If you have an eligible DS, what did you decide re vaccination?

[Nilbog]

I’m still on the fence and would like to hear from people who have decided either way for their son.

I’m specifically asking about boys because of the myocarditis risk.

My DS is 14 and I’m not sure. I had all my jabs without a second thought but it feels different for DS somehow.

He had Covid (very mildly) back in 2020 and nothing since.

Is he able to decide by himself? My teens both made their own decision, one has had it, one hasn’t. The risk of myocarditis is small but I think a bit higher from covid than the vaccine. If he’s healthy, he’s likely to be fine with or without the vaccine so I’d just let him decide.

Interesting to read your experience @BooksAndHooks. Was there specific information about changes in heartbeat?

DS (14) had both Pfizer jabs. First one he just got a sore arm, second one knocked him a bit sideways for about 3 days but it was in a 'painful arm, feeling really rubbish' way rather than any chest pains thank goodness but he still spent a day and a half in bed not even wanting to look at a computer (so he really was feeling ill!).

We gave him the choice after going through all the pros and cons (including myocarditis/pericarditis risk). He is still happy he had them as he thinks actually getting covid while unvaxxed might have been a lot worse.

Thanks @Dinosaursdontgrowontrees, I’m not familiar with any of the risks specific to girls as I only have the boy variety!

@Comedycook what was it that helped you to decide not to go for it.

Thanks for sharing your experience @neveradullmoment99

My 13 year old had her vaccinations as soon as she was eligible. I booked her in and took her to the vaccine centre as the school roll out was very slow. We all had Covid back in January 2021 and it was truly awful.

Pretty much all of her friendships group caught Covid before the vaccinations took place in school. Some have it now for a second time. DD has avoided catching it and has therefore been able to stay in school.

Both my ds have had their jabs - including the booster in the case of my 17-year old. They are in their GCSE and A-level years and anything that would help minimise disruption to their education suited them and me just fine. They also do not want travel made difficult for them, as they are of an age where independent travel, not just family travel, is desirable to them. Neither had any reaction whatsoever to any of their jabs beyond a mildly sore arm for a couple of days. Neither has yet knowingly had covid, either.

Neither ds had any doubts about it, as they are both very pro-vaccination in general and didn’t really see what all the fuss was about, as neither the illness nor the jabs are likely to cause life changing harm to the majority of their age group (ie either way, you could be one of the unlucky ones who is seriously affected, but only one way could you simultaneously help speed up the end of the pandemic, and it was the pandemic-related lifestyle restrictions that were the only guaranteed harm to them, not the remote possibility of myocarditis). They were also not remotely interested in the fact that a jab might be relatively more risky to them than to an older person when the risk was so small in the first place - they were a bit, “meh, so what” about that, provided the risk remained extremely small.

Ds and I discussed this a lot. He really wanted to be vaccinated and was quite indignant that his age group had to wait as he felt that being at school put him at a higher risk of catching covid.
No side effects.

Just got the invite for my vulnerable 11yo, tbh it's a no brainer. He wants it because he never wants to be as ill as he was with a bog standard cold a few years back if he can help it.

My 14yo ds was ill for 4 months after covid - only in school for about 50% of the time. So for me it’s a no brainer

All had Covid here so that has cemented our decision in not getting all three of our DC getting jabbed (one disabled). We personally would never consider travel important when weighing up the risks but that's just us!

[quote Nilbog]@Comedycook what was it that helped you to decide not to go for it.[/quote]
Honestly, nothing in particular. I just feel that covid isn't a risk to him particularly and whilst I am happy to take the vaccine for the greater good, I just think it's too new for me to want him to have it. I don't particularly care about the greater good in relation to him

15yo DS has had both his vaccines. No problems apart from a sore arm the next day.
I understand the risk of myocarditis is higher from covid. He did get covid last week and basically mooched around at home with a snotty nose for week.

We never go aboard so that wasn't a concern.

My dc just turned 14 had both doses. No issue at all.

Tbh, if you are worried about myocarditis, the risk is even greater with covid than vaccine.
I would rather him not catch covid at all if possible to reduce risk of long covid, so it was no brainer for me and ds was willing to get it too.

Good question @BattleMyDemons. There are a few reasons that I don’t want him to decide by himself.

@Heronatemygoldfish sounds like a good outcome for your DS

Ds was 12 in November and has his second vaccine in a couple of weeks. I was keen for him to have it due to his medical conditions and he was also keen to have it so it was an easy decision for us.

@Walkaround I’m pleased to hear you all had the same views and it all worked out.

@TabithaTittlemouse did you have any concerns about myocarditis or is the risk different as your DS is slightly younger?

I can see how you arrived at your decision @firef1y

DS20 obviously decided for himself - having recently had a medical for work which showed a heart murmur and potential myocarditis I was against him having it, but he wanted it to be able to travel so he went ahead with 2 vaccines but then when he realised it would also be regular boosters he got annoyed and didn’t have another one!

DS17 and DD15 aren’t vaxxed. DS would have had it but his dad and I were against it and said that if he felt strongly about it obvs he could. But that we would happily pay for any extra testing needed for travel etc which seemed to be his main concern. DD wasn’t fussed either way so again we advised her against it. She and I both had covid recently - no worse than anyone else who has been vaxxed from what I can tell. DSs both got away without catching it.

Your poor DS @TheBayside, how is he doing now?

I heard recently that the vaccination can help recovery from long Covid in some cases.

@Blusteryoak did your family have Covid recently?

My DS had it a while ago so I think any immunity would have expired now. It would certainly have been a different variant.

My DS is 8 so a bit younger, but he had two doses of Pfizer and no side effects at all. DD11 had a sore arm and that was it.