Heartbeat: Under 18? Why young people should consider getting vaccinated

November 22, 2021

Jayni Makwana, daughter of Consultant Paediatrician, Nick Makwana sharing her views on vaccination of young people

With the government opening doses of the Pfizer vaccine to those aged 12-15, getting the COVID vaccine has become more accessible to teenagers – but why is it so important for you to get vaccinated?

COVID-19 has made me really worried about how I am going to cope with my exams. I don’t feel prepared, and I am so stressed all the time. This is part of a real conversation I have had with my friend and, unfortunately, she is not alone. The pandemic has taken a huge toll on students’ lives- both academically and socially. It was reported that, in March 2021, 46 per cent of 977 parents of teenagers said that their child has shown signs of a new or worsening mental health condition since the start of the pandemic.

With so much isolation and loss of normality, it is understandable that young people have found themselves feeling lonelier and more troubled. Research shows that students have missed over a third of their education over the last year. In addition to this, individuals who have had to isolate will have missed out on even more. This is concerning because school life provides students with not only the chance to learn, but also to communicate with others, something vital to their mental wellbeing and character development.

But how does getting vaccinated come into this?

With the number of COVID cases rising in teenagers, it is important that more young people get vaccinated. Government guidelines now state that if someone has been vaccinated and has a negative lateral flow test, they are not required to isolate even if they have a ‘close contact’. Furthermore, the Pfizer vaccine is roughly 52 per cent effective after the first dose, significantly lowering a students’ chance of getting ill. This means that more time off school can be prevented. With the levels of mental health cases on the rise and CAMHS services overwhelmed, it is important that students are able to return to a regular routine that encourages both social and learning time.

As a young person, I would recommend getting the vaccine as a method of regaining the regularity that we have all missed since the start of the pandemic. Not only does it protect students at school, but it also protects their families too. Pupils are less likely to have to isolate because they are, overall, less likely to catch the disease and so less likely to pass it onto their relatives keeping everyone safe. Furthermore, with more people vaccinated, events such as concerts and festivals are safer and more accessible to everyone, especially those with health conditions who have been isolating for so long. This can significantly improve people’s lives and help them regain the sense of freedom and normality they have lacked, whilst combatting feelings of separation they might have had with the outside world.

If you are at all anxious or have any concerns about getting the vaccine, I would advise you to speak to a health professional to help you make an informed decision. As a 16 year old with a heart condition, I have had both of my jabs and the health professionals who looked after me made me feel very safe and comfortable, as well as providing me with all the necessary information that settled any anxieties I had. I would encourage any young person who is able to be vaccinated to take the opportunity to protect not only themselves, but also their peers and families from both COVID-19 and the negative mental health effects that exist alongside this pandemic-altered world.