Covid Vaccine And Children

How comfortable are we with vaccinating the kids? Specifically the 5-7 year olds? A buddy of mine mentioned how he’s not sure he can handle if his 6 year Old went through what he went through, the fever, not being able to leave the bed, teeth chattering so much he thought they would break. Etc etc. Curious to know how everyone is feeling about this?


BlueShirt88 said:

How comfortable are we with vaccinating the kids? Specifically the 5-7 year olds? A buddy of mine mentioned how he’s not sure he can handle if his 6 year Old went through what he went through, the fever, not being able to leave the bed, teeth chattering so much he thought they would break. Etc etc. Curious to know how everyone is feeling about this?

 Here's a balanced view of the question:
https://news.yahoo.com/doctors-must-honest-parents-unknown-100213768.html


paulsurovell said:

BlueShirt88 said:

How comfortable are we with vaccinating the kids? Specifically the 5-7 year olds? A buddy of mine mentioned how he’s not sure he can handle if his 6 year Old went through what he went through, the fever, not being able to leave the bed, teeth chattering so much he thought they would break. Etc etc. Curious to know how everyone is feeling about this?

 Here's a balanced view of the question:
https://news.yahoo.com/doctors-must-honest-parents-unknown-100213768.html

 I’m asking to hear from actual parents. But thanks for the Article 


As soon as our pediatrician has slots available, I'm getting my kids vaccinated. I have several reasons for doing so.

First and foremost, for their own protection. I do think it's important to be honest and note that vaccines, like all medicines, have a risk of side effects. But, continuing to be honest, pretty much any activity my children do exposes them to potential bad outcomes. I remember feeling the weight of that with my first -- coming back from the hospital, no more doctors or nurses, just us and a baby, and realizing how fragile he seemed, how unprepared and unqualified I felt. And I suspect most parents will agree that to some degree, that feeling never completely goes away. But life keeps on happening, and we have to do our best to chart the course between possible danger and the needs of life.

Honestly, for me, the vaccines are not a difficult call. The risks from covid so greatly outweigh the risks from the vaccines that I'm really not hesitating on that account. If there were a choice between "avoid covid" or "take the vaccine," then of course I'd choose "avoid covid," but that's not an option. So "take the vaccine" is, far and away, the option with the least risk and the greatest upside.

Beyond that, as a parent I also see this as part of passing on values I feel are important -- the fact that we are members of a wider community and that we act not just for ourselves but for our neighbors ("neighbor" in the New Testament sense). My kids will be getting the vaccine for their classmates, for their classmates' siblings and parents and grandparents, for their teachers, for their teachers' families, for the people working at the bagel shop, for their grandmother this Christmas, and for their cousins this Christmas who won't be getting vaccinated and so will be at greater risk.

Finally, I'm ready to be done with this pandemic, and children are the last large group of unvaccinated who we can reach.


PVW said:

As soon as our pediatrician has slots available, I'm getting my kids vaccinated. I have several reasons for doing so.

First and foremost, for their own protection. I do think it's important to be honest and note that vaccines, like all medicines, have a risk of side effects. But, continuing to be honest, pretty much any activity my children do exposes them to potential bad outcomes. I remember feeling the weight of that with my first -- coming back from the hospital, no more doctors or nurses, just us and a baby, and realizing how fragile he seemed, how unprepared and unqualified I felt. And I suspect most parents will agree that to some degree, that feeling never completely goes away. But life keeps on happening, and we have to do our best to chart the course between possible danger and the needs of life.

Honestly, for me, the vaccines are not a difficult call. The risks from covid so greatly outweigh the risks from the vaccines that I'm really not hesitating on that account. If there were a choice between "avoid covid" or "take the vaccine," then of course I'd choose "avoid covid," but that's not an option. So "take the vaccine" is, far and away, the option with the least risk and the greatest upside.

Beyond that, as a parent I also see this as part of passing on values I feel are important -- the fact that we are members of a wider community and that we act not just for ourselves but for our neighbors ("neighbor" in the New Testament sense). My kids will be getting the vaccine for their classmates, for their classmates' siblings and parents and grandparents, for their teachers, for their teachers' families, for the people working at the bagel shop, for their grandmother this Christmas, and for their cousins this Christmas who won't be getting vaccinated and so will be at greater risk.

Finally, I'm ready to be done with this pandemic, and children are the last large group of unvaccinated who we can reach.

 Very well said. Thank you 


i would do it without hesitation....under 3, I may be more cautious, but even at that age if they were at day care or in a church school or around others who are at a higher risk of exposure (ie medical workers) I would opt to do it sooner rather than later.  I would look to space it out with other vaccines-possibly delay the others to get covid done sooner since that is the more pressing concern.

I had minimal side effects.  1st arm very sore about 12 hours, but I had full use of it, with the 2nd, milder pain for a few days, 3rd even milder pain for about 5 days....

much less severe than covid itself could be


My wife helps look after a 7 year old. The other day that little sprite of a girl said to us "Well I'm not really looking forward to the shot but it is a great opportunity". I wish all adults could show that manner of sense and maturity.


With so much of the world giving up precautions, I can't imagine not getting the vaccine when available (but my youngest kids are 15, and did so in June, with much lighter side effects than I had). 

Your friend's child's classmates may be masked at school, but some of them are going out to restaurants and other public places unmasked.  We ate our first truly indoor meal last night (after a restaurant misled us about their "outdoor dining", which was a fully enclosed porch), and were seated next to a family with three kids too young to have full vaccination (at least one too young to have any vaccination).


My kids got their first pediatric vaccine dose last Thursday. Their side effects were a sore arm where they got the shot, and a bout of lethargy, both which lasted about 24 hours. 



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