Are kids under 5 ever getting vaccinated?

[Anonymous]

It looks like the vaccine will be available soon. Moderna. I’m glad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It looks like the vaccine will be available soon. Moderna. I’m glad.

+1. My kids private school is preschool to 6th and they mandated the kids (5 and over) be vaccinated. I’m assuming they’ll do the same with the preschool kids. I’m comfortable with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My elderly parents haven’t met my youngest child because of the risk of covid. We want to get them vaxxed asap.

And another reason we want them to get vaccinated is to lower the possibility of long term side effects. We are still leaning about what covid does to the brain but some studies show a loss of gray matter and it’s some worrisome stuff. I don’t want MY kids to be Guinea pigs for a new virus. If, god forbid, they get Parkinson’s in midlife and it turns out it was due to covid, they’ll be pissed we didn’t suffer a little more to protect them.

I have no words except you’re doing more harm to your kids than protecting them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It looks like the vaccine will be available soon. Moderna. I’m glad.

Stop doing this. We don't know if Moderna will be available soon! It is too early to tell.

They won't submit until mid-April, and they are still looking at efficacy. They've determined it is safe and there are some promising signs. That's it. That doesn't mean it will be approved.

Pediatric vaccines are treated differently from adult vaccines. They work harder to minimize side effects not only because there are medical ethics issues (kids don't give their own consent to vaccines so extra care is taken not to put them in pain or discomfort since the person consenting is not the person who will experience it) but also because parents tend to be sensitive about side effects in this age group. Fevers are not unusual for vaccines in kids but they still do whatever the can to minimize it because there are many parents who will freak out if they see their kids temp go over 100 (which isn't even considered a concerning fever by most doctors, but anyway). So they are trying to balance the risks of fever with a dose high enough to do something. It's hard. We don't yet know if they got the balance right.

Do not start assuming your child will be able to get vaccinate in April or May. If it doesn't happen you'll just freak out. Stop counting your chickens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It looks like the vaccine will be available soon. Moderna. I’m glad.

+1. My kids private school is preschool to 6th and they mandated the kids (5 and over) be vaccinated. I’m assuming they’ll do the same with the preschool kids. I’m comfortable with that.

+2. Same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It looks like the vaccine will be available soon. Moderna. I’m glad.

Stop doing this. We don't know if Moderna will be available soon! It is too early to tell.

They won't submit until mid-April, and they are still looking at efficacy. They've determined it is safe and there are some promising signs. That's it. That doesn't mean it will be approved.

Pediatric vaccines are treated differently from adult vaccines. They work harder to minimize side effects not only because there are medical ethics issues (kids don't give their own consent to vaccines so extra care is taken not to put them in pain or discomfort since the person consenting is not the person who will experience it) but also because parents tend to be sensitive about side effects in this age group. Fevers are not unusual for vaccines in kids but they still do whatever the can to minimize it because there are many parents who will freak out if they see their kids temp go over 100 (which isn't even considered a concerning fever by most doctors, but anyway). So they are trying to balance the risks of fever with a dose high enough to do something. It's hard. We don't yet know if they got the balance right.

Do not start assuming your child will be able to get vaccinate in April or May. If it doesn't happen you'll just freak out. Stop counting your chickens.

Calm down, PP. I can hope. I’m strong enough to live with the disappointment if th

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It looks like the vaccine will be available soon. Moderna. I’m glad.

Stop doing this. We don't know if Moderna will be available soon! It is too early to tell.

They won't submit until mid-April, and they are still looking at efficacy. They've determined it is safe and there are some promising signs. That's it. That doesn't mean it will be approved.

Pediatric vaccines are treated differently from adult vaccines. They work harder to minimize side effects not only because there are medical ethics issues (kids don't give their own consent to vaccines so extra care is taken not to put them in pain or discomfort since the person consenting is not the person who will experience it) but also because parents tend to be sensitive about side effects in this age group. Fevers are not unusual for vaccines in kids but they still do whatever the can to minimize it because there are many parents who will freak out if they see their kids temp go over 100 (which isn't even considered a concerning fever by most doctors, but anyway). So they are trying to balance the risks of fever with a dose high enough to do something. It's hard. We don't yet know if they got the balance right.

Do not start assuming your child will be able to get vaccinate in April or May. If it doesn't happen you'll just freak out. Stop counting your chickens.

Calm down, PP. I can hope. I’m strong enough to live with the disappointment if th

… if the vaccine is not cleared.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It looks like the vaccine will be available soon. Moderna. I’m glad.

Stop doing this. We don't know if Moderna will be available soon! It is too early to tell.

They won't submit until mid-April, and they are still looking at efficacy. They've determined it is safe and there are some promising signs. That's it. That doesn't mean it will be approved.

Pediatric vaccines are treated differently from adult vaccines. They work harder to minimize side effects not only because there are medical ethics issues (kids don't give their own consent to vaccines so extra care is taken not to put them in pain or discomfort since the person consenting is not the person who will experience it) but also because parents tend to be sensitive about side effects in this age group. Fevers are not unusual for vaccines in kids but they still do whatever the can to minimize it because there are many parents who will freak out if they see their kids temp go over 100 (which isn't even considered a concerning fever by most doctors, but anyway). So they are trying to balance the risks of fever with a dose high enough to do something. It's hard. We don't yet know if they got the balance right.

Do not start assuming your child will be able to get vaccinate in April or May. If it doesn't happen you'll just freak out. Stop counting your chickens.

Calm down, PP. I can hope. I’m strong enough to live with the disappointment if th

… if the vaccine is not cleared.

I guarantee if this vaccine is not approved for under 5s by the end of April there will be at least three different threads on here complaining about how we were prooooommmmmisssssed a vaccine and why isn't it here yet?????

So many of you were not paying attention in spring of 2021 when we were told repeatedly that the path to a pediatric vaccine would not be straightforward or quick. Do you not remember the estimate of "years"?

I have n problem with people hoping, I just don't understand the disappointment when it doesn't happen on the fastest possible timeline. I think people are confused because the adult vaccine was developed and approved at a lightening speed that has literally never happened before. That is not the norm! What's happening with the under 5 vaccine is more the norm, and even that is happening much, much quicker than this stuff normally happens.

[Anonymous]

Right now the case rates are so low that I'm not spending a lot of energy being worried about my unvaccinated toddler.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think what’s happening is that the risk of severe illness for young kids was already so low that it’s hard for the vaccines to be deemed worth their very small risk of adverse side effects in trials.

The good news is the risk is really low. Also it’s clear now after Omicron that vaccines aren’t going to keep us from transmitting it anyway. So what we need is very low risk of severe illness which we get from vaccines and little kids get from their age. So we’re there either way. And ftr yes I will be first in line with my kid if/when it’s approved. But I think we’re fine either way baring new and different variants.

This. I wouldn't worry about it, OP.

OP here.
I have two cousins who were in great health in their 40's who have long Covid. One isn't so bad and there is still some recovery happening. The other is completely disabled and only because of Covid.
I have a nephew who is a teenager who is now seeing pulmonologists and on serious medication after Covid. No asthma before he had Covid but has trouble breathing 6 months post Covid.

So my family who has caught Covid hasn't done particularly well. Odds are that my 4 year old will be OK but odds are also decent he could have some lingering effects and I really don't want that for him. I have an older child who has health issues (not Covid related) and I live with a lot of guilt that I can't help him. I'll do whatever I can to prevent my youngest from having long term problems.

Given your family history I now understand your concern. I am sorry OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want a vaccine desperately so my kid can stop masking at daycare (yes that’s the parameter the nutty parents have forced).

But no I won’t actually vaccinate my under 5 year old. This disease is a cold, old and immunocompromised people (and here and there, a few healthy people) die from colds and that’s that. I’m triple vaxxed, but not risking side effects for something unneeded that likely doesn’t work for my toddler. It’s time to move on, no masks, no restrictions, and if hospitals surge refuse entry to any unvaccinated adults.

Yup same. Tired of the masks in toddler, tired of the quarantine policy that doesn’t give credit for them wearing masks, tire of seemingly being the only parent who has an issue with both these things! Everyone else at our daycare is seemingly cool with all this until the kids can be “protected” by a potentially ineffective vaccine.

Why in the world haven't you switched to a different daycare? Or hired a nanny? Or hell, quit your job or have your spouse quit their job (and don't give me the "we can't afford it." I would live in a studio apartment and eat nothing but pb&j for months to avoid putting my kid in the hell you describe!)

Dramatic much? Kids throughout history have been through far worse than wearing masks. You sound entitled. Most kids don’t even mind them.

My 3 year old is very happy to not be wearing a mask. And no, we haven't been telling her masks are bad. She figured out all by herself that it's uncomfortable, and as her parents, we listened.

Our daycare is no longer requiring masks but nearly everyone (kids, teachers) are still masking anyway. My 3yo is literally the only one in their class not wearing one. So yay more comfortable for them I guess but I always felt the bigger downside was not being able to see the faces of others. At least they take them off for eating and outside play. This are is just so weird though.

I don't know about your daycare, but at our center they removed the mask mandate without removing anything else. Quarantine policy still in place, long list of symptoms that will result in exclusion (including a runny nose! In prime spring allergy season!). My DD's teacher essentially said, we will overlook some of the mild symptoms like runny nose/sneezing if they are wearing a mask, but if the mask is off and your kid is sneezing all over everyone you'll be called to pick them up. DD seems to be following in her dad's and older brother's footsteps with seasonal allergies so until we can get that under control (working with the ped) or until we get past the prime pollen period, she'll wear a mask.

Regarding the PP's comment to switch, I really don't know that it would be that different in other centers in our county (MoCo).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think what’s happening is that the risk of severe illness for young kids was already so low that it’s hard for the vaccines to be deemed worth their very small risk of adverse side effects in trials.

The good news is the risk is really low. Also it’s clear now after Omicron that vaccines aren’t going to keep us from transmitting it anyway. So what we need is very low risk of severe illness which we get from vaccines and little kids get from their age. So we’re there either way. And ftr yes I will be first in line with my kid if/when it’s approved. But I think we’re fine either way baring new and different variants.

This. I wouldn't worry about it, OP.

But then when can the young kids stop masking? And quarantining? I am not at all worried about medical effects of infection, but these rules we have created need to end.

Yeah this is pretty much of equal, if not more, concern to me. The masking for 2 year olds (!!), the crazy quarantining…these are tremendous disruptions in my life. If we had treated this more like another state or country, where we actually prioritized the needs of small children and families, I’d feel differently.

+1

I have friends and family in other countries and none of them are chomping at the bit for an under-5 vaccine. Many of them have kids under 12 and have not vaccinated them yet, not because they don't want to but because many countries don't even recommend vaccines for that age group unless they are in a high risk group or live with someone who is a immunocompromised. It's just a totally different attitude about vaccines for kids, even though all the adults in question are vaccinated.

And I think the reason why is that none of them have lived with such lengthy school closures, or masking of 2 and 3 year olds, or these intense quarantines for every positive case. Some of these countries did more restrictive lockdowns in response to the initial wave and the subsequent surges, but some didn't. And importantly, those lockdowns were imposed on everyone equally (so unvaccinated kids weren't uniquely imposed on) and were supported by other government action to ease some of the burden.

In the US we've heavily burdened families with young kids without offering much in the way of support, and I think it makes people desperate for a silver bullet that will relieve them of this burden. I wish vaccines WERE that silver bullet, but they clearly aren't. The real silver bullet is admitting that Covid is not that dangerous for very young kids, and also recognizing that while kids might spread Covid to adults, vaccines work pretty well for adults. We'll never lower risk to zero, but most children in this country could be living fairly normal lives without being exposed to serious risks or contributing much to overall risk to adults. But we're still so far from accepting this. Everyone is so out of whack.

This

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My elderly parents haven’t met my youngest child because of the risk of covid. We want to get them vaxxed asap.

And another reason we want them to get vaccinated is to lower the possibility of long term side effects. We are still leaning about what covid does to the brain but some studies show a loss of gray matter and it’s some worrisome stuff. I don’t want MY kids to be Guinea pigs for a new virus. If, god forbid, they get Parkinson’s in midlife and it turns out it was due to covid, they’ll be pissed we didn’t suffer a little more to protect them.

You realize the vaccine doesn’t stop transmission?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My elderly parents haven’t met my youngest child because of the risk of covid. We want to get them vaxxed asap.

And another reason we want them to get vaccinated is to lower the possibility of long term side effects. We are still leaning about what covid does to the brain but some studies show a loss of gray matter and it’s some worrisome stuff. I don’t want MY kids to be Guinea pigs for a new virus. If, god forbid, they get Parkinson’s in midlife and it turns out it was due to covid, they’ll be pissed we didn’t suffer a little more to protect them.

You realize the vaccine doesn’t stop transmission?

Yes, we know. The full story is longer and more complicated. They live very far away. We can’t get PCRs easily where they live. They are anxious about our traveling to see them too. There’s more but it’s not relevant for this board. My point was just that some parents of little kids are still making big sacrifices and plenty of people don’t appreciate that. So things like lifting mask mandates on airplanes do impact us - our kids are too little to mask, too little to vaccinate and may get stuck on a plane with you who isn’t taking precautions right now.

[Anonymous]

Not even 50% effective … please don’t even bother