COVID Vaccine for Kids; Will Parents Give Consent?

In less than twenty-four hours, the Ministry of Health and Wellness will be receiving one hundred and twenty-four thousand, eight hundred doses of Pfizer vaccine approved for children ages five to eleven. Those vaccines, with the assistance of the Ministry of Education, will be administered in schools to the students who fall within that age range starting this Monday, but not without consent from parents. Previously, when those twelve to seventeen were to get their vaccines, it was met with some resistance from parents. So today, News Five’s Duane Moody went downtown to poll parents about this round of vaccinations for kids.

Duane Moody, Reporting

Reactions from parents are a mixed bag on whether or not they would give consent for their children, ages five to eleven, to be vaccinated against COVID-19. There are those who flatly say no.

Clive Wade

Clive Wade, Resident

“Nope.”

Duane Moody

“Why not?”

Clive Wade

“I don’t think they need it. I mean kids immune system more stronger, they could fight it off. The younger they are the stronger their immune system. I don’t really think dehn kids – that’s just my opinion.”

Duane Moody

“So as a parent, your child in school, you’re not going to sign that consent form?”

Clive Wade

“That’s right.”

Belize City Resident

“Ina my point of view, I would say no, not right now; maybe later on. Why because the side effects of it, I don’t think it would work for my kids.”

On the other hand, there are those parents, who, having been fully vaccinated themselves, say they want that additional layer of protection for their children. They speak to getting children safely back in their classrooms for face-to-face instructions.

Jenna Lambey

Jenna Lambey, Resident

“I say make ih just get vaccinated Duane because then dah just like wah regular vaccine that ih get between the age from zero to five and if ih prevent ahn from having COVID. I really want my kid back ina school cause dehn online schooling noh di do he di benefit as in face-to-face would.”

Danika Garnett Humes

Danika Garnett Humes, Maskall Resident

“I have two children in the age range of five to eleven and I will allow them to take the vaccine because I see it as being very important because this pandemic ain’t going nowhere, in my view, and things is getting worse. So we have to think about their best interest. I took the vaccine; I took both of them even up to the boost, so why not let me children do it. Everything about their safety and the safety of my elders who are around me also.”

Duane Moody

“So no hesitation?”

Danika Garnett Humes

“No hesitation on my part.

And then, you have parents that are indecisive.  Shanice says that she is not against her son getting the COVID vaccine, she simply needs to give it more thought.

Shanice

Shanice, Belize City Resident

“My son is ten and I am fully vaccinated and so far, nothing is wrong. I just had basic flu symptoms. But a child system is different from adult system.

recommend it and if it okay after I get their feedback and I will let me child do it.”

Duane Moody

“Now this is supposed to start on Monday. Will you sign your consent form?”

Shanice

“I have to think about it. I have the weekend to think about it.”

Duane Moody for News Five.