COVID-19 Vaccines for Kids: 5 Things Parents and Guardians Should Know

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The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is now available for children ages 5-11. The emergency release of the vaccine will allow close to 28 million children in the United States to receive vaccination against COVID-19.

The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and has minimal side effects. According to the White House, 10% of children between the ages of 5-11 have already received their first dose.

In this article, we discuss frequently asked questions by parents and guardians about the vaccine, how to prepare your child for the shot, and why nurses recommend children receive the vaccine.

Here is what you should know about the newly approved Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine:

Shannon Wong, a certified pediatric nurse practitioner, says vaccines have been used successfully to fight other illnesses that were once common. She recommends parents and guardians vaccinate their children.

“The COVID-19 vaccine can decrease the chances of your child contracting COVID-19,” she says.

Additionally, if COVID-19 is contracted after receiving the vaccine, the CDC reassures symptoms will be mild.

Yes, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is safe for children between the ages of 5-11. According to the CDC, the vaccine has undergone the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history.

The 10 microgram vaccine, given in the upper arm, is one-third of the adolescent and adult doses. The smaller dose was chosen to reduce side effects, but the vaccine, given 21 days apart, is still very effective for children.

“Vaccinating children is the next step in controlling the outbreaks and infections in communities,” Wong says. “Vaccines are the best way to prevent infection.”

Some children may not experience side effects other than pain at the injection site. Other side effects include:

Side effects should last no more than 1-2 days.

In very rare cases, children may experience an infection with the following symptoms:

This infection is called myocarditis. Although there were no reported cases of myocarditis in their clinical trial, Pfizer does admit that their trials weren’t large enough to catch rare cases.

In very rare cases, children may experience:

This syndrome is called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). More than 5,500 children and teens have developed MIS-C. Although rare, MIS-C is a serious condition caused by COVID-19. Children are monitored and cared for in the intensive care unit.

If your child develops these rare side effects, contact your pediatrician or go to the emergency room immediately.

Vaccines will be available to children at their local pharmacy, pediatrician’s office, or school. Call your pediatrician’s office or school nurse and let them know you would like to schedule your child for the vaccine. You can also contact your state or local health department.

You’ve made the decision to get your child vaccinated, but your child may be hesitant or scared to get a shot.

“Children are hesitant and anxious about needles based on past experiences,” Wong says. “They often start worrying before they even sit in the chair.”

There are techniques you can use to prepare your child for the vaccine. Distractions include:

It is important to vaccinate your children against COVID-19.

“Vaccinating children is the next step in controlling the outbreaks and infections in communities,” Wong says.

Studies show that getting the vaccine lowers transmission and protects children from getting COVID-19. Nurses preparing for the child vaccine rollout agree on other benefits like:

While COVID-19 infections weren’t as common in the beginning of the pandemic for children, the Delta variant made more children sick than other forms of the disease, Wong says.

Getting the vaccine reduces the virus’ chances of mutating into other variants. These variants can be even more dangerous. Getting the vaccine for your child helps them to get back to activities they enjoy with less worry.

Feature Image: Renata Angerami / Getty Images