Do young people need to be vaccinated? The question remains as more youngsters are called for their jab
As more of the younger generation start to be called for their jab, the question currently on people’s lips is whether they should even be vaccinated.
Over a year after the first Covid-19 lockdown struck the UK, vaccinations are finally being rolled out at a rapid speed to people across the country.
The older generation and those most at risk were rightly first to be immunised against the virus, but with the swift increase in numbers of those now fully vaccinated, it has reached the time for the healthy and less vulnerable youngsters to get their jabs.
Weekly data released by the Government has shown that in places like Surrey Heath, 85% of the constituency’s population has already been given two doses of the vaccine.
The graph provided also highlights that the number of first doses being administered to the older age groups in local areas is decreasing, which is likely due to many of them having already received their second dose.
This data came out at a time when reports of blood clots and side effects of the vaccine became headline news. Evidence was also released that explained how the aftereffects of the jab affected younger people much worse compared to those in the older age groups.
Harry Skates, 20, lives a very healthy lifestyle that includes weekly triathlon training and trips to the gym, he would be considered somebody that would not necessarily need to be vaccinated. Regarding the vaccine and its potential side effects, he said: “If it helps to stop the spread of the virus then it’s worth it. The chances of side effects occurring seem to be quite low.”
He added: “If it helps stop the chance of serious illness and helps protect others then it is important that as many people get the vaccine as possible.”
But over the past year since the pandemic began, younger generations have been the focus of scrutiny by those who believed they were at fault for the continued spread of Coronavirus.
So do the people thought to have avoided lockdown rules need to be immunised against a virus that does not put them at risk of serious harm? A new development that has recently been reported is that some younger people don’t want the vaccine anyway.
Cameron Reid, 20, worked closely to Covid-19 when he volunteered to test students at a local school and has yet to be called for his vaccine. He said: “I have never hesitated about getting the vaccine. I have full trust in the manufacturers and I personally think the benefit outweighs the risk. It’s our only road back to normality and everyone should take the opportunity to have it.”
He added that it is a “civic duty to take the vaccine” and “as a young person I want to secure a good future rather than jeopardise it by not taking two injections”.
