Vaccines for Children and Teens
Why do children who are 6 months and older need a vaccine?
Although fewer children have been infected with COVID-19 compared to adults, children can still:
- Get sick from COVID-19
- Have both short- and long-term health complications from COVID-19
- Spread the virus to others
Vaccinating children can help protect them from severe illness and hospitalization and protect other family members, including younger siblings, who are not eligible for vaccination.
Protect your whole family by getting yourself and your children 5 years and older vaccinated against COVID-19.
Is COVID-19 vaccine safe and effective for children?
Yes. The available data shows that after 2 doses, Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is 95% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines have been studied under the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history, including studies in children ages 5 years and older.
What are the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine? Are they different for children?
The side effects experienced by the COVID-19 vaccine are mild and temporary.
- The arm may be sore, and the injection site might be red, or warm to the touch.
- They may experience flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue, headache, chills, muscle pain, and joint pain.
If my child had COVID-19 already, do they need the vaccine?
Yes. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children who had a prior COVID-19 infection should still get vaccinated to protect them from getting COVID-19 again. Getting fully vaccinated can help prevent serious illness or hospitalization if they do get infected again.
Can children with allergies get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Any child with an allergy to food, insect venom, oral medications, latex, or environmental allergens is eligible to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine. If your child has severe allergic reactions to injectable treatments please consult with a pediatrician or an allergist before getting vaccinated.
When is my child considered fully vaccinated?
Your child is considered up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccines when they have completed a COVID-19 vaccine primary series and got the most recent booster dose recommended by CDC.
Can my child get the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as other routine vaccines?
According to CDC, it is safe for your child to get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines at the same time. It’s no longer needed to wait 14 days between vaccinations.
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