COVID Vaccines and Kids: 5 Facts Parents Need to Know

(NC) Parents may have questions about COVID-19 vaccinations for their children. Here are some important facts:

1. The risk of kids getting sick and hospitalized

Almost one in five cases of COVID-19 have been in children and youth under 19, and although their illnesses tend to be less severe, they can still get sick, be hospitalized, have serious consequences, spread the illness to others, and experience longer-term effects. Children and youth with certain underlying medical conditions may be at increased risk for severe illness and hospitalization.

2. How the vaccines are studied and tested in children

The COVID-19 vaccines were tested in youth and children through clinical trials. These clinical trials compared the immune response, safety, and efficacy of the vaccine to a placebo. In these studies, no safety issues were detected, and the vaccine provided very good protection against COVID-19 after vaccination.

Vaccines undergo a thorough review before they are approved for use. When a vaccine is authorized, it is because the review has shown that the benefits exceed any risks.

3. The effectiveness of vaccines in younger age groups

In phase three clinical trials, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was 100% effective at preventing COVID-19 with symptoms in youth (ages 12 to 15 years), and 90.7% effective for children (ages 5 to 11 years) in the first few months after the vaccines were given.

4. Possible risks and side effects

Side effects after vaccination are common and can occur as the body responds to the vaccine. Some people have no side effects while others may experience some type of reaction. Generally, they are mild and may include pain at the injection site, headaches, muscle aches and/or fever. Side effects are expected to last only a few days.

Manufacturers will continue to collect safety information from clinical trial participants. As the COVID-19 vaccine is used more widely in children in many countries, new and reassuring information about its safety is becoming available.

5. Potential impact on pregnancy and fertility

Individuals who may be thinking about having children are worried about vaccines affecting their ability to get pregnant now or down the road. Doctors and scientists have been researching this as well and to date have found that people who are vaccinated as well as those who are unvaccinated conceive at the same rate.

As for getting vaccinated while pregnant, no pregnancy-related safety concerns have been identified in pregnant people who received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. It is very important for pregnant people to be vaccinated to help prevent serious illness for themselves and to help prevent complications in the pregnancy. Additionally, vaccination during pregnancy may provide some additional protection to newborns by passing protective antibodies through the placenta. These antibodies may protect the baby after birth.

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