Vaccinating children covid 19

[Harry19]

Thoughts on vaccinating our children because we are immunosuppressed?

[Roarah]

Where I live most 12 and up are already fully vaccinated regardless of parents’ health issues because it is in everybody’s best interest to be protected against covid.

[Teanau22]

I'm in two minds, I have had civid Nov 20 and I still have antibodies from actual covid and not vaccine, I am tested every month through ONS. I had no lupus issues with Covid, however with the first vaccine I had a major flare and was in hospital for a week, 2nd vaccine no issues. My partner on his first vaccine developed hives which got worse on 2nd vaccine and he is still suffering with now especially In this heat, this is all over his body. However my son is 14 and developing I worry what issues this will cause in him. He also had covid same time as me, so odds on he too has antibodies. We have just not had a good time with the vaccine and not sure I want him to have it until he is developed.

[milkwoman in reply to Teanau22]

I understand your concerns for your son but data is showing that those who are vaccinated have higher, stronger and longer immunity to Covid-19 (over those who’ve only had Covid) and provide better protection against the variant strains. It is also important to note the variants are affecting younger folks more so getting him vaccinated will give him the best protection available.

[Teanau22 in reply to milkwoman]

Yes, thus us true, but they still don't know the long term effects of the vaccine and this worries me.

[Roarah in reply to Teanau22]

We still do not know the long term effects of covid either and far more death and hospitalizations in the immediate are seen in covid infection than in vaccinations. Fear is never scientific it is merely emotional and life and death decisions should never be based on it.

[Teanau22 in reply to Roarah]

You are right we don't know enough about any of it, but as my son and myself have already had it, I'm fully vaccinated and have antibodies, do I want to risk his health. I'm not sure I do with a vaccine that may ir may not have long term effects. It's not fear, its that the science isn't there for any of it, and as he would only be having it for me, I think we can wait until his body has developed further, I'll take my chance if it means my son doesn't get any unnecessary complications. I run a football club so I'm always with kids and none if them would have had the vaccine.

[Roarah in reply to Teanau22]

There are studies suggesting people who had covid already might only need one jab after all.

[Teanau22 in reply to Roarah]

It just keeps changing, which I understand as it's updating all the time, but not sure I want my child mixed up in it at his age.

[Roarah in reply to Teanau22]

I work in an elementary school. Four children in my school have been in the icu for weeks with covid. In my whole state only eight 12 to 18 year olds had pericarditis and none were hospitalized for more than a few days. Not being vacinated is far riskier for most children . Every year with the flu shot more kids than with the mRNA end up with Gillian Barre or pericarditis do you vaccinated your child for flu?

[Teanau22 in reply to Roarah]

Yes he has the flu vaccine, again only because of me. He's no longer of an age where tge NHS vaccinate automatically

[KayHimm in reply to Roarah]

We know enough about the long term effects of Covid that it is probably a lot less risky to get vaccinated. Small study of brain scans shows changes in white and grey matter. As Scott Gottlieb says, “As a physician when I start seeing changes on MRIs, I worry. This is a virus you want to avoid.” More research is needed but they already saw problems with ICU patients in the early days of this pandemic.

[Whippet_lady]

I'm dithering. My 16 yr old son had the 1st jab then 2 days later tested positive for covid - nothing to do with the jab, half his year at school tested positive on the same day. Chances are he had covid when he got his 1st jab. My concern is the reports of pericarditis in the young, particularly boys. Ordinarily, pre-lupus, I would say that the benefits outweigh the risks. Now I'm worried that, if he has 'inherited' any nasties from me which we don't know one way or the other, he might be more prone to pericarditis - he has had some issues in the past that were never diagnosed and he 'grew out of' but we have no idea what they might be down to. Also, with him having had the 1st jab AND covid, will he necessarily need a second jab or will he have enough immunity? I know the advice is to get household members vaccinated to protect us but I don't want to risk his health to protect mine, particularly if he's already covered. I'll be seeing my rheumy and GP in the next few weeks so I'll be asking their advice, and watching all the updates regarding vaccinating children in the meantime.

[Teanau22]

That is what I think, especially as I have it and still have tge antibodies. I also have a rheumatology appointment tomorrow I will be asking their advice.

[whisperit]

Here's a review published today in Nature - pretty authoritative, but no definitive answer, I'm afraid!

nature.com/articles/d41586-...

[Wendy39]

Hello

My two sons have had one dose, Pfizer and just had appointments in the post for 2nd jab. They are 17 & 16 and didn’t need any persuading. They genuinely wanted to do it for me and to help society in general. I think they understand the science behind it far better than me. So they could decide for themselves.

I think from the headlines I’ve seen that my 13 year old daughter will now be eligible because I am clinically extremely vulnerable. She has told me she wants it too.

We know many other children who have parents who are CEV and have already had their 2 jabs.

My husband is double jabbed and me too. It does give me more confidence.

Being teenagers they are at school, out socially and all 3 have part time summer jobs, so it’s been a rollercoaster! Oh and my eldest is learning to drive, two hour lessons in a car with an instructor.

I hope the replies you’ve had help you make the decision that’s right for your family.

Best wishes

Wendy

[Harry19]

Thank you so much everyone really appreciate your comments. Lots to mull over x