Is there any point in DS(15) getting the second covid vaccination?

[ItsAllAboutTheLighting]

I'm just mulling this over and I wondered whether there was any point to him getting his second covid vaccine.

The reason we vaccinated was to try and prevent him getting it. Try and prevent him spreading it and generally be part of the improvement.

His brothers aren't vaccinated (too young).

We have all had covid in the last few weeks, DS (vaccinated) and DS (unvaccinated) both caught covid, both had the same symptoms (headache and achey muscles, no cough or temp or loss of smell/taste), and both past it on with those symptoms before the LFT was positive.

So the vaccination didn't prevent him spreading it, didn't prevent him getting ill with it and hasn't generally helped at all.

DH and I are vaccinated fully and we will both continue to do so (I'm a nurse) but for the kids? I'm not so sure now.

Any words of wisdom?

Even here they might stop giving tests for free, come March. I’d have no doubt and support the idea of getting the vaccine as soon as the right amount of weeks from infections have passed. Perhaps I’m biased because my teen DS had absolutely zero reaction with his doses…

You’re a nurse and aren’t following guidance on the NHS website?

Hope I never encounter you in hospital (I’d that’s where you work).

As for your son: reacting to one vaccine doesn’t mean you will to another. Family member got a “flu” type reaction for 24 hours after first and second jab. Put off booster. Had booster just before Christmas and was totally fine. No side effects at all.

@BooksAndGin

Genuinely speaking once a illness like covid starts getting weaker and that variant spreads, the variants get weaker following that. Personally I wouldn't but it's really down to your teen and what he wants to do.

This is simply not true. We have no idea what further variants will be like. The vaccinations won’t stop people getting omicron but do help against serious illness and hospitalisation. Personally I would want everyone in my family protected against serious illness as much as possible. Having 1 vaccine is unlikely to do that. For omicron the evidence is that you need 2 vaccinations and a booster for maximum protection. 2 vaccinations plus having had COVID would offer good protection too. COVID can be a mild illness for some people but it’s unpredictable.We don’t yet understand any long term effects of contracting the virus. The number of children being admitted to hospital in this wave is higher than in previous waves. If he doesn’t get vaccinated and the next variant is more deadly how will you feel .

I would, because it’s going to get harder and harder to ‘catch up’ if you haven’t had the vaccinations when offered.

There's no point for his health but you'll need it for travel.

My 14 year old has refused it. So much talk of doing away with parental choice and body autonomy and then when he declares it's his choice, his body I'm.expected to railroad him. So if this was say anything else to do with body autonomy I would wrong to force him. His choice. Not my place to disrespect his choice.

Besides with hindsight if I had known AZ would give me 0-10% protection after 6 months I wouldn't have had it. I had covid three months before my vaccine. I have been double vaxxed and boosted but I respect my childs choice. His older had two doses

At 15 I would have thought he would be doing all he can to avoid missing school -GCSEs must be looming. It's one thing missing school for a lockdown, with everyone else off too. When you're one of the few and everyone else carries on learning it's a different matter.

I am really unsure that "keeping up with the vaccine schedule" is a good reason.
Very few teens were vaccinated at school in November locally as so many had covid in October.
It's not too late for adults to have a first jab, so definitely not too late for kids.
We are waiting and seeing, but my teens would be willing to have them for travel once things have settled and we know what's required.
I think the benefit vs risk is so finely balanced, even more so with Omicron.

If he just had covid, then probably not, honestly. That was essentially his second jab. In fact in the EU, people who have already had covid in previous recent months are only offered one shot.

This.

There's loads of evidence. Here's just a small extract:

"Studies show that people with previous exposure to SARS-CoV-2 tend to mount powerful immune responses to single shots, and gain little added benefit from another injection1,2,3. What’s more, for people with immunity gained through infection, one dose typically boosts antibody numbers to levels that are equal to, or often greater than, those found in individuals who have not been infected and have received double doses4"

If he's just had Covid I think you need to wait four weeks before you have a vaccination.
And then, yes. Definitely make sure he's boosted. He, snd indeed the rest of us all need to do whatever it takes to build up herd immunity and put an end to this shit show

@Blubells - I think the question is how long do people who've had vaccination and Covid have good protection. I guess it's too early for studies to show.

@orderagain

If he's just had Covid I think you need to wait four weeks before you have a vaccination. And then, yes. Definitely make sure he's boosted. He, snd indeed the rest of us all need to do whatever it takes to build up herd immunity and put an end to this shit show

12 weeks

Parental consent is required. We were not allowed to Gillick consent for Covid in schools, in my area at least.

Dd1 caught covid 3 weeks after her first vaccine (in September), she then had to wait 90 days to have the 2nd vaccination. She has had it….mainly because of the omicron variant because she had delta so could still get omicron. Dd is 17 so I lost her make her own choice. Dd2 has only just had her 1st vaccine a few days ago, I’m hoping things will change before she’s due her 2nd.

Dd1 and I both had covid despite being vaccinated, dd2 was unvaccinated when we had it and didn’t catch it 🤔, it does make me wonder how well the vaccine works.

I'm also a nurse, being one doesn't mean you have to blindly follow guidelines without looking at the research behind them (which changes as we all know!) and other countries have different guidelines too. I mean even in the UK the guidance is different in the 4 nations - our own leaders can't agree.

I debated the same thing about my dd, she had covid then turned 12 about a week before the team came to vaccinate at school and was eligible, about 5 weeks after her positive test.. I didn't consent to her having it as I just felt it was too soon after having covid. The guidelines said it was fine, but I was just unsure because in other EU countries, a positive test meant your were "immune" for a few months at least. Anyway, she didn't have it, then a week later the guidelines changed to say 12-15s should wait 12 weeks post infection, so I was glad I waited and she got her first vaccine just before Christmas.

Dd is going to have her 2nd vaccine when it's due - currently 12 weeks for 12-15s who are not CEV or live with someone who is CEV. Partly because of the guidelines and partly because it will mean she's classed as fully vaccinated if we want to travel in the summer. Plus, I would really prefer to avoid covid in the house again if we can!

@GoodnightGrandma

12 weeks

This is wrong. If you've recently had Covid you need to wait 4 weeks ( 28 days) before you receive a vaccine.

The 12 weeks is the interval between doses.

@Orderagain
No you are wrong. For teenagers it is 12 weeks post infection, announced in November.

If you look at the NHS guidelines, parental consent is a factor until age 16.

This is why I think it’s vital that anyone with this issue speaks to a trained HCP - rather than seek advice on Social Media.

[quote trumpisagit]@Orderagain
No you are wrong. For teenagers it is 12 weeks post infection, announced in November. [/quote]
Correct, it is 12 weeks, I know of a 13 year old who was turned away last week because of the 12 week rule, she's been unable to get her first vaccine due to having covid in the last 12 weeks.

When do people think its going to be enough 1,2,3...10 boosters. I just cant get my head around the planned logistics for this.

No I wouldn't be pushing him, especially if travel is not on the cards in the next year or so. The loudest on here will tell you it's bordering on clinical insanity not to get a healthy teen jabbed multiple times but plenty (not so shouty) have the contrasting view.

When do people think its going to be enough 1,2,3...10 boosters. I just cant get my head around the planned logistics for this.

Why would you expect there to be "enough"? The more vaccinations (and infections) we each have, the more immunity we get. Some of the immunity fades over time and new variants come along that are more resistant to our exsiting immunities, so we are likely to need boosting for a long time yet, but having previous exposure and vaccination does make a difference as well.

I'm just hoping we don't need boosting too often or too suddenly, because that's the logistical nightmare.

Having too many people not get vaccinated or not getting boosted, who suddenly realise "Oh crap here's something new that I have no resistance to and I need vaccines Right Now" is the logistical nightmare. Having the vaccines when we're offered helps to keep the logistics ticking along.

Parental consent is a consideration but not a requirement.
In schools gilick competency is not being used as the vaccination teams may not include a doctor plus they do not have time to work through it.
However the posts where parents say things like "I don't know whether to get my dc vaccinated" makes me cross... It is the young person choice and I fear young people not getting their jabs and their lives being restricted bacause parents not explaining to the young person that they can choose for themselves.

@Theredjellybean

No - medical consent involves the parent until the age of 16. The parent/child/HCP should be involved in the decision making process. And I’d say this is vital where a child is basing their decision on misinformation.