. I would also be clear that if they wanted to see vulnerable family members they'd need to lft first.

tigger1001 · 15/12/2021 06:05

I don't understand why you are endlessly arguing over it. That won't change their mind - more likely it will make them dig their heels in.

It is their decision. As it should be. I told my teenager it was up to them and to go read about it and we could discuss it if he wanted but I would support his decision either way. It was important to me that he knew we could discuss it even if his opinion was different to mine.

Krakenchorus · 15/12/2021 06:06

Book him an appointment to talk through his concerns with his GP, just like any other medical decision.

Luredbyapomegranate · 15/12/2021 06:19

@TheOccupier

Book a holiday of a lifetime to a place with strict vaccination requirements.
This might work..

Other than that occasionally point out the stars on the unvaxxed and hospitalisation.. but that’s all you can do, it is there decision intimately. (And they will likely change their minds when it starts to impact on their own life ie not being able to go to things because no proof of vaccine.)

JourneyToThePlacentaOfTheEarth · 15/12/2021 06:30

My elder teen won't have it but my younger teen has. I can't force him and I won't argue about it. He's getting football tickets for Xmas and his social life will be complicated without the vaccine. He'll soon find that out for himself

JourneyToThePlacentaOfTheEarth · 15/12/2021 06:31

Also dh and I have boosters booked, I don't feel like I'm in danger from my son. We've all had covid twice and I lost my dad to it

SparklingLime · 15/12/2021 06:34

He won't do any lft despite working in a customer facing role.

That is really shitty behaviour.

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