Kids and vaccinations.

[Usernumber37374737985]

Probably posted this a few months too late 👀 I respect that everyone can make their own choice. Both mr and dp are fully vaccinated but feel reluctant with dc.

I have two kids, 11 & 7. 11 year old isn't in position to make his own choice, he is autistic and lacks understanding. Both have had covid, Dd has had actually had it twice with barely symptoms - was testing her with lft's as was very close contact and very strong positives despite being totally fine. Ds had it last winter and was poorly for one day, then fine.

I mean, if it stopped a child getting covid then absolutely, I would get them done but it doesn't, it just hopefully reduces symptoms, but mine have had it and symptoms were minimal so why?

is it really worth it?? Don't plan to go abroad, can't afford it any time soon and don't have in date passports anyway!!

like above everyone can make their own choice, if your kids have had it then fab, some kids haven't as fortunate as mine to be very mildly affected by covid.

but I've been preached it at by another mum saying how I should get my kids done?! Made to feel guilty! I don't regret having mine at all, I had covid and it was very mild, could have been more severe without a vaccine.

I am all for vaccines generally but this one for kids makes me cautious

to add, I have two teenager relatives, both unvaccinated, their vaccinated parents got covid and quite poorly. Despite that these two teenagers are unjabbed and had very close contact with their parents, both stayed covid free despite not distancing from their parents at all when they were covid. It makes you think!!

to add, I have two teenager relatives, both unvaccinated, their vaccinated parents got covid and quite poorly. Despite that these two teenagers are unjabbed and had very close contact with their parents, both stayed covid free despite not distancing from their parents at all when they were covid. It makes you think!!

Makes you think what @Usernumber37374737985 ? Vaccination does not make your more ill with COVID.

We have robust, replicated data demonstrating that vaccination reduces likelihood of infection, onward transmission, symptom severity etc. This is on top of immunity from previous infections. This is not somehow made redudant because you've cherry picked four people who demonstrate the opposite.

The margin of benefit gets less for younger children, so parents may choose not to bother. However, the choice is there because there is a (small) direct benefit to children, on a population level, of having it done.

My 10 year old was hospitalised with covid when he got it the second time, he was fine the first m. He wasn't eligible to have the vaccine at that point. He was vaccinated asap after 90 days.

The guidance is quite clear, however, on recommending vaccination for autistic children, irrespective of a previous infection.

This is for your child's benefit, not anyone elses.

I meant that they were unvaccinated and not catch it

I also said myself I'm vaccinated and infection was mild which I'm grateful for.

buy my point was that they didn't catch it despite being unvaccinated.

if it stopped you from getting covid, I'd get them done tomorrow, but unfortunately it does not...

if it stopped you from getting covid, I'd get them done tomorrow, but unfortunately it does not...

Ok so it sounds like you've made your decison?

The reasons for recommendation under 12s (in general and children with conditions like autism) can be found online, have a read and that should answer your questions.

For autistic children under 12 specifically, from autism.org:

On 16 February, the Government confirmed that all children aged five to 11 in England will be offered coronavirus vaccines. This is also the case in Wales and Scotland. More information will be released soon and there is no need to contact the NHS for low-risk children right now.

The NHS is already offering two doses of the vaccine to at-risk 5 to 11-year-old children with health conditions. These children can receive two injections of the vaccine usually eight weeks apart.The Government’s Green Book confirms that autism is listed as a high risk group, meaning that autistic 5 to 11-year olds are included in this roll-out. More information on which children should have a vaccine is included in the Government’s guide for parents aged 5 to 11 years of age at high risk.

@foliageeverywhere thanks, I've never actually seen or been told the guidance on autism. It may explain why Ds is getting regular letter reminders but Dd is not (Although she is likely autistic too, but nowhere near diagnosis). Thankfully Ds was very mildly affected by covid, he's a very healthy boy generally.

I am not totally against it, I am just unsure of the long term effects etc.

and honestly, I don't think I'd get Ds in the vaccination centre! Despite being young for his age he would know what's coming and bolt off and I can't force him.

covid testing him was an utter nightmare!!

I am just unsure of the long term effects etc.

I struggle with these threads because there are so many and most are not genuine.

A vaccine cannot cause long term emerging side effects, the active components are very quickly degraded by the immune system and do not remain in the body. If you have side effects, these emerge in the short term.

Billions of doses of the coronavirus vaccines have been rolled out, meaning we have a good understanding of the side effect profile. Many epidemiologists & public health bodies examined data regarding coronavirus, vaccinations etc, which have led to the recommendations for under 12s.

It's your choice if you go ahead or not. FWIW, I'm a scientist, myself & all the collegues I know would personally choose to vaccinate our kids of this age. You might decide differently.

Thanks! I'm sorry if I come across an idiot to start with. I'm all for vaccines, really glad I've have had mine but it's just the anxiety around my kids having it. I think if they hadn't had covid before, I would have been more keen to start with.

my daughter had covid twice within a 6 week time frame. First time caught it off me or dp just before Christmas, second time after an outbreak in her school!

This current spike is worrying me but just not sure what to do 🤷‍♀️

@Usernumber37374737985

No you don't come across like that! The margin of benefit is small, it's certainly not an unsual decision to not bother.

I would just say that long term emerging side effects of vaccination is not something that should be influencing your decision making.

You are certainly not alone in having doubts OP. According to this article only 9% of primary age kids in England have had the covid vaccine. We haven't given it to our daughter. Statistically her risk is low. She probably had covid early on (before testing was available) and wasn't very ill. She was offered it in spring when numbers were droppping (I know that is not the case now) and we were concerned that its efficacy would wane before any winter wave. We will keep it under review and get her to have it if we feel it is necessary. Fwiw we are both fully vaccinated and boosted, and also got chickenpox and men B jabs for our daughter over and above the standard schedule. We are in no way antivax but evaluate each possible jab's pluses and minuses for her as an individual.

theconversation.com/covid-vaccines-for-children-uptake-in-the-uk-is-slow-heres-why-parents-might-be-hesitant-183881

We're on our third round of Covid in the house since Christmas. One DC had had positive LFTs twice, the other not tested positive. The purpose of vaccine is to reduce severity, and the extent to which my DCs have been exposed and "ill" with the virus doesn't justify the vaccine as things currently stand. Also the maximum efficacy period is short lived, so if they were to have the vaccine now, they won't even be halfway be through the autumn term before the majority of the benefit wears off.

Where a child is more vulnerable, those benefits are different.

Ironically one DS has ASD, but at a high level of function which doesn't impair his health and care needs. His risks are different to a child whose activity levels and care needs differ significantly from NT children.

It's a matter for parental discretion which I'm happy with (I was concerned that parents would potentially be effectively coerced back in 2021)