How we help teens and adults on Reddit seeking vaccines

Below are only a fraction of messages from Redditor teens (and some adults). Majority of our work happens after making the initial contact with the teen and helping them with their unique situation. Since our work got more visibility, teens often reach out to us via our website or @teensforvaxx on Instagram directly. However, we do continue to help answer questions on Reddit. Following are a fraction of messages to help give an idea of the issues teens grapple with when it comes to vaccines for themselves and for their loved ones.

TEENS OF VACCINE-HESITANT OR ANTI-VAX PARENTS ASKING ABOUT COVID & OTHER VACCINES

"I want the Covid Vaccine, but my parents aren't allowing me to? What do I do?"

Hey there, you aren't alone...We have helped a lot of teens navigate through situations like these. Some have hesitant parents while some have parents who are recently anti-vax and others have parents who’ve had deep anti-vax beliefs. We have resources to convince your parents based on your situation as well as minor consent laws by state. DM us or contact us so we can better understand your situation and help you. In the meantime, here are some resources.

Guide to convince parents: https://teensforvaccines.org/how-to-talk-to-parents

Minor Consent Laws by State: https://teensforvaccines.org/minor-consent-laws-by-state

You aren’t alone…you can get through this…So proud of you for trying!

"My mom doesn't listen to me when i give her facts about covid vaccines being effective and not deadly. No idea if this is the right place but since people here might know more about the vaccines I really hope someone will respond. I have been trying to convince my mom to allow me to vaccinate (I am underage) for a while but even after showing her PROPERLY SOURCED facts, she still keeps saying "it's poison and you are so young and don't want to die", "it's all a huge business and everything is a lie" and "There is no point". And when I ask "if you believe in nothing then what would make you believe it? When i show her all the ingredients and what they do?" she just tells me to shut up... such an impossible case in my opinion...she is not even anti vax or anti government just randomly so stubborn 🙁 because she won't allow me to vaccinate, I can't attend LIFE CHANGING courses and maybe not even school properly.... What else could I do to make her believe? Any hope?"

Hey there, sorry to hear this…so proud of you for trying!! Below are some tips from the work we do with teens who are trying to convince their parents. All these are also in the link to the guide for teens.

https://teensforvaccines.org/how-to-talk-to-parents/

Is there anyone in your family (or extended family) or her friends she trusts and who are provax for the COVID vaccine? Sometimes adults are only willing to hear it from other adults (like a friend’s mom talking to her).
If she is saying that it’s poison etc., it is a strong indication that she is buying into all the disinformation out there. Are you able to find a happy time with her that she sees you emotional about not getting the vaccine and how you are sad about not being able to do things you want to? Don’t mix this convo with facts, studies, etc., to prove anything. Just a heart-to-heart chat about how you feel. And see where that goes. She wants the best for you in the way she knows best (even if she is misguided), so just make sure you resonate to that emotion that she cares for you and you are sad (don’t weave in the angry, frustrated part). She may open up either right away or it will give her something to think about. And in a couple days, you can suggest perhaps both of you can go to the doctor and just speak to doctor. We have seen that sometimes parents don’t want to keep hearing facts and studies…a more emotional, gentle persistence works better.
Does she know about healthy young teens catching severe long-haul COVID and many dying? This whole “teens are a low risk” is not true especially with the highly contagious delta variant. One teen we helped shared examples with her mom (who was a bit more open to listen) and it helped. These examples and more tips are in the link above.

Reach out to us. We can help trying to convince your mom. We also maintain an accurate list of laws, health dept rules by state, along with pharmacy locations by zip code. These are complicated to navigate; not as simple as looking up the law since there are also rules for whether the teen needs to be accompanied or not and those vary by age within state. Also, bear in mind that teens who typically want to take this route should have some knowledge of their medical history and try to get a school nurse consult if possible.

Minor Consent Laws by State: https://teensforvaccines.org/minor-consent-laws-by-state

You aren’t alone…you can get through this…We sincerely hope convincing your mom works out. DM anytime @teensforvaxx or email us via https://teensforvaccines.org/contact-us/. We are here.

"My best friend won't get vaccinated before leaving for college"

Hey there, sorry to hear about your friend. There is so much to unpack from your post…

First off, I’m posting one story from lung.org (there are several like this), where healthy teens are suffering from long haul COVID. And many have had to drop off from college too. You can find other stories online too.

https://www.lung.org/blog/long-term-covid-19-effects

Secondly, if I read your post correctly, your friend seems to be okay with others around him doing their part to protect him (by being vaccinated) but he is okay not doing his part for others (he intends to party etc., so clearly not just isolated within his quorum of vaccinated ppl). That is extremely symptomatic of someone whose moral compass is off (sorry to be frank), unless he has some deep concerns for getting it and is fearful, in which case the hesitancy can be helped by persuading him to talk to a doctor, someone he trusts who got vaccinated…acknowledging that hesitancy is real without passing judgment can help but only if the person hasn’t gone off the deep end.

"Where can I find info on common concerns about vaccines that I can show to my parents? Looking for easy-to-read digestible materials and not too scientific or they’ll switch off."

Hi there, here is a collection of 1-2 minute videos from trusted doctors addressing common concerns. They are easy to understand and watch with your parents if they are willing. The source is a national non-profit in the U.S. that works tirelessly to educate families. Hope you find it useful. So proud of you for trying to talk to your parents!!

https://vaccinateyourfamily.org/questions-about-vaccines/video-faqs/

UNVAXXED TEEN GETTING VACCINES FOR THE FIRST TIME NEEDING HELP/REASSURANCE

"Unvaxxed teen to get Covid vaccine. Hello, I’m 16 and I’ve never been vaccinated in my entire life. Because Covid vaccines are becoming a gateway to more freedoms my mum has recently decided to get vaccines. I’m just nervous because I’ve never had a vaccine in my life and don’t know how I’ll react to it, what if I’m allergic and have an anaphylactic shock??? Is there anyone else here that has experienced the same thing? I’m really anxious! It feels weird to think about something artificial being injected into me, especially when it isn’t a virus that will necessarily harm me."

Hey there, Congrats!! Really happy for you. Glad your mom agreed. Yes, there are many who have received vaccines after being unvaccinated for many years.

Since you are anxious about needles, let the nurse know that you are anxious. They will anyways have you sit for 15 mins after the shot to observe for any reaction.

Also, talk to your mom about a catch-up schedule for routine vax now that she is open. No point leaving yourself vulnerable to other deadly diseases out there. CDC catch-up schedule that your doctor can help you plan for (scroll to your age group): https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/prior-years/2019/catchup.html

CDC-backed Vaccines and Diseases every teen must know about. https://teensforvaccines.org/vaccine-preventable-diseases/

If you want to chat with someone (keeping your privacy), DM us @teensforvaxx on Twitter or Instagram or reach out via https://teensforvaccines.org/contact-us/. We work with a lot of teens. We are so very proud of you!!

"Is it safe for a teenager who's never had vaccines to get vaccinated?"

Hey there! You are an awesome and brave teen! I can relate to how hard it really can be to find the right. I will break it down for you with links.

First off, since you have never been vaccinated, you need to get what is called a "catch-up schedule." Only a doctor will be able to advise which vaccinations can be given together and which need to be spaced out. A complete listing of the 14 diseases that teens should be aware of (aside from COVID) can be found below, headers link back to CDC. Given we are in the COVID-19 pandemic, it is possible that the doctor may advise getting the COVID shot, in which case they will also advise on how to space out the other vaccines you need (Tdap, measles, HPV, etc.)

https://teensforvaccines.org/vaccine-preventable-diseases

2) Mature minor consent law exists in your state [OP is from Washington] which means you need to talk to a doctor first to see whether they will allow. If you have access to a school nurse, it is usually the best place to start so you have privacy in your conversations.

3) Email the immunization coalition in Washington We have already searched the links for you. Depending on which county you live in, you can contact the nearest or you can contact the statewide. They are very supportive and can point you to local resources. https://www.immunizationcoalitions.org/network-members/?listing=1&states=WyJXQSJd

Coalitions have a lot of parents too, so if you think there is a slim chance (if at all) that talking to an adult may convince your parents, they can help with that too. Talking to your teacher, school nurse, and sister, ,and have them talk to your parents are also wonderful ideas.

4) Video FAQs for common vaccination questions and COVID teen vaccine Q&A. Keep these links handy.

https://vaccinateyourfamily.org/questions-about-vaccines/video-faqs/

https://blog.chocchildrens.org/the-covid-19-vaccine-and-teens-what-parents-should-know/

If you need further help, just DM us anytime.

"17 and never been vaccinated. Where do I start and what do I need? My dad didn’t believe in vaccines but as a result of COVID I’ve done some research and think I would like to get vaccinated before I head to college in August. How would I go about this? What shots/how many do I need? Is it realistic to expect to be fully vaccinated by late August?"

First off, tons of kudos to you! You are a role model to many!

Scheduling your doc appointment and having them design your catch-up schedule is the best thing to do. Here is a link to all the vaccines teens must be up-to-date on. https://teensforvaccines.org/vaccines-for-teens/

Another trusted source is https://vaccineinformation.org/teens/schedules.asp (Immunization Action Coalition in the U.S.; their site also makes CDC recommendations easy to understand for teens).

Gave you an award since I truly think your post is helpful to many! All the best!

TEENS WHO ARE FEARFUL OF NEEDLES OR HAVE ANXIETY ISSUES OR SIMPLY LOOKING FOR REASSURANCE

"How much does the needle hurt? My mom is anti-vax, so I've never had a shot, but now that I'm reaching 18 I'm thinking about getting vaccinated. the only thing stopping me is my fear of how much it's gonna hurt. my dad says last time he got a shot it barely hurt at all, but my friend who is helping me says it's excruciating. I'm really scared of the pain, and all the Google results I'm getting talk about pain after the needle goes in. please someone just give me a clear answer, I'm scared."

Hey! I’m a teen too and can totally relate to your fear. Many of my friends have fear of needles too. For us, the covid vaccine was a quick prick. It really helps to let the nurse know upfront that you don’t like needles. They can be super empathetic and make you feel comfy. Taking a deep breath, closing your eyes, putting headphones with your fav music are things you can try. Mostly it’s just a prick. The arm soreness actually set in for us about a day after and then went away in another day. Feel free to DM anytime. Here is an article on tips for needle fear which we found very helpful: https://www.okhealthyfamily.org/post/fear-of-needles-three-coping-strategies-you-can-use-at-your-covid-19-vaccination-appointment

Edited: BTW, super proud of you for considering the vaccine!! Gave you a Reddit award 🙂 with a message.

"I have severe anxiety and PTSD. I got the first dose even though I heard all the conspiracy theories. I can’t research because of rabbit holes my anxiety-ridden brain will go down. Can someone please direct me to genuine resources? If not here, is there some where else that is ‘safe’ to ask? Google is not my friend. YouTube is not my friend. The people that believe the vaccine is not what they say it is are insidious and they are everywhere. I have no mental real estate left for them. Please help me see reason."

Hey there! You are super brave to face your anxieties. You are not alone. Honored to help you with resources, but first off, I've given you a Gold award since I truly believe you are simply awesome! Aside from the CDC, which others have already mentioned, here are some resources widely used by many:

An easy-to-understand comprehensive Q&A on COVID-19 vaccine from VaccinateYourFamily.com. It is a national nonprofit that works with the CDC, immunization coalitions, trusted doctors, nurses, and public health educators, and helps a lot of families, so it is a highly trusted organization. All their answers are backed by the CDC.

https://vaccinateyourfamily.org/questions-about-vaccines/covid19faq/

2) Short video from the highly trusted John Hopkins University on how mRNA vaccines work and helps debunk the misinformation out there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4sUuFBEo2g

3) Short 1 minute videos from trusted doctors on common concerns people have about vaccines. You can just search on this page which concerns you have.

https://vaccinateyourfamily.org/questions-about-vaccines/video-faqs/

4) Although the above three resources much cover pretty much most common concerns, you can also read these Q&A for deeper questions you may have.

https://vaccinateyourfamily.org/vaccine-safety/

https://vaccinateyourfamily.org/questions-about-vaccines/vaccine-side-effects/

https://vaccinateyourfamily.org/questions-about-vaccines/vaccine-ingredients/

From the links above, you can also find published research studies.

5) Here are stories from real families that changed from being anti-vax to pro-vax. You can always write to VoicesforVaccines, this is a nonprofit that works with families and have really dedicated people who are always there to help. You can find their email and phone number easily from their site.

https://www.voicesforvaccines.org/category/anti-vax-to-pro-vax/

6) Talking to someone from your local health department or your immunization coalition about your fears and getting reassurance is always an option (in addition to your doctor of course).

It will take less than 5 seconds to find out your local health department or your immunization coalition (I'm assuming you live in the U.S.). They will be able to help you with local resources like the educational events are that being planned. There are many dedicated volunteers organizing local outreach events, especially in this time of need.

You can search by your zipcode in either links-

Your local health dept: https://www.naccho.org/membership/lhd-directory

Your local immunization coalition: https://www.immunizationcoalitions.org/network-members/?listing=1&states=WyJXQSJd

7) Below is an article on how to deal with the anxiety, although I personally think by reaching out to others, you've already powered through some of their recommendations like a champ ;-)!

https://mhanational.org/coping-covid-19-vaccine-anxiety

8) Finally, there was a recent investigative report done by the Center of Countering Digital Hate that clearly outlined how the disinformation out there is a planned lobby with serious revenue motive in the order of millions. I will DM you that report link since this subreddit is about sharing vaccine resources.

Hope the above help!

Take care! Feel free to DM me anytime on @teensforvaxx on Twitter, Instagram, or Reddit. Or, you can contact us at https://teensforvaccines.org/contact-us/

"Mom is hounding me about making COVID vaccine appointment but I don’t want to do it Biggest reason I’m extremely terrified of needles and do not under any circumstance want to get two. If I absolutely have to do it I only want the one shot version. I’m also highly concerned about the side effects it doesn’t seem normal to me that you are to expect awful side effects from a vaccine no other shot is like that that I have ever had. Third I’m just overall not that concerned about COVID. My parents have had the vaccine they were the only reason I was really concerned about catching it, I wear a mask, wash my hands etc. and am about as low risk as you could be for any complications. I’ve taken precautions but still tried to live my life as much as I can people who haven’t left the house in a year definitely are more concerned than me and I’d gladly give my spot to them. That being said I’m being hounded by my mother to book it, sending me links dropping off newspaper articles, etc. I don’t live with my parents but see them often and feel like she’s going to drive me insane until I do. I just really don’t want to go through with it. Any advice on pain/dealing with the needle and how to avoid side effects?"

Hey there,

There are many who have the fear of needles; you aren’t alone. Here is a really good article on coping strategies for fear of needles when getting vaccinated: https://www.okhealthyfamily.org/post/fear-of-needles-three-coping-strategies-you-can-use-at-your-covid-19-vaccination-appointment

As others have mentioned, getting vaccinated will not only protect you but those around you. So proud of you for reaching out with your concerns!!

I wish you all the best! My parents are getting their vaccines next weekend even though my mom hates needles :-).

Take care!

RESPONSE BACK FROM OP: Thank you! Got it this morning, definitely wasn’t fun and hurt more than people led me to believe but I survived. One more then hopefully no more needles for a very long time.

RESPONSE BACK FROM US: Hey there! You are such a trooper!!! I’m so proud of you! Thanks for sharing! Gave you an award!

RESPONSE BACK FROM OP: Thank you so much for the award!

"Very very stuck on what to do. Hi I'm 17F and really don’t know whether i should take the vaccine or not (pfizer) i have a TERRIBLE anxiety disorder which links to a panic disorder and literally just yesterday, i thought i should just get the jab over and done with. however as i sat down and the guy about to stick the needle in me was asking for my details and everything. that’s when reality hit and i immediately felt nauseous and started panicking and didn’t get the vaccine in the end. i feel like i’d need a hell of a lot of reassurance and advice if i were to get it. i’m not anti vax btw just quite afraid of the vaccine but covid too. it’s just some people on this app and other media’s that freak me out, these people that are against the vaccine are seriously getting into my head. to be clear i was panicking mainly because i’m afraid of the side effects of the vaccine and if it will really protect me. i just want to leave my house and feel like a teenager again. i’m really so stuck on what to do."

So sorry to hear this. Pls know that you aren’t alone. So proud of you for trying. There is a ton of disinformation out there, so it is okay to be anxious (many are). Just contact us at either https://teensforvaccines.org/contact-us/ or DM us at @teensforvaxx on Reddit, Twitter, or Instagram. You can chat anonymously about how you are feeling and we can walk you through specific resources. We a group of teens across many states and each one of us is fully vaccinated. We are more than happy to walk you through our own personal stories. You are not alone. You can get through this.

"I’m getting the vaccine this week but I’m a little nervous, can anyone here tell me your experience getting the vaccine and any side effects you might have had … all input will be greatly appreciated… Thanks"

[By Arin Parsa] I got the Pfizer vaccine for teens, both doses. No side effects except a bit of arm soreness that lasted a couple hours. Felt a slight bit of fatigue on the day after the second dose so slept for a few hours extra :-). Mom checked my temperature and said that it was normal. That’s pretty much has been my experience, similar to getting a flu shot. Knowing that the fatigue was a result of my body building up the immunity helped a lot :-).

[Young Adult] I'm 21 and I've just reached it to my doctor to be vaccinated for the very first time. What should I expect? More details: My parents raised me in a homeopathic household where doctors were a last resort and because of that I have serious medical anxiety. I'm ready to get vaccinated but I'm worried because of the stuff I've heard from them, probably all bullshit. Anyone else get vaccines as an adult?"

Hi there!

You may want to read Emma’s story. She got vaccinated at 20. https://www.voicesforvaccines.org/i-got-myself-vaccinated/

Voicesforvaccines.org is a great resource that has real family experiences that may help you.

Also, the videos below from VaccinateYourFamily.org address common questions on vaccine safety, debunking a lot of myths.

https://vaccinateyourfamily.org/questions-about-vaccines/video-faqs/

I agree with the other response you got on Vaxopedia.org. It is a great resource too. It is maintained by Dr.Vincent Ianelli.

All the best! You are a role model to many!

RESPONSE BACK FROM OP: Thank you!!

VACCINE SAFETY/ EFFICACY RELATED QUESTIONS

[Adult with 16 YO daughter] "Can vaccines affect puberty in any way? I'm pro-vaccine and have been surprised to find, after many years, that my partner is now very anti-vaccine, or at least anti-COVID-vaccine. I'm not trying to convince them, but they've been up in arms about the possibility of a Covid vaccine being offered to younger people under the age of 16. This age group includes our daughter. I'm hoping to get her vaccinated when it becomes available and she wants it but...one of the things my partner has brought up is a worry that there will be some sort of effect on puberty in that age group. I can't find any facts to back up this fear, but I thought I'd ask here to see if I'm missing something. It would be nice to be able to reassure the kiddo."

No, vaccines don't affect puberty. Please read Dr. LaSelle’s article on “COVID-19 Vaccines and Your Teen.” Dr. LaSelle is an eminent physician and her books and blogs are a trusted source. Although the article touches upon disinformation around fertility and not directly puberty, it is a very good article to read for those who are wondering about COVID-19 vaccines and teens. You will find her other blogs also from the link below.

https://gretchenlasallemd.com/covid-vaccines-and-your-teen/

"My mother is telling me not to get the 2nd dose because it messes with your DNA which is obviously BS. I just don’t really know why people say this and what to say back."

Hey there!

Check this somewhat-simply explained reason why the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine doesn’t alter DNA.

“It’s basically a piece of material that contains instructions,” said Boslett. “Once it’s injected, it’s taken up by your cells, but it never enters the cell nucleus where all of your DNA exists within your cells.”

There is also a video in the article that will help.

https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2021/01/419691/covid-19-vaccine-fact-vs-fiction-expert-weighs-common-fears

"Anyone have a fact sheet on Aluminum adjuvants? Showing safety?"

"Has any vaccine ever developed side effects more than a couple months later? A lot of people are afraid to get the vaccine because "what if I grow a 3rd eye in ten years?" Has there ever been a vaccine in the history of the world that had side effects only show up several months or years after receiving it? It's my understanding that if there are side effects, you'd know about them fairly quickly so any vaccine that has been given to millions of people, any side effect it has will 100% show itself within the first couple of months."

[Young adult] "I (21m) keep seeing all these fearmongering articles about how since I'm not vaccinated I'm at super high risk. But I also have reservations about the vaccine since I'm not so keen on getting myocarditis. Obviously the vaccine should be the obvious answer. But my family history is riddled with heart disease and I have a high-mobility job that requires me to constantly move and lift big things. I'm kinda stuck."

Slides from the CDC’s ACIP meeting few days ago on benefit v. risk of the COVID-19 vaccine w.r.t myocarditis and why they are recommending the vaccine. The benefits far outweigh the risk. Also, myocarditis from catching COVID is far more serious than the kind you may (in the very rare case) get from the vaccine.

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/downloads/slides-2021-06/05-COVID-Wallace-508.pdf.

[Adult] "Can vaccines actually reduce transmission? What about in cases of breakthrough infections?"

Yes, vaccines reduce transmission. The more people that are vaccinated, the less the virus can spread and mutate. Fully vaccinated people who may have breakthrough infections with the COVID vaccine are infectious for much shorter periods than the unvaccinated and hence another compelling reason for being fully vaccinated.

Cited from www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/delta-variant.html

[Adult] "I want to get vaccinated but I'm scared (not an antivaxxer). I'm worried about long-term safety."

Any severe side effects show within 6 weeks. Among all vaccines till date, there hasn’t been a precedent of effects showing up years later. Read this article in which leading expert, Dr. Paul Offit, clarifies.

https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/exclusives/93064

“…experts say they have confidence about the long-term safety of these vaccines.

That's because past experience shows that severe side effects from vaccines most often appear within a time frame of about 6 weeks after vaccination, according to Paul Offit, MD, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a member of the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC).”

“I know of no precedent of a long-term effect that comes up 5 or 10 years later," Offit told MedPage Today.

TEENS & ADULTS WHO ARE TRYING TO CONVINCE THEIR LOVED ONES

"Help. My mom’s scared of the vaccine. She’s more worried about unreported vaccine side effects vs Covid. Thank you if you can help with some non biased data that shows vaccine side effects vs Covid morbidity & mortality rates. She is a numbers person-I need help with this new strategy to reach her."

Hey there, this is what she needs:

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/downloads/slides-2021-07/05-COVID-Rosenblum-508.pdf

This is a comprehensive deck from the CDC ACIP meeting where detailed charts and numbers of benefits v. risks are detailed, broken down by gender and age. The slides towards the end especially have compelling data-backed insights. If she is a numbers person, this will resonate with her.

RESPONSE BACK FROM OP: Thank you for the data and the critical eye surrounding the CDC. We are human and trying to figure it out and hopefully steer humanity in a helpful direction. I’ve just gone through this slide deck and it is very helpful! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

RESPONSE BACK FROM US: You are welcome!!! Just gave you a Gold award for being such a caring person and trying to find information that can convince your mom!! As a vaccine advocate, it is so gratifying for me to see this!!

"Guys, I need some help with my friends [20/22 YO]. What should I say to help them understand the importance of vaccines? They told me they don’t care that it would help other people because they have a 99.9% chance of surviving..."

Thank you for confirming that they were young adults and possibly unaware of the debilitating effects of long-haul COVID.

I’m going to share stories of healthy 22-year-olds who are suffering endlessly with symptoms lasting more than a year. Your friends risk not only their health but also losing work and education opportunities, dealing with the cost of hospitalization and the stress of not knowing when they will recover fully. Perhaps you can relay that it is not worth gambling their health and future careers. Links below with excerpts:

22-year old: “Initially, I lost my taste and smell for six days and had only minor other symptoms. Not sick in the traditional sense,” McLaughlin told Healthline. “Unfortunately, strange symptoms followed me the next few months, including COVID toes, rashes, strange exercise intolerance, and brain fog until mid-summer, when a stress and exercise-intensive day led to a full relapse into long COVID, where I was in and out of the hospital and completely debilitated otherwise.”

More than a year after testing positive, McLaughlin hasn’t been able to work. She’s restricted to her home and some days to bed. She’s what scientists call a COVID long-hauler…”

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/covid-19-long-haul-symptoms-may-be-caused-by-changes-in-genes

Another 22-year old: “Hakala had costochondritis, inflammation of the rib cartilage, pericarditis, inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart, and pleurisy, inflammation of the tissue between the lungs and chest. Doctors gave her a beta blocker to help her irregular heart rate and something to treat her widespread inflammation. After leaving the hospital, she still felt sick…’This is super frustrating. I don’t understand why this happened to me,’ Hakala said. ‘All of my other friends have returned to normal.’”

https://www.today.com/health/covid-19-long-hauler-22-year-old-shares-experience-t192027

I’m sure there are tons of other stories that can be a wake-up call. You can also look up scholarly articles on long-haul COVID for young adults.

Hope this helps somewhat. Gave you a silver award I had, for being a good friend to them, whether they realize it or not.

"My grandma is in her late 80s and I'm scared. On one hand I'm scared of her getting covid. On the other, after me and my sister (who are both in our early 20s) got the second dose of the vaccine and were bedridden I'm scared I could lose my grandma if she takes the vaccine. As u can tell I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place."

HPV, MENINGITIS, FLU VACCINE RELATED QUESTIONS FROM TEENS & ADULTS

We will port these from our Reddit account in the next few weeks.

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