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Now that @GovCanHealth has approved Pfizer for adolescents, I think it is timely to have a conversation about pediatric autonomy in healthcare decision making.
A thread...
(I invite other experts and parents to weigh in as well) https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/children-12-and-older-now-cleared-to-receive-pfizer-vaccine-health-canada-1.5414935
A thread...
(I invite other experts and parents to weigh in as well) https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/children-12-and-older-now-cleared-to-receive-pfizer-vaccine-health-canada-1.5414935
I think the initial response to the COVID vaccine approval for many parents (myself included) was âOh yes! They are definitely getting itâ!
But letâs step back for a minute and think about this as a teaching and learning opportunity.
But letâs step back for a minute and think about this as a teaching and learning opportunity.
As a vaccinating nurse, I have worked with teenagers who have 'snuck' in to receive a vaccine against their parents wishes.
I have also worked with families who were 'forcing' their teenager to receive a vaccine they did not want.
In both cases...I refused to vaccinate
I have also worked with families who were 'forcing' their teenager to receive a vaccine they did not want.
In both cases...I refused to vaccinate
When does pediatric autonomy âkick-inâ?
âRecent studies on childrenâs decision-making competences suggest that individuals from the age of 12 years (Pfizer eligibility!!) shall be judged as competent to provide informed consentâ (Martakis et al, 2018)
https://www.narcis.nl/publication/RecordID/oai:cris.maastrichtuniversity.nl:publications%2F6b7d69a4-9f5f-4017-adc2-2b3f74725184
âRecent studies on childrenâs decision-making competences suggest that individuals from the age of 12 years (Pfizer eligibility!!) shall be judged as competent to provide informed consentâ (Martakis et al, 2018)
https://www.narcis.nl/publication/RecordID/oai:cris.maastrichtuniversity.nl:publications%2F6b7d69a4-9f5f-4017-adc2-2b3f74725184
Acknowledging pediatric autonomy values the moral worth of a child.
Plus, it helps to build competencies towards making their own healthcare decisions and interacting with the healthcare system as they grow older.
It also helps to increase health literacy...a vital skill.
Plus, it helps to build competencies towards making their own healthcare decisions and interacting with the healthcare system as they grow older.
It also helps to increase health literacy...a vital skill.
I encourage parents to include their child in the vaccine decision, so that there is mutual participation in the decision-making process.
How can you do this?
I am going to draw from our experience with our 15 Year Old....
How can you do this?
I am going to draw from our experience with our 15 Year Old....
When he found out he qualified for vaccination, his immediate response was âhell, ya! I am getting thatâ â which as a public health nurse, made my heart sing.
However, as a parent and a HUGE advocate of informed decision making. I took a step back.
However, as a parent and a HUGE advocate of informed decision making. I took a step back.
This is a learning opportunity and his first interaction with the healthcare system as an autonomous individual. We need to do this right.
So I responded: âgood, I support you in that, but first I need for you to understand both the risks and the benefits of getting vaccinatedâ.
So I responded: âgood, I support you in that, but first I need for you to understand both the risks and the benefits of getting vaccinatedâ.
We visited some reputable (evidence based) information sources. These included the Pfizer clinical trials page, Health Canada, and CDC sites. Also, we located the patient medication information form for the Pfizer vaccine.
https://www.cvdvaccine.ca/files/Canadian%20Patient%20Medication%20Information.pdf
https://www.cvdvaccine.ca/files/Canadian%20Patient%20Medication%20Information.pdf
We also discussed (and visited) poor information sources to stimulate critical thinking. I caution you about doing this, because these sites are meant to be fear inducing. I was prepared to refute the claims and point out the scare tactics they were usingâŠ.others may not be.
My point in doing this was not to dissuade him from getting vaccinated, but to help him understand that every healthcare decision is a balance of risk and benefit. In this situation, the benefits of vaccinating clearly outweigh the risks.
But he needs to learn that for himself.
But he needs to learn that for himself.
When it comes time to book the appointment, I am going to get him to do this as well (lets face it, he can navigate the online booking system better than I can).
This will teach him what info he will need and how to access the healthcare system when he needs to in the future.
This will teach him what info he will need and how to access the healthcare system when he needs to in the future.
Disclaimer: I recognize that I am coming at this from a point of immense privilege, but I hope to translate my knowledge into healthcare literacy for others. Also, I acknowledge that different parenting strategies will have varying impacts on these decision-making processes.
