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Original poster

Kids and vaccine

26 replies

Faciadipasta · 23/09/2022 14:00

Any health care workers on here?
I have 8 year old twins and can't decide whether they should get vaccinated or not. They have both had covid twice and neither was particularly ill either time.
I know the party line is that they should get it but really should they?
If they hadn't had it yet I would def get them vaxxed. Is there any benefit though once they've had it?
Vaccine doesn't stop you catching it, only becoming seriously ill. They didn't get seriously ill anyway.
Vaccine is more effective than exposure to wild virus (apparently) but it wears off.
Having said that what if a new strain came along that was more dangerous to kids? Would having had the vax offer them more protection against it than just having had it before?
I just don't know what to do for the best and I feel like I can't trust what I'm told by the NHS in an official capacity because they just have to speak the party line (a bit like with breastfeeding!!)
I just want to do what's best but feel like there's no way to know what that actually is.
Any help would be very gratefully received. Thank you

OP posts:
MugginsOverEre · 23/09/2022 14:04

I've had all my family vaccinated despite us all having caught it either once or twice and never were any of us particularly ill.
That said, my friend's MIL caught it once and was fine.
The next time she caught it, she didn't make it. She wasn't even that old.

Original poster
Faciadipasta · 23/09/2022 14:14

Yes see that's the sort of thing I worry about but does the vaccine immunity last longer than natural? Won't it just have worn off in a few months and they'll just be back to square 1? Also the kids one is the old vaccine so I'm not actually sure it even protects against the current strain does it? Agghh so many questions

OP posts:
MugginsOverEre · 23/09/2022 14:20

The vaccine is like the flu vaccine and as a care worker I have to get them both each year from now on.
When people say, "Ugh covid is just flu" they haven't had flu. Flu kills just as much and it's why all elderly, children and clinically vulnerable people are offered the flu jab yearly and have done so for many years now in the UK.

Going forward it'll probably be yearly jabs for most people who may need it. This will be for variants they're expecting that year, just like it is for flu. I don't mind. The safer I and my family are, the better.

Original poster
Faciadipasta · 23/09/2022 14:29

Yes my kids will get the flu vaccine. That tends to protect against flu better than the Pfizer one does against covid though doesn't it? I'm not against giving them the vaccine as such, just I want to know whether there is actually any benefit to them having it. I know with flu for example it can be bad for kids and also they're super spreaders, so if they don't catch it then they can't pass it on.
But covid they can still catch after the vaccine, right? That's the bit I just don't understand. Why is it good for them to be vaccinated? I mean even if it genuinely is good for the people around them as long as its not negative for them I'd probably go ahead and get it but I'm not sure there is even that type of benefit is there?

OP posts:
Original poster
Faciadipasta · 23/09/2022 14:31

Sorry if I'm coming across stupid here. I just wish there was someone I could ask with the knowledge, who I could believe was actually impartial

OP posts:
grapehyacinthisactuallyblue · 23/09/2022 14:33

But the flu vaccine is less effective than covid vaccine, yet you have no problem having them. Why?

Samarie123 · 23/09/2022 14:34

It's no longer recommended on the government website for kids under 12. And the JVCI has never recommended it. Hope that helps.

Original poster
Faciadipasta · 23/09/2022 14:38

Is the flu vaccine less effective usually? I've had that and so have the kids every year and to my knowledge we haven't had flu. But everyone I know has had covid at least once and at least the adults have pretty much all been vaccinated.
I'm not arguing with you btw. I just don't understand is all.
And the government recommending or not at this point really makes no difference to me because I just don't trust them either way. The JCVI maybe...

OP posts:
grapehyacinthisactuallyblue · 23/09/2022 14:52

Flu vaccine is hit and miss. There are many people who hasn't had flu, but had covid because we are in pandemic.
But like you say, it's your choice.

Original poster
Faciadipasta · 23/09/2022 14:58

But see that's the problem really. I just don't feel.able to make an informed choice... I genuinely am not against it if there is a point to it. I just can't see that there is. But maybe I'm missing something?
I mean the thought that a scarier varient might come along is what's motivating me to try and find out but the old vaccine that kids are still getting isn't effective even against the current strain so presumably would be less so against future ones? Or maybe not. I just don't know

OP posts:
trying29 · 23/09/2022 14:59

i am pro the vaccine for kids. but as an FYI the government have now withdrawn the vaccine offer for 5-11 year olds unless they are CEV.

Original poster
Faciadipasta · 23/09/2022 15:13

Nope it's still available to book appointments..I just checked.

OP posts:
orbitalcrisis · 23/09/2022 15:30

The Covid vaccine DOES stop you from catching it, it's just not 100% affective. It was it was most affective against the original strain but has gradually become less so. You are far less likely to catch Covid if you've had the vaccine.

trying29 · 23/09/2022 16:57

Faciadipasta · 23/09/2022 15:13

Nope it's still available to book appointments..I just checked.

Incorrect see here -

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1102459/Greenbook-chapter-14a-4September22.pdf

Kids and vaccine
trying29 · 23/09/2022 16:59

My son has CHD and his consultant has urged him to get the vaccine

KangarooKenny · 23/09/2022 17:00

You can still get any disease that you are vaccinated against, the idea is that if you do, you will be less poorly than you would have been without.

SpaghettiSquash · 23/09/2022 17:12

Samarie123 · 23/09/2022 14:34

It's no longer recommended on the government website for kids under 12. And the JVCI has never recommended it. Hope that helps.

That's incorrect. The JCVI advised in February that 5-11 year olds should get vaccinated.

Original poster
Faciadipasta · 23/09/2022 17:33

We're in London so they have been called for the polio vaccine. Do you think those vaccinators would be able to tell me the truth about whether or not there is a benefit to the covid one or its just pointless? I'm thinking probably not but there really doesn't seem to be anyone to ask.
And I can still book, whatever the guidance says. The booking is open for them at the moment.

OP posts:
KangarooKenny · 23/09/2022 18:11

A health care professional will tell you that it’s recommended they have it, and it is. But it’s up to you.
There’s a lot of staff and kids off with it at my kids high school now. I’m waiting for them to start sending classes home if they can’t staff it.

Original poster
Faciadipasta · 23/09/2022 18:33

So after chatting with DH we've almost decided to go ahead. Maybe it's a waste of time but as long as there isn't an actual risk and there's a potential benefit then I guess that's OK but then we just thought what about the polio vaccine? Is there a chance they'll interact and if we give the covid one they will have to wait for the polio one? Does anyone know? Obviously polio is the priority being in London

OP posts:
grapehyacinthisactuallyblue · 23/09/2022 18:43

Maybe it's a waste of time

Why can it be a waste of time? prior Infection + vaccine is definitely better than not getting vaccinated and hope for good immunity from past infection. Since covid won't go away anytime soon, and winter is coming, being prepared is better than do nothing and regret later, for sure.

Original poster
Faciadipasta · 23/09/2022 18:46

Not if it means a delay to the polio one though. That really is a scary disease.

OP posts:
grapehyacinthisactuallyblue · 23/09/2022 19:11

But you said you can book apps yourself, it's not urgent, so, do the polio first, ask them when it's safe to get covid vax when you are there. Simple.

Original poster
Faciadipasta · 23/09/2022 20:33

Yeah guess I could do that. Thanks

OP posts:
KangarooKenny · 23/09/2022 21:15

Are they giving the diptheria, tetanus and polio vaccine ? If so, it’s ok to have them together.