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Government’s decision to vaccinate children between the ages of 12 and 17 against Covid-19 without their parent or guardian’s consent was reckless and undermined the rights and roles of their parents and guardians.
This was the consensus of parents who spoke to City Press and expressed their displeasure at how government would take no responsibility should “something unfortunate” happen to their children after receiving the jab.
“I am totally against it because my child is still under my guidance and care,” said mother-of-two, Malehlohonolo Tsolo (41).
On October 20, South Africa began its Covid-19 vaccination roll-out to minors, following in the footsteps of France, Canada, Germany and the US.
Tsolo said it did not make sense that her 15-year-old son was unable to “open a bank account, register at a school or anything for that matter,” without her consent, “but now suddenly when it comes to this vaccination it is different and it seems there are no rules.
READ: ACDP wants to stop Covid-19 vaccinations for children
“I think its hypocritical of the government.”
Tsolo asked who would take responsibility should there be post-vaccination complications.
“Is government going to take care of him? Will they take responsibility? No, they won’t. Therefore, I as the parent of a minor need to agree or disagree before he can get vaccinated.”
Tsolo’s sentiment was shared by father-of-three, Siyabonga Mbokane (32).
Mbokane said:
Writing for the department of health’s coronavirus information page, general practitioner Dr Sheri Fanaroff said that government had started administering the single-dose Pfizer Cominarty vaccine, which was approved for use in people 12 years and older by the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra), under section 21 of the Medicines and Related Substance Act.
Are teens too young to consent?
Gig technology company M4Jam surveyed 2 498 South Africans about vaccinating young children.
A total of 1 886 (76%) of the respondents were parents, of which 80% said they would get their children vaccinated. A total of 52% of respondents said they had no concerns about children receiving the vaccine, but 74% were concerned that children do not require parental consent to get vaccinated, the company said.
M4Jam CEO Georgie Midgley explained: “People are still sceptical of the long-term safety of the vaccine as only time can resolve.”
According to the survey, 83% of respondents felt children aged 12 to 18 are too young to decide whether or not to vaccinate.
READ: Covid-19: What tests are available in SA and when should you use them?
According to Fanaroff, the SA Paediatric Association has evaluated the safety and efficacy of vaccinations and recommends Covid-19 vaccines for all teenagers aged 12 to 17 years.
Chairperson of the SA Medical Association, Dr Angelique Coetzee, told City Press that, according to the Children’s Act, children who are 12 years of age and older are allowed to make medical decisions without their parents’ consent.
“You look at the emotional readiness of the child at the age of 12. So if the child is emotionally not at a level where a 12-year-old should be, then you can try and bring the parents in. Otherwise you have a sound and mature teenager even at the age of 12 requesting this, [and] they do not need [parental] consent.”
Family history
Father-of-four Kgosi Pulana told City Press that, while he knew that he could not actively prevent his children from getting vaccinated, he felt it was his duty as a parent to “protect my child, even though now it seems government has demoted me”.
He said:
Coetzee said: “I am not aware of any child in South Africa who has died from the vaccine. It is extremely rare.”
With his 21-year-old daughter having received the jab less than a week ago, Pulana said: “How she reacted to it scared me. There was a point where she could not see clearly. They need my consent, not only because that is my child, but they also need to know their family’s medical history.”
According to Faranoff, side effects experienced by teenagers are similar to those in adults, and include pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle and joint pain, fever, nausea and dizziness. She said they should resolve within a few days after taking the vaccine, and that “any severe side effects should be discussed with your doctor and reported to Sahpra as an adverse event.”
Responding to Pulana’s concern that his daughter could not see clearly after getting the vaccine, Coetzee said such a reaction was highly unlikely.
The teen perspective
A teen agreed that it was her right to consent. “I think at the end of the day, it is about my own wellbeing and deciding what is good for me,” 17-year-old Lerato Kgalane* told City Press.
“I think talking to my parents about it would just be a formality, but at the end of the day, I am able to do this without their consent. Should they be against it, I will go ahead.”
Kgalane said she had heard about some of the side effects via social media, such as “people saying they felt weak, slept a lot, the arm they got the shot on being painful, night sweats and headaches,” but getting vaccinated was something she felt she needed to do.
*Not her real name
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