COVID-19 vaccines are through the CDC for anyone 6 months of age or older. Because vaccine effectiveness may wear off over time, booster vaccination increases (or strengthens) children’s coverage of the virus. But it’s not yet available to young people of all ages. Here’s what you want to know.
The CDC now recommends updated (bivalent) boosters for children five years and older if they qualify.
According to the CDC, at least 2 months after the second or final booster of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, five-year-olds can receive an updated (bivalent) booster from Pfizer-BioNTech, but children ages 6 to 17 can get an updated booster from Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (bivalent).
You may have heard that COVID-19 is milder in children, and that’s true. But it can still lead to serious illness.
Nearly a million children have become inflamed since the beginning of the pandemic. Only a small percentage of them had to go to the hospital, but many died. Some even died. Children with diseases such as diabetes and asthma are at risk for more serious illnesses.
But even children who don’t have severe symptoms can spread the virus. And unvaccinated children are more likely to have a complication of COVID-19 called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). MISC-C causes inflammation in organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain.
Vaccinating and encouraging your children also protects other members of your household, including:
If your child has already tested positive for COVID-19, he or she will still be vaccinated and get a booster. This is because vaccines offer another type of coverage besides herbal immunity. And experts don’t know how long herbal immunity lasts. Getting vaccinated after having COVID-19 improves your defenses and reduces the threat of reinfection.
It might seem like the COVID-19 vaccine arrived quickly, but that’s not true. The first outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a virus linked to COVID-19, dates back to 2002. Researchers have been working on a SARS vaccine for many years.
COVID-19 vaccines went through a thorough review procedure before being approved. Researchers conducted studies with thousands of young people to make sure the vaccines were effective. And no vaccine was tested in young people until studies showed it was in adults.
As in adults, COVID-19 vaccines can have effects in children. But most are benign and include:
These are general symptoms that your child’s frame is increasing immunity to the virus. They disappear in a few days. More severe allergic reactions and side effects are rare.
Some other tips can help your child when he or she is at school or in other social settings:
Social distancing is also essential. Arrange playdates whenever possible. When your kids are inside, encourage them to stay at least 6 feet away from other people.
Wearing a mask is one of the simplest and most effective tactics for contracting or spreading COVID-19. The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends the use of indoor masks for vaccinated and unvaccinated Americans 2 years of age and older in areas of the country with the highest amount of COVID-19. 19 transmission. The use of a mask is also encouraged in the following cases:
The maximum protection mask has some layers of fabric, like a surgical mask. The mask fits comfortably over your child’s nose and mouth, with no spaces where germs can sneak in.
Photo credit: iStockphoto/Getty Images
SOURCES:
American Academy of Pediatrics: “Children and COVID-19: Statewide Data Report. “
CDC: “CDC Recommends Pfizer Booster at Five Months, Additional Number One Dose for Safe Immunocompromised Children,” “COVID-19 Booster Vaccines,” “COVID-19 Data Tracker,” “For Parents: COVID-19 Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C),” “COVID-19 Vaccination Frequently Asked Questions,” “Possible Side Effects After Receiving a COVID-19 Vaccine,” “Protecting Youth and Adolescents from COVID-19”, “Scientific Note: SARS-CoV-2 – Infection-Induced and Vaccine-Induced Immunity.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia: “How You and Your Family Circle from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). “
FDA: “FDA Approves Pfizer Bio-NTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Emergency Use in Children Five to 11 Years of Age. “
HealthyChildren. org: “Face mask for young people COVID-19”.
KidsHealth: “Coronavirus (COVID-19): Social distancing with children,” “Coronavirus (COVID-19): What are booster shots?”
Mayo Clinic: “COVID-19 vaccines for children: What you need to know. “
Mayo Clinic Health System: “COVID-19 vaccine myths are debunked. “
Michigan Health: “11 Myths About COVID Vaccines and Children. “
Press release, Pfizer.
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