Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Vaccination for 12-15 yr olds

46 replies

willthatbeall · 26/12/2021 22:05

Vaccine for 12-15 yr olds

Neither of my children are vaccinated yet as they've both had Covid over Nov/Dec. Have now been told to wait 12weeks! Really concerned they will now get Covid again with omicron variant around as it's spreading around all their peers.

How will I ever get them vaccinated?
Why do they have to wait until spring?

Media banging on about pushing final groups through first vaccination but 1000s of young people are being told NOT to get vaccinated yet. BBC reports "But despite the mini rush, 10.2% of over-12s are yet to have any vaccine." But doesn't explain a huge portion of this will be children who aren't allowed to be vaccinated yet. So many school kids got Covid in Nov/Dec.

It's so confusing. What should I do?

OP posts:
Moolia · 26/12/2021 22:08

I'm confused about this as well. I'm not sure they've updated the 12 week guidance since Omicron hit.

User3579 · 26/12/2021 22:10

I don’t know that’s going on and I work on the field. We were suppose to be rolling out vaccinations to primary aged children a month ago but it’s not happened. I have 2 children in primary and hoped they would be vaccinated before Christmas

Original poster
willthatbeall · 26/12/2021 22:10

They're sitting ducks.

Not to mention no possibility of actually being able to travel anywhere without being fully vacc until late Spring!

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 26/12/2021 22:10

It was changed to 12 weeks after covid (for children) to minimise chances of myocarditis and other side effects

Original poster
willthatbeall · 26/12/2021 22:13

I know the guidance changed but that was after the vaccination team visited the school and jabbed 100s of kids.

Surely Covid is a bigger risk?? Or if Covid is not a risk why are we under restrictions across the world?

OP posts:
SmallElephant · 26/12/2021 22:14

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

dementedpixie · 26/12/2021 22:16

It's about risk/benefit in that age group. You don't want the vaccine to be riskier than the risk of covid

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 26/12/2021 22:16

That's not true Elephant

Hellocatshome · 26/12/2021 22:17

Surely Covid is a bigger risk?? covid wether Omicron or not is not a bigger risk for normally healthy teenagers. That's why the vaccination council didn't recommend they be vaccinated as the benefits didn't outweighs the benefits enough for the individual. They look at the risk benefit for the individual not society as a whole. It benefits society as a whole for teenagers to be vaccinated but there isnt really much benefit to the individual teenager.

Hellocatshome · 26/12/2021 22:18

the benefits didn't outweighs the risks was obviously what I meant. Too much wine.

Original poster
willthatbeall · 26/12/2021 22:18

@dementedpixie thanks I've read that article but I'm still so nervous about January. I daren't let them go out as they will catch Covid again and are unprotected until Feb/March.

Does catching omicron Covid literally not matter to this age group? If so what's the need for the vaccine at all? One of my 15yr olds friends is now on her 3rd bout of Covid!

OP posts:
Original poster
willthatbeall · 26/12/2021 22:22

What is the gap between vaccines?

So younger child recovered from Covid 15 Dec (just turned 12) earliest vaccine I assume is 15 March then 2nd dose 12 weeks after that = June.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 26/12/2021 22:24

My ds (15) got his first vaccine in October and his 2nd dose is mid January

Catkitkat · 26/12/2021 23:06

[quote willthatbeall]@dementedpixie thanks I've read that article but I'm still so nervous about January. I daren't let them go out as they will catch Covid again and are unprotected until Feb/March.

Does catching omicron Covid literally not matter to this age group? If so what's the need for the vaccine at all? One of my 15yr olds friends is now on her 3rd bout of Covid! [/quote]
But they can still catch it even if they have been vaccinated? How worried are you about your children falling seriously ill with covid? Unless they are CEV this risk is negligible for children? You say they have already had covid so if they handled that ok (of course any viral illness can obviously be tough) I think you have your answer there?

rrhuth · 26/12/2021 23:08

@SmallElephant

At that age, Covid is such a low risk that the tiny chance of adverse effects from the vaccine is actually higher.
This is a lie
rrhuth · 26/12/2021 23:10

But they can still catch it even if they have been vaccinated? How worried are you about your children falling seriously ill with covid? Unless they are CEV this risk is negligible for children?

Many childrena dn young people have an unpleasant illness with ongoing symptoms.

yes the worst cases are very rare in children but protecting our children should be the first priority - covid is not a well-understood illness.

Original poster
willthatbeall · 26/12/2021 23:28

@rrhuth but that is the point. The new advice means I can't protect my children - the 12 year old can't have vaccine until mid March due to the new guidance but will be thrown in deep into omicron when back at school in the new year. So I have to assume that the government advisors have assessed the risk of the vaccine is greater than the risk of Covid.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 26/12/2021 23:31

Surely they will have some protection from having had covid already.

rrhuth · 27/12/2021 00:06

[quote willthatbeall]@rrhuth but that is the point. The new advice means I can't protect my children - the 12 year old can't have vaccine until mid March due to the new guidance but will be thrown in deep into omicron when back at school in the new year. So I have to assume that the government advisors have assessed the risk of the vaccine is greater than the risk of Covid. [/quote]
No, I don't think that is the correct assumption re. risk. I think their assumption is there'll be some immunity.

grandmashotdoodlebugs · 27/12/2021 00:15

Oh I'm in this mixed up like if shit too!

Dd had Covid in half term so can't have her vaccine until 5 Feb - 12 weeks. Even if I tried to take her, they won't administer so there's some. If rules are play.

Additionally, DS is 11 and at secondary so at just as much risk as any other 12-15 year old but he is not allowed the jab and no protection - again, big rules at play.

The bonkers decisions that are preventing me getting either child vaccinated, at least until the main winter rush is over, seems ducking pointless to them have them vaccinated over summer when last summer, no child was deemed suitable to receive a vaccine.

On this basis, and the fact DD was not unwell when positive, I'm 95% decided not to vaccinate my children this year nor next until September time.

grandmashotdoodlebugs · 27/12/2021 00:16

Sorry for the typos. I especially like the ducking

NeedAHoliday2021 · 27/12/2021 00:18

Your dc will have antibodies from having covid so don’t worry. Just get them vaccinated after the 12 weeks. The antibodies stay longer in younger dc.

Catkitkat · 27/12/2021 01:29

@rrhuth

But they can still catch it even if they have been vaccinated? How worried are you about your children falling seriously ill with covid? Unless they are CEV this risk is negligible for children?

Many childrena dn young people have an unpleasant illness with ongoing symptoms.

yes the worst cases are very rare in children but protecting our children should be the first priority - covid is not a well-understood illness.

Help me understand: what protection are people expecting from the jab? It cuts transmission by how much? The main point of the jab is that it prevents severe illness. This is rare in children, as you point out. For those who are concerned about their children catching covid at all, what exactly is their expectation of this jab?
rrhuth · 27/12/2021 06:28

@Catkitkat my expectation from the vaccine is it will reduce severity of illness for most, so those who would be hospitalised without avoid hospital, those who would have temperatures at home end up asymptomatic.

It also prevents the damage you can't see, and reduces risk of long covid.