Parents of children and adolescents are increasingly concerned about the safety of the Covid-19 vaccine and its potential effects on their child's development. With millions of children and teens having already received the vaccine, it is important to understand the science behind it and how it works to protect them. The Covid-19 vaccine works similarly to other vaccines your child has received. It contains messenger RNA (mRNA) which is made up of nucleic acids that instruct cells to produce harmless pieces of spike protein.
When cells produce these pieces of spike protein, the immune system recognizes that they shouldn't be there and produces antibodies that remove them. This helps protect your child from the virus in the future. The mRNA Covid-19 vaccine is recommended for everyone 5 years and older in the US, and a booster dose is recommended for more children and adolescents. Everyone ages 12 to 17 should get a booster shot if it has been at least five months since they received their second Covid vaccine. Reinforcements help expand and strengthen protection against omicron and other variants of the virus that cause Covid-19 disease. At this time, children and adolescents ages 5 to under 18 in the US can only receive the mRNA Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer BioNTech.
A single booster dose of Pfizer vaccine is authorized for children aged 12 to 17 years at least 5 months after the second dose of the vaccine. A third dose is recommended for children and adolescents (5 years of age and older) who have medical conditions or who are taking medications that weaken the immune system. Vaccines are still being closely monitored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC says Covid-19 vaccines will have the most intensive safety monitoring in the US. Minor and short-term reactions are what parents should prepare for, such as pain at the injection site (upper arm), feeling more tired than usual, headache, muscle or joint pain, fever, chills, etc.
These side effects are usually temporary and usually go away within 48 hours. Reports of changes in the menstrual cycle after getting vaccinated have also fueled concerns about future infertility. However, according to historical vaccine data, most adverse effects occur within the first 6 weeks of vaccination and long-term negative effects are unlikely. If your child tests positive for Covid-19 after receiving the first vaccine, you must wait until their isolation period ends before receiving the second vaccine. To find local doctors' offices, pharmacies, health care clinics, and local health departments where Covid-19 vaccine is available for eligible children, visit vaccinefinder.org.
