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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:
worriedatthemoment · 15/12/2021 19:09

Op vaccine passports have only just come in so he won't of been asked yet
My ds is also 18 and had the jabs but he also goes to clubs etc so can still bring it home , but he has to have a life

worriedatthemoment · 15/12/2021 19:13

Sorry just read update you are in scotland , maybe they will be stricter with passports now given the numbers today

Innocenta · 15/12/2021 19:18

@Jabbawasarollingstone

Ok I'll bite.

Your son is 18 and can do what he likes with his body.
I am in a customer facing role and have only taken one LFT in all the time this nonsense has gone on. This is because I think the response is completely overblown.
I had COVID once in March 2020. I was off work for a week. I was eventually fine, after about 2 weeks. I'm double jabbed but don't plan to have a third because Pfizer is only on offer and it doesn't interact well with cardiac problems, which I have.
My 15 year old hasn't had her jab because we haven't consented to her having it. Both her parents (her dad and I) had it and all she got was a bad headache. Pfizer has anecdotal evidence of messing with periods and I'm not consenting to that, even at a tiny risk. She could be judged Gillick competent but no-one has pressed this and if she decides to have it at 16 then fair enough, she can consent, and doesn't need my approval.
Irrespective of anything the Government tries to make us do, we each need to listen to our bodies and do what is best for the individual.

Disclaimer: I'm pro-vaxx. Daughter is up to date on her vaccinations.

"it doesn't interact well with cardiac problems"? What? This just isn't true. Misleading people about vaccine efficacy and safety leads to avoidable deaths.
Original poster
Hueandcry · 15/12/2021 19:20

We have had vaccine passports here since October

OP posts:
RoastedParnsip · 15/12/2021 19:25

It's his body, his choice. How would you feel if he forced you into something you didn't want doing to your body? If you wouldn't be happy then respect your child's choice and stop bullying him into it.

tigger1001 · 15/12/2021 19:25

@worriedatthemoment

Sorry just read update you are in scotland , maybe they will be stricter with passports now given the numbers today
The numbers, while may look like a huge increase as they have been fairly steady at around 3k per day are at a similar % of positive cases - which is the important figure. There was more than double the number of tests done in the last 24 hours than the previous 24 hours and the positive % is 9.1%. The average over the last 7 days was 9.8%
Original poster
Hueandcry · 15/12/2021 19:27

I'm not bullying anyone. I asked for advice to help me deal with his decision Hmm

OP posts:
CouncilHousedAndViolentBaby · 15/12/2021 19:27

His choice 100%

XenoBitch · 15/12/2021 19:29

@Hueandcry

I'm not bullying anyone. I asked for advice to help me deal with his decision Hmm
You accept it. That is all you can do.
UltraVividLament · 15/12/2021 19:33

My issue with his choice is that it isn't based on fact, nor takes into account his impact on others around him. That would be a disappointment for me. Could you approach it in that way with him? That of course as an adult he can make his own choices, but basing them on false claims is not sensible. Nor is ignoring his social responsibility, which would be different if he was working from home perhaps, but he is customer facing. Not doing Lateral flow tests is also a decision that isn't based on sense. They do no harm to him and may prevent him from infecting others.

Notthemessiah · 15/12/2021 19:57

You seem to be more worried about how it will affect you and other people than how it will affect him.

FestiveMelts · 15/12/2021 19:57

@Notsandwiches

Perhaps he doesnt want to risk potential side effects knowing how small his risks from actual covid are.

Totally this. Just support his decision, it's completely reasonable.

daisypond · 15/12/2021 20:00

@Notthemessiah

You seem to be more worried about how it will affect you and other people than how it will affect him.
Well, of course. How it affects the OP and other people is pretty crucial.
ponkydonkey · 15/12/2021 20:08

Mines the same... had covid!

But he's fine. I wouldn't bother arguing with him what's the point?

His life his decision

Original poster
Hueandcry · 15/12/2021 20:14

@notthemessiah

What's wrong with that? I'm in my 50s with poor health & his grandparents are in their 80s. I wouldn't be human if I wasn't concerned

OP posts:
Notthemessiah · 15/12/2021 20:19

[quote Hueandcry]@notthemessiah

What's wrong with that? I'm in my 50s with poor health & his grandparents are in their 80s. I wouldn't be human if I wasn't concerned[/quote]
Well personally speaking, I put my childrens’ well-being over and above my own and certainly over other peoples. I’d be more concerned on the effect of having or not having COVID or the vaccine on them than anything else.

Original poster
Hueandcry · 15/12/2021 20:24

As I've already said he is young, fit & healthy. He's not a child & he's not putting my wellbeing or that of others above his own. I will respect his decision but I think his behaviour is selfish & puts others at unnecessary risk

OP posts:
Notthemessiah · 15/12/2021 20:26

But you’re being selfish asking him to have it for your sake when he doesn’t want to, so I’d say that makes you fairly even

XenoBitch · 15/12/2021 20:27

@Hueandcry

As I've already said he is young, fit & healthy. He's not a child & he's not putting my wellbeing or that of others above his own. I will respect his decision but I think his behaviour is selfish & puts others at unnecessary risk
You gain nothing but telling him he is selfish.
Original poster
Hueandcry · 15/12/2021 20:28

I'm not & have never asked him to have the vaccine

OP posts:
Theonlyoneiknow · 15/12/2021 20:29

You would have to respect their decision, as you would hope anyone else would respect yours.

I completely understand his hesitancy, if they are aware of the risk v's benefit then you should support their decision.

Original poster
Hueandcry · 15/12/2021 20:29

I haven't told him he is selfish either. That's just what I think

OP posts:
SparklingLime · 15/12/2021 20:29

This has to take a prize as one of the most pompous, twatty statements on MN. The competition is stiff.

Well personally speaking, I put my childrens’ well-being over and above my own and certainly over other peoples.

(Plus it has too many grammatical errors for someone so sure of their correctness.)

Just ignore it, @Hueandcry.

Innocenta · 15/12/2021 20:29

@Notthemessiah

But you’re being selfish asking him to have it for your sake when he doesn’t want to, so I’d say that makes you fairly even
Everybody is supposed to have the vaccine. That is the optimal pathway. They are not equal choices.
Notthemessiah · 15/12/2021 20:31

@Hueandcry

I'm not & have never asked him to have the vaccine
Eh? That makes no sense. You’re arguing about the fact that he won’t have the vaccine, but somehow in your mind that doesn’t equate to you asking him to have it?
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