7 minute read
Breakfast Inspo, Served
What’s the biggest difference in my kid’s COVID vaccine?
reason, continue with their normal regimen. Otherwise, hold off until after symptoms (if any) appear. It’s not known if giving these medicines beforehand might affect the body’s response to the vaccine, Dr. Shu says.
Advertisement
My kid already had COVID. Doesn’t that mean they’re immune?
No, people can get COVID after they’ve already had it. According to a CDC study, people who’ve had COVID and were unvaccinated were more than twice as likely to get reinfected compared with someone who was fully vaccinated after initially contracting the virus. Although a previous infection may offer some protection, experts aren’t sure how long it lasts. Furthermore, if your child has had COVID, getting them vaccinated should give them an added immunity boost. A small study published in JAMA Network Open found that people who had a previous COVID infection and got vaccinated had higher levels of antibodies than someone who was vaccinated and never had COVID.
My 5-year-old is small for their age. How do we know this dose is safe for them?
Vaccines are usually given based on the age of a child, not weight—even for all the other vaccines your child has taken over the years, says Dr. Maldonado. So yes, the vaccine is safe even if your child is on the smaller (or larger) size for their age.
My child is 11. Should I wait until they turn 12 and get the adult dose?
No, don’t wait. Get your child the age-appropriate vaccine as soon as possible. “With vaccines, it’s a balance between immune response and adverse reaction,” Dr. Milstone says. “You want to give enough to generate a good robust immune response but not so much that you have more or stronger symptoms after vaccination,” he explains. Kids age 11 respond very well to the lower dose, so there’s no reason to delay
A kid’s COVID vaccine is tailored for ages 5–11. So now they can get the same COVID protection adults and teens receive, but in a more kid-friendly size.
Find a COVID vaccine near you at vaccines.gov
vaccination for the higher dose. If you wait, there’s a chance your child might get COVID before they turn 12.
Will having my child vaccinated help us get back to our prepandemic lives?
In some ways, yes. According to the CDC, once someone is fully vaccinated (two weeks after their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine), they can resume prepandemic activities like playdates and group activities. If your child is vaccinated, it means they’ll have a shorter (or no) school quarantine should they be exposed to COVID. And if your whole family is vaccinated and traveling within the U.S., you probably won’t have to quarantine after travel.
With all that said, since there have been cases of people getting COVID after vaccination, along with concerns about new variants of the virus, you should still take precautions to reduce your child’s chances of getting the virus and possibly spreading it to others. Kids should wear a mask indoors in public spaces in areas with substantial transmission risk. They should wear a mask when traveling (whether on the school bus, on public transportation, or at the airport). And for now, children should pay attention to local rules about wearing a mask in school.
Although masks will be around for at least a little while longer, getting your child vaccinated really can make daily life more like what it used to be. Dr. Shu’s daughter, who was 10 at the time, participated in a COVID vaccine clinical trial. All the other members of Dr. Shu’s household had been vaccinated already, so getting her youngest child the shot brought their family a step closer to normalcy. “It made me less nervous about taking her out to public places like stores; I feel more comfortable when we’re f lying; we no longer make her wear a mask outside to play soccer; and when we go to visit family, I feel more comfortable knowing she’s not going to inadvertently infect my elderly parents,” Dr. Shu says. Another benefit is the sense of relief she got knowing she did what’s best for her child. “There are always concerns when you make health choices for your kids, but the choice was clear to me,” Dr. Shu says. “It was either I give my kids the vaccine or they potentially get COVID. I know the risks from COVID are much worse, so I wasn’t willing to take that chance.”
Paid for by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Its size.
Brea k fa st I nsp o, S er ve d
Toast, eggs, cereal, yogurt—all classics for good reason! But if you and your kids are craving some excitement in the rotation, these 18 toppings and mix-ins offer a tasty wake-up call.
by K AT I E M O R F O R D , R . D . / photographs by C A I T L I N B E N S E L
1
3 2
5
6 4
T O A S T T O P P E R S
1. P I E V I B E S Spread 3 Tbs. whipped plain cream cheese on a slice of toast. Swirl in 1 Tbs. blueberry jam or preserves. Crush 1/4 graham cracker and sprinkle on top.
2. C H O C O L AT E - A P P L E Cover a slice of toast with 1 or 2 Tbs. chocolatehazelnut spread. Top with several thin slices of green apple. Sprinkle on a dash of nutmeg. (Cut the remaining apple into wedges, toss with lemon juice, and put in a container for lunch.)
3. F A I R Y B R E A D A twist on a fave from Down Under: Spread 2 Tbs. peanut butter (or any kind of nut butter) on a slice of toast. Add a few dashes of cinnamon and 2 tsp. naturally colored sprinkles.
4. B A C O N - AV O R A N C H Smash 1/2 ripe avocado and spoon onto a slice of toast. Top with crumbled turkey bacon and drizzle with ranch dressing.
5. S W E E T R I C O T TA Spoon 2 Tbs. ricotta cheese onto a slice of toast. Swirl a bit; then (for kids ages 4 and older), add a few tsp. pomegranate arils (they’re most readily available from October to January) and dollops of honey.
6. T I C -TA C -T O A S T Spread 2 Tbs. hummus on a slice of toast. Place cucumber circles and red bell pepper strips as shown.
1
E G G A D D - I N S
1. F L U F F Y R I C E Melt 1 tsp. butter in a skillet on medium. Add 2 eggs and scramble until nearly done. Stir in 2 tsp. sour cream and ⅓ cup cooked brown rice; cook until sour cream melts. Top with sliced green onions.
2. P I Z Z A - S T Y L E Heat 1 tsp. olive oil in a skillet on medium. Add 2 eggs and scramble until nearly done. Mix in diced pepperoni, grated mozzarella cheese, and cherry tomato quarters until heated. Top with Italian seasoning.
3. H A M I T U P Heat 1 Tbs. olive oil in a skillet on medium-high. Add 1 cup frozen hash browns and cook, stirring, until slightly browned. Add 2 eggs and scramble until nearly done. Toss in chopped ham and baby spinach. Stir until heated through.
4. N A C H O M I X Melt 1 tsp. butter in a skillet on medium. Add 2 eggs and scramble until nearly done. Stir in 1/4 cup each black beans and shredded cheddar. Top with salsa and crumbled tortilla chips.
5. P E S T O M A G I C Heat 1 tsp. olive oil in a skillet on medium. Add 1/2 cup grated zucchini. Sauté 1 minute. Add 1 tsp. jarred pesto and stir. Add 2 eggs and scramble until cooked. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.
6. S E S A M E A N D S OY Heat 1 tsp. toasted sesame oil and 1/2 tsp. butter in a skillet on medium. Add 2 eggs and 1/2 tsp. sesame seeds. Scramble until eggs are cooked. Top with 1/4 tsp. soy sauce.
