Thread by @DebbyBogaert

From coming week onward, all young people 12 years and older will be eligible to receive the covid vaccine in 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 .

Because I received many questions from parents and press, I decided to share some of these Q&As in a 🧵

So here we go!

1/15

“What do you think about children > 12 being offered the covid vaccine?”

I strongly recommend the Covid vaccine for all children> 12 because it is a safe and effective vaccine that will protect them against catching and spreading the virus.

2/15

“But children have a low risk of severe acute infections?”

That is true: only a small fraction of infected children might require hospitalisation.

However, a small fraction of many children is still a lot. Every severe infection in a child we can prevent does count.

3/15

Moreover, children also have a small risk of getting a more severe multi-organ inflammatory syndrome called PIMS-TS, following Covid19.

Children can also develop prolonged symptoms for months or longer, called ‘long covid’, which may impact their lives significantly.

4/15

Finally, young people are not naive regarding Covid19.

Giving them the choice to get vaccinated, now we have a safe effective vaccine, will help them regain some control of their lives and fears, including the fear to catch the virus or pass it on to their beloved ones.

5/15

If many children decide to be vaccinated, it likely will also help to contain the virus further, reduce infections in schools, and help to reduce interruptions of their education.

Altogether, many ways by which it may support their physical and mental health positively.

6/15

“What are common side effects?”

As seen in adults, children may experience a sore arm, fever, muscle ache and or fatigue for up to a few days.

7/15

There is also a very low risk of inflammation of the heart (myocarditis/pericarditis) you might have heard about: this is mostly seen in young men after the 2nd vaccine dose: the majority of these are mild and often resolving with some medication in a few days.

8/15

“Though rare, it does sound scary”

I agree, but therefore it might perhaps be good to know Covid19 itself can also cause this type of heart inflammation, and this risk, though low again, seems actually higher compared to the vaccine.

9/15

“Is this a rushed decision?”

The vaccine was already approved before summer by the MHRA for this age group saying this vaccine works in and is safe for children in this age group.

10/15

Next, the joint committee on vaccines and immunisations (JCVI) had to weigh risks and benefits, and decide whether and for whom the vaccine should be advised.

Many countries around us (Europe and USA) already rolled the vaccine out for this age group over summer.

11/15

Therefore, we can state that the UK took a merely cautious position rather than a rushed one.

That said, daily cases are currently high, especially in children and young people under 18. All help we can get from the vaccine to reduce case nrs in this age group is welcome.

12/15

The vaccine however won’t do the job on its own: we need to continue with testing and ensuring mitigation measures are in place in schools, which simultaneously will help to reduce case nrs and spread.

13/15

“Do you think children will feel pressured to take the vaccine?”

We believe in the power of informed consent, meaning providing all information needed to young people and parents to ensure they can make a well informed decision.

14/15

I am certain many young people and parents have already thought about this, and many might actually be ready to get the vaccine.

For those families who are not sure yet, I recommend to read information from trusted resources and discuss before taking a rushed decision.

15/15