Children and the COVID-19 vaccine: answers to common questions
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for use in children ages 5-11 and adolescents and teens 12-17. This marks a big development in COVID protection, but it also raises questions for many parents. Here are answers from Andrew Pavia, MD, a nationally recognized expert who is the director of Hospital Epidemiology at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital and the chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at University of Utah Health.
Why does my child need a vaccine?
- Participating safely in school, sports, activities, and play dates with friends
- Traveling with family
- Protecting others around them, like grandparents, infants, and toddlers
- Preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the community
Children have a lower risk of getting severely sick from COVID-19. However, lower risk does not mean no risk. In Utah in 2021, more than 600 children between 5 and 17 years old were hospitalized with severe symptoms. Two died. More than 100 children developed Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), which can cause dangerous inflammation of the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, and gastrointestinal organs. Some children who get COVID will have symptoms that last for 12 weeks or longer after the infection. This is called Long-COVID. Symptoms of long-COVID include fatigue (extreme tiredness), muscle and joint pain, sleeplessness, headache, difficulty concentrating, and uneven heartbeat for extended periods of time.
Is the Pfizer vaccine effective for children?
How many Pfizer doses should a child get to be fully immunized?
Is it safe?
What are the side effects?
Besides sore arms and fatigue, what should we watch for after the vaccine?
When and where can children get the vaccine?
You can also find other vaccine locations on the vaccines.gov website.
What if my child has a medical condition?
Talk with your child’s healthcare provider to understand how best to protect your child, even after vaccination.
Will my child need to wear a mask if they are fully vaccinated?
What else can I do to protect my child?
What are some common myths and disinformation about the vaccine?
There is a lot of false information about the vaccine on social media. Here is some information on those common myths and stories:
- Heart Problems. This is not a myth, but the risk may be exaggerated. There is an increased risk of myocarditis [my-oh-car-DIE-tiss] (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis [pear-ee-car-DIE-tiss] (inflammation of tissue surrounding the heart) after vaccination with the Pfizer vaccine. These complications are rare. They happen most often among males age 16-25 after getting their second dose. Most patients who received care for myocarditis or pericarditis responded well to medicine and rest and felt better quickly. The risk of developing similar heart conditions from getting COVID is much higher than from the rare vaccine reaction. Studies show that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh its risks in children 5-11 years old.
- Allergies. Some parents worry that their children may have an allergic reaction to the vaccine. Most children have received many vaccines by the time they turn 5. Families will probably know by then if their child is likely to have a serious reaction to a vaccine.
- Infertility. There is no evidence that the vaccines cause problems with fertility. The idea that the vaccine causes infertility is a myth based on misinformation circulated when the COVID-19 vaccines were first given and has since been disproven.
- Pregnancy. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and recommended for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Getting COVID-19 itself increases the risk of having a preterm (early) birth.
- Puberty. There is nothing in the vaccine that can affect your child’s hormones, brains, or puberty.
How was the vaccine tested in children and adolescents?
The vaccine was authorized for emergency use. Does that mean it skipped the normal safety reviews?
As of October 2021, more than 418 million doses of the COVID vaccines have been given in the United States, so we have a rich amount of data on safety and effectiveness. We're not looking at a brand-new product or one that was rushed.
Does the vaccine protect against variants of the virus?
Do children spread COVID-19?
Can my child get the COVID-19 vaccine when they get other needed vaccines?
What if I still have concerns about my child being vaccinated?
Should my child wait a while, until there are more studies available?
How much does the vaccine cost?
Nothing. Intermountain will bill a patient’s insurance for the administration of the vaccine to cover the costs of the medical professional and logistics of providing the vaccine. For uninsured patients, the cost is billed to the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Provider Relief Fund. The vaccine itself (the syringe contents) is funded by U.S. taxpayer dollars and will be provided at no cost to the person getting vaccinated.