Why are the young reluctant to take the vaccine?

All my grandkids friends were desperate to get their first jab (if only to go to festivals and travel) as I said in an early thread about this they were queuing right around the block on the first day they opened it up to 18 s in my area and a number of people wrote that the same had happened in their town
I don’t really think it’s useful blaming the kids

There have been walk-in clinics in my area of S E Essex on several Saturdays the queues have been long, we thought the majority looked young

We do not know anyone over 18 who hasn’t had at least one vaccine, our youngest will get their second this week.

JaneJudge

One of mine falls into the 18-24 age group. He went to the first available vaccine clinic and 12 days after caught Covid
They only started offering it to over 18s about a month ago?

Yes, I’ve often thought that Jane. Contracting covid in the vaccination queue! Is your son ok?

All my family have been vaccinated, but one young couple took a great deal of time to deliberate before doing so. They have not yet completed their family and wanted to be sure that, on balance, it was better to be vaccinated than not.

We have noticed the daily numbers of those vaccinated has dropped significantly. We wondered why. If it’s a shortage of vaccines, or people just don’t want them.
Young people may very well think they’re invincible. I probably would have done at that age.

A neighbour's son, still at college, said that his friends won't have the vaccines because they "think it's for wimps". Apparently, one of the group did and was jeered and laughed at for being "chicken".

One of mine falls into the 18-24 age group. He went to the first available vaccine clinic and 12 days after caught Covid
They only started offering it to over 18s about a month ago?

I read Dr Toshner's article. Even signed up to a free trial with the Spectator for it. The things I do to be informed.

The article is concerned with a geographical variation in the interpretation of the "8-12 week" rule and nothing to do with why younger people might or might not be less enthusiastic about the vaccine.

He calls the 8-12 weeks "arbitrary" which out me off him a bit.

I’ve just read on BBC that the Pfizer vaccine can have the unwelcome side effect of a heart problem especially for young men, although this is rare.

We just don’t know about any long term effects of any of these vaccines.

Do the young feel the same sense of collective responsibility older generations might have? Do they feel less supported by the collective so less responsible to it maybe?

I did read the article. I am talking in general about the narrative about the young that has been throughout the pandemic, and about the concept of protecting everybody as stated in the OP and what that actually means. There is something about the idea of vaccinating people in order to protect others that makes me uneasy, I think that particularly applies to children but I can also see why the young might not rush to that either.

Transnational Biomedical Research Masters

Dictating did without the capital letters

I dare say, but it’s probably a good idea to read the article before you dismiss it out of hand. The author is a lecture and director of the transnational biomedical research Masters program at the University of Cambridge so he might know a thing or two that we don’t.

According to my neighbour , Tiktok says its because after 2 years everyone who has had the vaccine will die!!!

(and whoever gets their medical info on TIKTOK needs their head looking at!)

SAD!!!

No one is stopping her. The whole whether we hold responsibility for others is part of that discussion. It's why I have reservations about the vaccination of children for the reason of protecting everyone else.

Throughout this pandemic there has often been a narrative of young versus old, I am afraid I am free to express my views on that.

Yes, of course you are but the OP wasn't pitting any generation against another; they were simply opening up a general discussion that would, if it was allowed to, be an interesting subject to discuss.

Maw our local Facebook has been running a thread for the past week or so, encouraging the under 25s to go for their vaccines because the take up around here has been quite low. Unfortunate really, as not many under 25s bother with Facebook any more!

I didnt put words in your mouth. Throughout this pandemic there has often been a narrative of young versus old, I am afraid I am free to express my views on that.

I believe I wouldn't have received it when I was in my 20s. Not yet anyway.

One of my children has opted out but strangely not the one I’d have thought would have made that decision. But it is up to them all as individuals to make informed decisions and that is what they are doing.

Alegrias1

Are they reluctant or is it a temporary issue with vaccine supply? growstuff you posted something about that before, I think?

Yes, I believe I did, but can't remember where or when. I heard/read that there's a shortage of the Pfizer vaccine, which is the one use for younger people. I'm busy at the mo, but I'll see if I can find an authoritative link - but be aware that "authorities" aren't being totally transparent about supply.

Baggs

Couldn't remember wherre I'd read the above stuff. Now I've found it: Don't Blame Young People for Plummeting Vaccination Rates by Dr Mark Toshner.

I tend to think The Spectator tends to toe the party line.

Are they reluctant or is it a temporary issue with vaccine supply? growstuff you posted something about that before, I think?

All the 'youngsters' I know, have been vaccinated.
But I know of (hearsay gossip) a dozen or so of 40 -75 who havent.

1) They generally mistrust the Gov. more than our age group

2) Their brains are hard wired to think they won't catch it.

All the young people I know have been only too pleased to have the vaccine, once it was offered.