Anonymous wrote:Bottom line: If MCPS is going to cancel afterschool activities, whether curricular or not, it needs to be done for all students and not done selectively. If a system needs to be created to ensure all can participate, then they need to do that. More actions are likely to come and this needs to be addressed.

Finally, get used to breakthrough infections occurring. If you or your kid(s) are not fully vaccinated, please get it done.

Infection with the coronavirus is not the same as having covid19.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should require vaccines for school, period. It is time.

I think it is important to acknowledge where we're at with the safety and efficacy analysis of the vaccine.

The only rigorous data we have on the vaccine in children 5-12 years old comes from the 3,000 kids that participated in the phase 2/3 trial. Efficacy was established primarily through immunobridging studies against older adolescents, but this does not directly establish efficacy against infection or severe illness, nor did it consider the Omicron variant that is already the dominant strain. More importantly, the size of the trial- 3,000 kids- ws not sufficient to establish the safety and benefits of the vaccine to children in this age group. Instead, Emergency Use Authorization was done by estimating adverse events based on their frequency in children 12-16 years old.

We'll have better data soon, as large numbers of kids are being vaccinated as we speak. But I think most experts would agree that it would be inappropriate to mandate the vaccine based on the currently available data.

Not to mention the very important point about how beneficial the Covid shot is for kids.

What is the benefit of being vaccinated as an older adult?
You are less likely to be hospitalized or to die.

Kids are already less likely to be hospitalized and even less likely to die due to Covid. That is a fact and we consistently see it in the statistics that the death rate increases as your age increases.

So, then, what is the benefit of forcing a 6 year old to get this shot? Likely not much.

Glad it’s available for those parents who feel the need for it based on their situation. But, mandates are unethical. Anyone pushing for a vaccine mandate for anyone under age 12 should be ashamed of themselves.

*on here

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should require vaccines for school, period. It is time.

I think it is important to acknowledge where we're at with the safety and efficacy analysis of the vaccine.

The only rigorous data we have on the vaccine in children 5-12 years old comes from the 3,000 kids that participated in the phase 2/3 trial. Efficacy was established primarily through immunobridging studies against older adolescents, but this does not directly establish efficacy against infection or severe illness, nor did it consider the Omicron variant that is already the dominant strain. More importantly, the size of the trial- 3,000 kids- ws not sufficient to establish the safety and benefits of the vaccine to children in this age group. Instead, Emergency Use Authorization was done by estimating adverse events based on their frequency in children 12-16 years old.

We'll have better data soon, as large numbers of kids are being vaccinated as we speak. But I think most experts would agree that it would be inappropriate to mandate the vaccine based on the currently available data.

+1 million

Thank you for this. I cannot believe there are people in her legitimately advocating for vaccine mandates for my 6 year old.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. We can debate how effective requiring vaccinations for all activities would be, but I just wanted to address the original concern.

Activities other than sports are often very informal, such as kids getting together after school (mostlyl in high school) for club meetings. Because kids don't have to formally register to be a part of such clubs, it would be difficult to require or track vaccinations, unless you made them bring their vaccine cards to enter a club meeting. If this were going to happen, we should just require vaccines for all MCPS students, which I know is also debatable.

I just wanted to explain the most likely reason why they have required the vaccine for sports participation, which also requires a physical and parent permission, and not other after school activities.

Typically the sports teams are in MS and HS. In many of those schools there are also organized, more formal activities (curricular and extracurricular) like the spring musical, fall play, dance concerts, instrumental music concerts and more. It would not be a stretch to require vaccinations when the parents approve the kids participation in these activities just like the sports teams. I would think MCPS should absolutely set up a system similar to the team sports for performance activities.

I don't know what level that teacher teaches at, but it's really not accurate information. There are non-athletic teams that have practices and competitions just the way athletic teams do -- the Science Olympiad, MathCounts, Robotics, Model UN, and Debate teams are just some examples. MCPS is cancelling those practices while letting MUCH HIGHER RISK athletic practices/games like basketball continue. The Model UN team doesn't get in each others face to block the way the basketball team does, and they are not panting out deep breaths the way the basketball teams are, and the spectator stands are much less crowded with a lot less screaming. For most of these non-athletic teams, you have to apply and compete for a slot, so they absolutely do know who is a part of the team. And most of those kids are already vaccinated -- compliance is high among the Science Olympiads! So if the MCPS thinking is that the basketball team can play because they are mandated vaccinated, then just require it for the Robotics, Model UN, Mathcounts teams, etc., please.

Anonymous wrote:They should require vaccines for school, period. It is time.

I think it is important to acknowledge where we're at with the safety and efficacy analysis of the vaccine.

The only rigorous data we have on the vaccine in children 5-12 years old comes from the 3,000 kids that participated in the phase 2/3 trial. Efficacy was established primarily through immunobridging studies against older adolescents, but this does not directly establish efficacy against infection or severe illness, nor did it consider the Omicron variant that is already the dominant strain. More importantly, the size of the trial- 3,000 kids- ws not sufficient to establish the safety and benefits of the vaccine to children in this age group. Instead, Emergency Use Authorization was done by estimating adverse events based on their frequency in children 12-16 years old.

We'll have better data soon, as large numbers of kids are being vaccinated as we speak. But I think most experts would agree that it would be inappropriate to mandate the vaccine based on the currently available data.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
For the morons who don't keep up with the news: children have died from Covid in MD.

Fourth young child dies from COVID-19 in Maryland

https://www.wbaltv.com/article/fourth-child-dies-covid-19-maryland/37179493#

So, 4 children under age 9 since March 2020?

A four-year-old riding in a car with her parents was killed in a car crash on Georgia Avenue in Wheaton, a few months ago. I'm waiting for your call to shut down Georgia Avenue.

No, don't side-track the discussion. And don't you dare minimize pediatric deaths from Covid. If people make stupid claims about Covid, they are corrected.

The discussion is about children dying, so this is not side-tracking the discussion.

And it's not "minimizing pediatric deaths from covid" to mention one of the horrifying number of children killed each year in the US in car crashes, whose deaths we just accept it as an unfortunate but unavoidable cost of car travel.

Oh it's definitely minimizing since it's completely irrelevant and dissimilar.

Please explain.

We are talking about child deaths due to various causes. It is, indeed, very similar and very relevant to talk about other causes of child deaths and how society imposed restrictions based on them.

Anonymous wrote:At this point, I don't really care whether vaccines are mandated for children. It is clear that even if they are and everyone gets one, the goalposts will immediately shift. DCUM will be shouting "but you can still get COVID even if vaccinated" and thus we'll have another reason to abstain from activities.

Umm, except that it is a FACT.

Sorry that the facts disturb you so much, but it is what it is.

Talk about moving the goalposts. We were told that once we adults were vaccinated that things would go back to ‘normal’. Guess what? We’re at over 90% adults vaccinated in MoCo and not even close to normal.

Now people want to push the vaccine onto our 6 year olds? For what??

Anonymous wrote:No. Elementary kids shouldn’t be required to get the vax to do anything. That’s crazy.

+1 million

No. Elementary kids shouldn’t be required to get the vax to do anything. That’s crazy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
For the morons who don't keep up with the news: children have died from Covid in MD.

Fourth young child dies from COVID-19 in Maryland

https://www.wbaltv.com/article/fourth-child-dies-covid-19-maryland/37179493#

So, 4 children under age 9 since March 2020?

A four-year-old riding in a car with her parents was killed in a car crash on Georgia Avenue in Wheaton, a few months ago. I'm waiting for your call to shut down Georgia Avenue.

No, don't side-track the discussion. And don't you dare minimize pediatric deaths from Covid. If people make stupid claims about Covid, they are corrected.

The discussion is about children dying, so this is not side-tracking the discussion.

And it's not "minimizing pediatric deaths from covid" to mention one of the horrifying number of children killed each year in the US in car crashes, whose deaths we just accept it as an unfortunate but unavoidable cost of car travel.

Oh it's definitely minimizing since it's completely irrelevant and dissimilar.

That's a great example of whataboutery. It's one of the favorite pastimes of Fox News opinion hosts too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
For the morons who don't keep up with the news: children have died from Covid in MD.

Fourth young child dies from COVID-19 in Maryland

https://www.wbaltv.com/article/fourth-child-dies-covid-19-maryland/37179493#

So, 4 children under age 9 since March 2020?

A four-year-old riding in a car with her parents was killed in a car crash on Georgia Avenue in Wheaton, a few months ago. I'm waiting for your call to shut down Georgia Avenue.

No, don't side-track the discussion. And don't you dare minimize pediatric deaths from Covid. If people make stupid claims about Covid, they are corrected.

The discussion is about children dying, so this is not side-tracking the discussion.

And it's not "minimizing pediatric deaths from covid" to mention one of the horrifying number of children killed each year in the US in car crashes, whose deaths we just accept it as an unfortunate but unavoidable cost of car travel.

Oh it's definitely minimizing since it's completely irrelevant and dissimilar.

Irrelevant how? Dissimilar how? Please explain.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
For the morons who don't keep up with the news: children have died from Covid in MD.

Fourth young child dies from COVID-19 in Maryland

https://www.wbaltv.com/article/fourth-child-dies-covid-19-maryland/37179493#

So, 4 children under age 9 since March 2020?

A four-year-old riding in a car with her parents was killed in a car crash on Georgia Avenue in Wheaton, a few months ago. I'm waiting for your call to shut down Georgia Avenue.

No, don't side-track the discussion. And don't you dare minimize pediatric deaths from Covid. If people make stupid claims about Covid, they are corrected.

The discussion is about children dying, so this is not side-tracking the discussion.

And it's not "minimizing pediatric deaths from covid" to mention one of the horrifying number of children killed each year in the US in car crashes, whose deaths we just accept it as an unfortunate but unavoidable cost of car travel.

Oh it's definitely minimizing since it's completely irrelevant and dissimilar.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At this point, I don't really care whether vaccines are mandated for children. It is clear that even if they are and everyone gets one, the goalposts will immediately shift. DCUM will be shouting "but you can still get COVID even if vaccinated" and thus we'll have another reason to abstain from activities.

Actually I think that's one poster.

I am starting to see this as well. And once you call them out on being a troll they will leave the conversation. Thankfully or should I say hopefully!

Bottom line: If MCPS is going to cancel afterschool activities, whether curricular or not, it needs to be done for all students and not done selectively. If a system needs to be created to ensure all can participate, then they need to do that. More actions are likely to come and this needs to be addressed.

Finally, get used to breakthrough infections occurring. If you or your kid(s) are not fully vaccinated, please get it done.