Health & Family

Vaccinating children –the pros and cons

SHOULD12-15 year olds have a Covid vaccine? It’s not a simple choice, but many older children are able to make up their own minds. Here’s what you need to know.

Arguments against vaccinating the 12-15s

You may never get Covid, although you’re very likely to come across the virus. You may well already have had Covid, and already have good immunity. If you are infected, it will likely be symptomless (43 to 68 percent) or a mild infection.

Only 25 children have died from Covid in the UK (2 per million), nearly all of whom had other serious illnesses that made them vulnerable to respiratory infection. Such children are now offered vaccination.

Although the Delta variant is more harmful for adults, that doesn’t seem to be the case in children. Children who get infected generally mount a good antibody response, make better antibodies and retain them longer than adults. Children’s antibodies do well against the known variants too.

The other strand of the childhood immune response, T-cells, is usually excellent. Healthy children have better intranasal and mucosal immunity at the points of entry of the virus and this, combined with their energetic immune response, may rapidly dampen the viral load.

They may also have innate cross-protective immunity from other coronaviruses common in children. This means naturally acquired protection against future infection in children may be better than vaccination protection (although they can, of course, infect vulnerable adults while they have it).

The primary purpose of vaccination should not just be to protect others. We do justify this in existing vaccination programmes – rubella is a mild infection in children, but we vaccinate them to prevent future fetal malformations in pregnancy-acquired rubella.

HPV vaccination in boys protects women against future cervical cancer and genital warts, but also protects boys against HPV-related cancers and warts. We do vaccinate young children against flu to stop them super-spreading to adults, but it took four decades of research and data before extending the vaccines to children.

Some experts think we need much more data before extending Covid vaccination to children when their risk of serious harm and death from the illness is currently very low.

Some experts argue that letting children become infected while adults are protected will eventually mean SARS-CoV-2 becomes a much less frightening, mild infection for children.

Some experts argue that vaccinating children will put more pressure on the virus to evolve a vaccine resistant mutation.

The mRNA vaccines licensed for children and adults are “reactogenic” and often caused temporary pain and fatigue in trials. However, rarer more serious potential side-effects only show when they are rolled out to large populations. These include pericarditis and myocarditis – inflammations affecting the heart.

Because drug companies collect data on their own vaccines and don’t release it in real time, we may only have full data on vaccine effects and side-effects in 2025.

It is reasonable to offer mass emergency vaccinations to adults in a pandemic when so many are dying (more than 1,200 a day at the UK’s January peak) and so much harm is also caused by containment measures (lockdown).

But the argument for mass vaccination of children on medical grounds is far less clear. Any mass vaccination programme has a cost and an opportunity cost. The time and money could be spent on mental health support or other vaccine programmes.

As with adult boosters, the available vaccines might be better donated to countries where below ten percent of the adult population have been vaccinated. This, ultimately, might control the pandemic better.

Arguments for vaccination of the 12-15s

SARS-COV-2 is a deeply unpleasant, multi-system virus, the long-term effects of which are not fully understood. It may turn out that the long-term effects of infection in children are far worse than any long-term effects of vaccination.

With currently more than 8,000 Covid admissions and nudging 200 deaths a day in the UK, and no masks, bubbles, scant ventilation plus unvaccinated children mixing closely, the virus remains a significant risk to the 10.8 million over-16s who haven’t had both jabs, particularly five million adults who’ve had no jab.

If hospital admissions keep rising, we may be heading back to lockdown.

The vaccines have proven highly effective at preventing severe illness and death in most (but not all) recipients. The risk of the side effect of myocarditis and pericarditis is greater in males and greater with the second dose (3 to 17 per million after one dose, 12 to 34 per million after the second). 12 to 15year-olds will be offered one dose only.

Vaccinating one million children would prevent 2.5 paediatric intensive care admissions with Covid, 93 hospital admissions and 28 cases of paediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome.

Long Covid in children appears less severe than in adults, but is still significant and much is unknown. Vaccination should reduce the risk. Many other countries have started vaccinating 12 to 15-year-olds.

Vaccination may reduce the need for schools closing. It may also make it easier for young people to travel to countries where children are expected to be vaccinated. It may make it easier to gain access to sports and music events if vaccine passports come in.

What would Dr Phil do?

If I was 15 again, and healthy as I was, I wouldn’t opt for a Covid vaccine yet on medical grounds, but I would if it protected my family and community, and improved my access to places I wanted to be (school, concerts, sports stadia, holidays).

If I was like one of my teenage patients, with ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome) triggered by a prior unpleasant virus, I would definitely want a vaccination.

I’m very grateful at 59 for the Covid vaccines I’ve had, but still demand full data transparency from the companies that make them. Fully informed choice should always be the aim.

By DrPHIL HAMMOND

Glittering night for Court House staff

THE team at the Court House in Cheddar were named Best Team in the Sun Newspaper/NHS Charities “Who Cares Wins” awards which were shown on Channel 4.

The retirement home was nominated after staff dropped everything to move in to care for residents as Covid-19 spread across the country last April.

For 12 weeks they lived apart from their families and locked down with their

Chris meets Rod Stewart Gary Lineker presenting the award to (l to r) Julie White, Paulina Pupka, Tina Brook, Chris Dando and Donna Marke

elderly and vulnerable residents. The home did not lose one resident to the virus.

The team had a wonderful night at the black tie event and mingled with celebrities such as Prince William, Boris Johnson, David Beckham, Rod Stewart, Piers Morgan, Tyrone Mings, Chris Evans and more. They were presented with the award by Gary Lineker.

Owner, Chris Dando, made a speech thanking his team, the residents and their families and the people of Cheddar for their support. He was joined at the ceremony by Julie White, home manager, Donna Marke, clinical manager, Tina Brook, care manager and Paulina Pupka, care worker. Other Court House staff unable to attend were Anne-Marie Walker, Gary Watts, Lynn Whittaker, Kaycie Keen and Jane Pike.

COURT HOUSE

AWARD WINNING CARE HOME

e Care Home with a difference. We offer all that you would expect from a high quality, family run Care Home set in a Georgian House in the lovely village of Cheddar, Somerset.

You can live your life to the full and choice is our favourite word. Rooms now available with full en-suite facilities and total personal care is offered. Rated by the CQC as good in all areas e Manager – Chris Dando • 01934 742131 • chriscourthouse@gmail.com Court House Retirement Home, Church Street, Cheddar, Somerset BS27 3RA www.courthouseretirementhome.co.uk

Music therapy

DOyou know anyone who is living with memory problems or a sense of isolation who might be interested in going along to Music in Mind? This is a group run by Stella Moore, music therapist, and is beneficial for carers too.

It is now restarting following the pandemic and meets every fortnight in the Masonic Hall in Wedmore.

Stella said: “It is so rewarding for us all to witness how music helps people reconnect and we can see energy return in those whose ability to respond and communicate has faded.”

Their next meeting will be on Monday, October 4th, 2.153.30pm and it’s free!

Details: 01934 732282 or email davestellamoore@btinternet.com

National award for SWEDA

SHEPTON Mallet-based charity Somerset and Wessex Eating Disorder Association has won a major national award for its work improving the lives of people with eating disorders.

Following a rigorous selection and assessment process, SWEDA was chosen from more than 350 charities across the UK as one of the ten winners of the 2021 GSK IMPACT Awards. The awards are designed to recognise the outstanding work of small and medium sized charities working to improve health and wellbeing in communities across the UK.

Winners receive £30,000 in unrestricted funding as well as expert support and leadership development provided by leading health and care charity The King’s Fund.

Paula Blight, chief executive of SWEDA said: “SWEDA is delighted to have received recognition for all it’s hard work through one of the most challenging periods in SWEDA’s history.

“Lockdown enabled us to innovate, change our approach and adapt so that we could continue to support the people affected by eating disorders who needed it most.”

Autumn events

JUST Introductions offer a relaxed way to meet people in a very friendly and welcoming group. They enjoyed good social events over the summer, from meeting for coffee to visiting NT gardens, crazy golf and bowls, pub meals and walking with Alpacas.

During the autumn, they will continue to organise events in a Covid-safe way.

They are part of the Just Introduction Group so you can meet members across the group. They offer a confidential, personal, professional service in which members are interviewed in their own home and ID checked.

For more information and testimonials, look at the website and give them a call!

We offer a personal, caring, confidential service One to one introductions and socials covering all ages

Praise for Wells Funeral Services

HERE are some comments from just a few satisfied clients of Wells Funeral Services, owned by Rod Major: l Rod organised my mother’s funeral, and I can honestly say everything was done as requested. Rod is a genuine and caring person, nothing was too much trouble, and he was always available to talk to, and resolve any queries we had at a difficult time. So, a very big thank you Rod, we would recommend you to anyone, you made my difficult time much easier.

Bryony S.

l I cannot thank you enough for making this awful time much easier and smoother than myself and my family expected. Rod went above and beyond and did exactly what was required for our needs. We were in a budget and his costs were by far the best around. Thank you again.

Tabby P.

l What a find! Wells Funeral Services were astounding in every way. At every step of the process, Rod and his team guided us through this difficult time with compassion and professionalism. Nothing was too much trouble and his honest and realistic approach helped us give my mother the best send-off we could have given her. Flowers, Celebrant, Order of Service were 5 Stars and a credit to all at Wells Funeral Services. Thank You.

Lesley and Keith G

The best person to advise you on your funeral plan is your local funeral director . . . Call me now

What is a Funeral Plan? A funeral plan allows you to: • Pay and plan for your funeral in advance; • Helps to reduce stress and worry for your loved ones; • Fixes the cost of the services in the plan at today’s prices. Why Talk to Us? Who better to talk to about your funeral plan than a local professional who organises funerals on a day-today basis? We have an unblemished record of 5-Star Google Reviews and our testimonials speak for themselves –if you want good honest advice with absolutely no obligation then please do get in touch! 01749 670 100 • wellsfuneralservices.co.uk

OUR HIGHLY SKILLED CLINICIANS ARE ABLE TO USE THE MOST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY TO INVESTIGATE THE HEALTH OF YOUR EYES!

Join our Eyecare Plan:

•Unlimited advice on all your eye care needs •Great discounts on all your spectacle requirements •Repairs and adjustments to spectacles •We offer a range of contact lenses, dry eye lubricants, solutions and myopia (Short-sightedness) management options. As predictions indicate that by 2050 half of the world’s population will be myopic •OCT scans and Optomap imaging of the health of your eyes

Orriss and Low Optometrists, Corner House, Woodborough Road, Winscombe, BS25 1AQ 01934 843713 • www.orrissandlow.co.uk

Putting podiatry patients at ease

RECEPTIONIST and clinical support Lisa Trott is the first port of call for people making appointments on the phone or visiting Foot Faerie Podiatry at Rookery Farm at Binegar. Offering a warm welcome – and comforting reassurance to anyone feeling apprehensive about a treatment – is Lisa’s forte, Welcome: Lisa Trott has been with Sue for almost three years as is being on hand to help podiatrist Sue Boothroyd, if required, to chat to a patient during any surgical procedures.

In December, Lisa will mark her third anniversary of working with Sue and is on first name terms with many of the practice’s regular patients. Lisa, who lives in Shepton Mallet and used to be a receptionist at a GP surgery in the town, said: “The best thing about the job is when people come out from seeing Sue and say: ‘that feels so much better!’”

Wedmore Dental Practice is expanding and welcoming a new dentist to the team!

Alison Chapman has worked in dentistry for over 20 years and brings a wealth of experience to the role. She has a special interest in endodontics (root canal fillings) and is an expert at helping nervous patients feel at ease.

Covid-19 has brought a lot of challenges to the healthcare sphere, including further regulation and guidelines, and increased demand. With lots of new people moving to the area, and many others finding it difficult to access dental services during the pandemic, we have been welcoming lots of new patients to the practice.

Our Denplan payment plans are extremely popular, especially with families; our children’s plans start from £5.74 per month.

During the pandemic we have also seen increased demand for cosmetic dentistry and facial aesthetics, including whitening, anti-wrinkle treatment and fillers. Many of our patients are looking for subtle cosmetic treatment to give them more confidence on Zoom and Team Meetings.

Give us a call, send an email, or contact us via Insta for more information.

With best wishes for the autumn. The Team at Wedmore Dental Practice

@wedmoredental

Fancy dress

Dundry Day

THEsun shone and there was a real sense of community spirit in the air as Dundry came together for Dundry Day.

The day started with a cafe in the church and tours of the tower, before the village hall and playing field were full of people catching up, taking part in crafts, making face masks, firefighting demonstrations, chatting to local businesses and enjoying a game of skittles or tug of war!

Delicious pizzas and drinks were served throughout the day courtesy of the Dundry Inn and later there was entertainment from local band –Three Scots and a Barman.

Zoe Winstone on her stall

Merriman merriment

MERRIMANPark Fun Day in Street brought the community out in great numbers to support the sixth annual event.

A full afternoon of entertainment included local circus entertainer Mark Foot of Twiglet Time Entertainment, the Glastonbury Dragon Drummers, pupils from Cirque de Silk, and the Glastonbury Border Morris Dancers.

There was also music from the Bad Cowboys and the Back Street Stompers, as well as various stalls and entertainment in the evening.

Bernie Lock and his disco