How can teens convince parents about the COVID-19 vaccine?

Posted on June 10, 2021 By Arin ParsaComments Off

If you are a teen whose parents are hesitant about the COVID-19 vaccine, don't lose hope. You are not alone. Many parents who aren't anti-vax simply want to be reassured that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe for their tweens and teens. There is a ton of misinformation out there, and it can be worrisome for them.

In this article, we are sharing tips and resources to convince your parents. These are known to work. If you are a teen with parents who are against vaccines, these tips and resources will help you too. Kudos to all of us teens worldwide who are trying to #CrushCOVID.

So, here are the tips and resources to talk to your parents.

FIRST OFF, COMPILE YOUR FACTS. BE INFORMED!

Checkout the resources below to know why doctors are recommending the COVID-19 vaccine and ways to debunk vaccine myths. These will prepare you with everything you need --that the vaccine is not rushed, has been proven safe in comprehensive trials, all religions are supporting it, and many many teens are indeed getting it! You will also find anti-vax to pro-vax stories and the real story behind who is making money spreading all the lies about vaccines, confusing our parents.

Why doctors are recommending the COVID-19 Vaccine for Teens - Parental concerns addressed!

General Vaccine Myths Debunked by Experts

CDC's Short Paper on Common Questions from Parents

Minor Consent Laws by State & Where to Get Vaccines

Families that changed from Anti-Vax to Pro-Vax

Religious Concerns? All major religions support vaccinations

All major religions support vaccinations. People who are carrying these religious banners and seeking for exemptions are misguided and are using religion as a way to get exemption. The anti-vax lobby which is making millions by peddling alternative cures is propagating false truths. Religious leaders have come out in support of vaccination so our communities can be safe.

Excerpts from https://whyimmunize.org/religion-and-vaccines/

Jews may have many different interpretations of their religion and varying levels of orthodoxy. However, a variety of Jewish religious leaders have urged fellow Jews to vaccinate their children. Many Jewish people have also helped in the development and the distribution of vaccines. Read this from Rabbi Hershy Z. Ten.

The Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences held a conference to discuss whether or not certain medical treatments should be considered acceptable under Islamic law. They have determined that when something unclean is used to make a medicine that thing is “fundamentally transformed” and not unclean to use.

The Seventh Day Adventists state they “encourage responsible immunization/vaccination, and have no religious or faith-based reason not to encourage [their] adherents” to get vaccinated.Most major Christian churches have actively pushed against being used as justification for religious exemptions in the United States and have actively discussed the benefits of vaccination.

While Catholic leadership may wish that there were not any cell lines used in the production of vaccines, they recognize that there is not an alternative at this time and the vaccine should be given to prevent further loss of life or risk to a child. Catholic schools have also begun rejecting admission to nonvaccinated students. In fact, Pope Francis has appealed that no one be excluded from getting the COVID-19 vaccine. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2021-05/vatican-to-offer-vaccines-to-more-than-300-people.html

There is nothing in the teachings of the Buddha that mentions vaccines or vaccination. Buddhists belonging to many branches of Buddhism vaccinate themselves and their children. The Dali Lama himself launched a polio vaccine drive in 2010 and has urged others to get the COVID-19 vaccine after getting his shot!

Christian Science denomination has “counseled respect for public health” and does not impose any decisions by the church. Christian Science states that its “church members are free to make their own choices on all life-decisions…including whether or not to vaccinate their children.”

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said way back in 1978 that members of the church should vaccinate their children, and still make it a priority today!

The Episcopal Church reaffirmed last year that it is very provaccine and asked no one to use the church as the basis of a religious exemption.

Evangelicals have different perspectives on vaccination, but many discuss seeking “common good” from a Christian perspective in immunization to prevent harm to children by not getting vaccinated.

Hindus have raised no objections to vaccines in India and have high rates of immunizations. India has the Universal Immunisation Programme which is a vaccine-delivery platform for children and pregnant women, funded by the central government and implemented by State governments.

Sikhism texts and doctrine contain no teachings in opposition to immunization. Sikh children are 14% more likely to be vaccinated than other religious groups in India.

Japanese religion has “acknowledged modern biomedicine” since 1868 and has accepted vaccination.

Jainism does not have any books exploring its philosophy in relation to western medical bioethics, there were many key religious members in “early governmental policy committees that issued federal reports and guidelines”.

Vaccine Safety Research Studies

How the Anti-Vax Industry is Making Millions by Deliberately Misinforming Parents

It is all out in the open now! The "Anti-Vaxx" is an industry. There are specific people and organizations who are profiting massively by spreading lies about vaccines. The detailed revenue and profit reports that were investigated clearly show that they made at least $36 million and are worth up to $1.1 billion --all at the expense of the safety of our families.

https://www.counterhate.com/pandemicprofiteers

10 Reasons Why Teens Need To Be Vaccinated

KNOW THE GROWING LIST OF TEENS TRAGICALLY AFFECTED BY COVID-19. REAL STORIES ARE POWERFUL MOTIVATORS.

https://teensforvaccines.org/growing-number-of-teens-tragically-affected-by-covid-19/

TALK TO YOUR PARENTS WHEN THEY ARE RELAXED

Mature man and his son walking in the public park

Find a time when your parents are relaxed, not when they are stressed with work or something else. You know them the best :-). If they seem agitated or busy --it is clearly not the time to talk about why you want something that they may not want for you.

IF THEY SEEM BUSY, EMAIL THEM THE INFO & WAIT FOR A GOOD TIME :-). DON'T FIGHT!

If you tried many times to talk to them and they aren't willing yet, don't get into a fight ;-). Email them the links. Let the information sink in. Then, bring it up again in a day or two.

TELL THEM YOU KNOW THEY CARE FOR YOU AND WANT THE BEST FOR YOU

Grown up daughter holding hands of middle aged mother relatives female sitting look at each other having heart-to-heart talk, understanding support care and love of diverse generations women concept

We often don't thank our parents enough. This might be a great time to thank them for all they do! Helping around the house a bit more, talking about school, friends, and any other things that bother you may be a good way to lead into the topic of why you want to get vaccinated.

TELL THEM HOW YOU TRULY FEEL

Tell them how you truly feel --

how not being vaccinated means you can't do all your favorite activities
how everyone else is getting the vaccine and they will be able to do everything they want and you will feel left out
how you are afraid you might infect your loved ones
how teen cases of COVID-19 are rising dramatically and although deaths are rare, long-haul COVID-19 complications are real
why you don't want to live in fear and how great it would be if the pandemic ends for all

Chances are that they already know how unhappy and restrictive this whole pandemic situation has been for you. Share with them the resources you have taken the time to find.

REACH OUT TO OTHERS WHO CAN TALK TO YOUR PARENTS

Ask your parents if they would be willing to talk to others. Reach out to your doctor (if you know who). Reach out to your friends' parents and extended family members who are vaccinating their children and can talk to your parents. Talk to your school guidance counselor, school nurse, or science teacher to see if they can talk to your parent. If your parents are religious, reach out to your religious leaders to see whether they can talk to your parents. Know that almost all religious leaders support vaccines. In short, BE GENTLY PERSISTENT.

CHECK OUT LOCAL EVENTS FOR PARENTS BY YOUR IMMUNIZATION COALITION

BE GENTLY PERSISTENT. IT IS "YOUR" HEALTH

REMEMBER PARENTS CARE. KEEP TALKING TO THEM ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL

SHARE THE RESOURCES YOU HAVE. HAVE THEM TALK TO OTHERS

An unrecognizable mother and her teen daughter argue about the teen's boundaries.

Be persistent. Protecting yourself from COVID-19 is the right thing to do since even though we teens have stronger immunity, we are not invincible. COVID-19 can result in long-term complications, if not death. Just be persistent in showing the facts to your parents and let them know how this pandemic has truly affected you emotionally. Parents care; if they have low vaccine confidence due to all the misinformation floating out there, it is understandable. Just be persistent. It is your health.

IF YOU'VE TRIED EVERYTHING...AND WANT TO KNOW THE MINOR CONSENT LAWS?

If you live in the U.S., laws vary a lot by state and can be really confusing.

Check out our comprehensive guides for minor consent laws by state, phone numbers for your county health department, and where you can get the vaccine in your state.

https://teensforvaccines.org/minor-consent-laws-by-state

Getting vaccinated against your parents' wishes by exercising your legal right is still a big decision since parents are most likely providing for you financially, so make sure to weigh the pros and cons of going against their wishes. You may want to watch Ethan Lindenberger's advice; Ethan got his vaccines against his mother's wishes when he turned eighteen and the decision was in no way easy for him. His profound thoughts may be helpful to you.

If you live outside the U.S., similar strategies apply. Contacting a doctor and finding your local health department are great ways of knowing what your options are. If you are in the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, you can look up "Gillick Competence" too.

KUDOS TO YOU FOR TRYING TO TALK TO YOUR PARENTS. YOU CAN DO THIS!

A FRIENDLY REMINDER FROM US --IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT COVID.

MAKE SURE YOU ARE UP-TO-DATE ON YOUR OTHER "FIVE"

Tdap, HPV, Men-ACWY, Men-B, AND Flu VACCINES

Let's all end the pandemic and get our lives back! #CrushCOVID

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Legal Disclaimer: Information in this guide is purely for educational purposes only. It must not be substituted for medical or legal advice. All decisions must be made by consulting a professional.