Also facts, youngsters are at very low risk from serious illness with covid.
An indisputable fact, suppressed during covid, a naturally acquired immunity is far superior to a vaccine induced immunity. Always. (the disclaimer being some diseases are so bad you don't want to risk attaining a natural immunity eg polio. But not covid)

Therefore if young and thinking long term about your future health.................make your own informed decision.

@puff Yes, sometimes adolescents are more resistant to some illnesses but more often they aren't. Also, 75% of the people in the world are over 15 years old.

Personally, if I had a child I'd rather risk vague and unproven long term effects of the Covid vaccine than risk my child dying from Covid or getting Covid and possibly having long term health problems from the virus.

And I'd rather my child not spread Covid to someone who is more vulnerable to the virus such as parents, grandparents, teachers, etc.

@Charles1971 Are you really unaware covid vaccines do not stop transmission ie won't stop you getting it? Your reasoning is based on false assumptions.
Why consent must be informed consent. If a guardian making decisions on behalf of a youth in your care, please inform yourself before granting consent that will affect their lives, not yours.

@puff In January 2021 in the U.S. alone there were about 20,000 to 25,000 Covid deaths per week. Now we have 80 to 300 per week.

And I do know that dying from Covid will 100% affect someone's life. Preventing contracting Covid also prevents its spread. Shortening the time and severity that someone is sick with Covid also reduces its spread.

But only think of yourself as you walk around spreading Covid to other people. Why bother having any consideration for the health and well-being of others?

And you think that the Covid vaccine that was rolled out at the end of December 2020 had nothing to do with the decline of Covid deaths?

@Charles1971 Natural immunity is superior. Many cases of covid are asymptomatic ie no symptoms or extremely mild symptoms, so mild you need a test to confirm you have the virus. Covid is here to stay so youth have two options;

Firstly they may become vaccinated. This will not stop them contracting nor transmitting the virus, but it should lessen their own symptoms which does lower how contagious they will be. Long term effects are unknown, but it is known that after three months any boost in immunity quickly wains. As the virus mutates constantly, any vaccine will be for yesterday's variant, not todays.

Secondly they will not get vaccinated and if they catch, take the risk. But since the early days of this novel ie new virus, it has become less severe sickness wise, thus the risk has diminished. If they catch and recover, their body will have a natural immunity which will be built upon with each new strain acquired and last longer than the vaccine.
We have also learnt about treatments, with ivermectin now recommended as treatment for covid by authorities like the CDC. It is a treatable disease only really fatal (always exceptions) to vulnerable with pre-existing conditions.

So there are the choices youth face, just a start. They should investigate further by questioning and seeking answers on both options. This is exercising informed choice.
If a guardian or young, this would be my thought process. If I was leaning towards vaccination, I would rather wait until the 5 year data from trials is out so any longer term effects are better known. Considering the risk to young, I lean towards natural immunity as being more beneficial long term to any under my guidance.
I suspect to find out re vaccine and a reduction in deaths, we need to look at unvaccinated populations and compare to really know. The control group in any trials. Africa probably the best place to look and compare.
Consent. Informed, freely given and without coercion. Up to individuals to decide with their chosen Doctor. I may strongly disagree with their decision, so be it. Because the other option is removing consent through things like medical mandates which I cannot accept. Consent is far more important. A basic human right that we are able to chose what we consume, especially medically.

@Charles1971 I never got vaccinated yet got covid. So you understand that my immunity is stronger than a vaccinated persons. So it is they who will potentially further the spread of the virus more quickly amongst the population.
Take the vaccine you protect yourself. Don't kid yourself you protect others. Again, look at Africa.

@puff I did receive the vaccine and a couple of boosters too and I have never gotten Covid. So, at no point was I walking around spreading Covid to others.

There is no difference between natural immunity and vaccine immunity except that with a vaccine you don't actually contract the illness. One is not better than the other. And with a vaccine you don't risk long-term effects from Covid.

If Covid mutates then whether you have natural immunity of vaccine immunity will make zero difference.

As for Africa, about 65% of people in Africa contracted Covid. One big reason why Covid wasn't as deadly in Africa is because nearly 2/3 of the population is under 25 and only 3% is above 65.

And no, the CDC has not approved ivermectin for treating Covid, nor has the FDA or the National Institutes for Health or the New England Journal of Medicine or the WHO.

I'm glad I got the Covid vaccine and boosters because I'd rather not get Covid and I certainly don't want to spread Covid to my friends and family and co-workers.

@Charles1971 It is good you avoided covid. But I suspect your sensible hygiene precautions had a lot to do with it, rather than the vaccine. Are you sure you never caught it? Many are asymptomatic. Have you tested for antibodies?

There is difference between naturally acquired and vaccine induced immunities.

And that is one difference. A natural response has already formed the immunity with one but not the other.

Why Africa had a mild covid is a lot of reasons. Many would be uncounted.

You are right regarding the CDC and ivermectin, they only approved for testing. Lots of conflicting reports regarding benefits or not there.

I'm glad you are happy with the choice you made. So am I. Thank you for partaking in trials so 5 year data may be collected and analyzed. If it looks beneficial after thorough peer review and official approval as opposed to emergency release, I will even consider it for myself as I age and health deteriorates. But as it does not stop transmission, one reason I won't be taking it is to keep others safe. Who am I kidding?