Vaccinating our Kids
Parenting expert Laura Erskine outlines the benefits, risks and side effects of children receiving the Covid-19 jab
Abig question on the minds of many parents over the last month has been whether to vaccinate their eligible kids against Covid-19. What nobody was expecting however, was the huge uptake of the vaccine amongst the
12- to 15-year-old cohort in those first few weeks, driven in the main by the tweens and teens themselves.
It appears that getting “back to normal” is the main factor propelling the under-18s to register with the HSE for their Covid-19 vaccine, together with the timing of getting safely back to school. While parents dread a communication that a member of their family has been identified as a “close contact” of a positive Covid-19 case, it seems children are put out even more so.
Missing school, particularly during the important exam years, taking a two-week break from extracurricular activities that are only just resuming, are the big reasons cited for getting the vaccine by young people. However, the need to keep vulnerable members of their family and community safe were also important, particularly with the new variants of the virus in circulation which could still infect the vaccinated.
To help you make your decision, here’s a summary of the benefits, risks, and possible side effects of getting the Covid-19 vaccine for your eligible children. Or maybe you will have an insistent tween like mine, who advocates for themselves that they get the Covid vaccine?
Certainly, the anecdotal evidence from peer groups who have returned to school in recent weeks is that getting the vaccine is more of a badge of honour than a sore point for discussion. Currently there is no requirement by schools to prove that a teacher or student has received the Covid-19 vaccine and while it is encouraged by the Government, it is not mandatory.
Benefits
Covid-19 vaccines should protect your child from getting seriously ill from the virus, especially if they have an underlying health condition. The vaccines will also protect healthy 12- to 15-year-old children from the risk of developing long Covid symptoms, such as tiredness and fatigue, and spreading Covid19 to others.
Children who are vaccinated will be less likely to miss school due to illness with Covid-19. This is also true if they’ve been identified as a close contact since it is unlikely they will need to isolate under the new health guidance rules for fully vaccinated people.
the Vaccines
The vaccines being offered to children in Ireland aged 12 to 15 are Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna. Both vaccines are approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) as safe and effective. They are recommended in Ireland by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC).
side effects
The most common side effects of getting the Covid-19 vaccine in children are usually mild and don’t last long.
These can include a sore arm, fever, or tiredness. Very rarely some children develop inflammation of the heart (myocarditis) and the outer lining of the heart (pericarditis). Most children will recover from these conditions on their own, but they may need treatment in hospital.
if your child has had coVid-19
They can be vaccinated from four weeks after they first developed symptoms or four weeks after their positive test if they had no symptoms. If they had Covid-19 in the last nine months, they will likely have some immunity to the virus, but it is still recommended to get the vaccine to reduce the risk of getting Covid again.
Children who are vaccinated will be less likely to miss school
if you are undecided
If you decide to wait until more information is available about Covid-19 vaccines in children, there is a greater risk your child could catch the virus. Their symptoms will most likely be mild if they get Covid-19, but they will still need to isolate from others. Getting the Covid-19 vaccine for your child couldn’t be easier. You can register on the HSE.ie site and wait for an appointment to be scheduled on your behalf with your local GP or vaccination centre. You can also contact your local participating pharmacy to schedule your child’s vaccine in-store.