What to Know About the COVID-19 Virus and Vaccination in Pennsylvania Children

BY RACHEL HAHN, MPH CHESTER COUNTY IMMUNIZATION COALITION

Can children be infected with COVID-19 at the same rate as adults? What are the side effects of COVID-19 infection in children? Can they suffer from long-term COVID? Is the COVID-19 vaccine needed? These questions, along with many others, have been racing in parents’ minds since the start of the pandemic in 2020.

With the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine FDA-approved for children ages five and older and the vaccine approval for children under age five on the horizon, the side effects of COVID-19 and its vaccination is a topic that deserves to be addressed and clarified for parents in Chester County.

Circulating unscientific reports give the impression that the side effects of the vaccination are worse than the effects of being infected with the actual virus. These reports are often propagated through avenues such as social media. For example, a common misconception is that myocarditis, inflammation of the heart muscle, is a likely side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine when in reality, it is more likely to develop from a COVID-19 infection.

According to CDC data updated on May 4, 2022, the overall risk of heart conditions after a COVID-19 infection is sixty-nine times higher than the first shot. Taking all ages, genders, and both vaccine doses into account, the risk of a heart issue after a COVID-19 infection was anywhere from 2 to 115 times higher when compared to vaccination.1

In the U.S., children under age 18 are contracting COVID-19 at the same rate as adults. As of April 28, 2022, almost 13 million children have tested positive for COVID-19.2 The symptoms of the COVID-19 virus are similar in both adults and children, as is the risk of developing long-term effects from the infection. While the symptoms of the disease in children are mild in most cases, the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine can be even milder and are shorter in duration.

The side effects that occur from the COVID vaccination are no different from the side effects that amount from any other routine childhood immunization. These side effects can include a sore arm at the injection site, mild fever, headache, chills, nausea, and tiredness, and all typically subside 24-48 hours after receiving the vaccine. Children can also receive the COVID-19 vaccine simultaneously as their other routine immunizations, like the influenza vaccine.

Another common question is whether to vaccinate your child even if they have already contracted COVID-19. The short answer – yes. Although contracting the virus provides a form of natural immunity, it does not last as long as the immunity provided by the vaccine. People who already had COVID-19 and do not get vaccinated after their recovery are more likely to get COVID-19 again.3 Not only does the vaccine provide stronger immunity, but vaccinating your child also decreases transmission from new variants. The virus transmits efficiently between unvaccinated children and adults – getting vaccinated reduces the virus’ chance of mutating into new, potentially more dangerous variants.

Valuable vaccination work is undergoing worldwide that allows us to answer these questions and provide resources for county residents, including work that is being done right here in Chester County. Working underneath the umbrella of the PA Immunization Coalition (PAIC) and the PA American Academy of Pediatrics, the Chester County Immunization Coalition (CCIC) is an organization that promotes recommended immunizations for all Chester County residents across the lifespan.

Chester County currently leads the state of Pennsylvania as the county with the most residents vaccinated against COVID-19, with over 91% of the residents partially vaccinated and 74% fully vaccinated.4 To improve these numbers, the Chester County Immunization Coalition (CCIC) is conducting various campaigns throughout the county. Currently, the coalition is advocating for COVID-19 vaccinations with billboard and bus advertisements (see photos on page 30 and the top of this page). These advertisements will collect millions of impressions throughout their run and direct viewers to the COVID Resources page at LetsFightCOVID19.com. On this page, visitors can find scientific and reputable information about COVID-19, the COVID-19 vaccine, and how and where to receive their vaccine.

In addition, the CCIC is advertising with commercials on Q102 Philly with ads airing every day that direct listeners to the same webpage as the billboard and bus advertisements. For more information on the CCIC, scan the QR codes to be taken to our webpage on the PAIC website or our Facebook page!

References: 1 Spencer Kimball, “Myocarditis risk higher after Covid infection than Pfizer or Moderna vaccination, CDC finds,” CNBC News, April 8, 2022, https://www. cnbc.com/2022/04/01/myocarditis-risk-higher-after-covid-infection-than-vaccination-cdc-finds.html. 2 “Children and COVID-19: State-Level Data Report”, Critical Updates on COVID-19, American Academy of Pediatrics, last modified April 28, 2022, https://www.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/childrenand-covid-19-state-level-data- report/#:~:text=Since%20the%20pandemic%20 began%2C%20children,hospitalizations%20and%20mortality%20by%20age. 3 “Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine”, COVID-19 – Vaccines, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, last modified March 4, 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/expect.html. 4 “COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard”, Coronavirus Vaccine, Pennsylvania Department of Health, last modified May 4, 2022, https://www.health.pa.gov/ topics/disease/coronavirus/Vaccine/Pages/Dashboard.aspx

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