COVID & Kids Get the Facts About the COVID-19 Vaccine UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals answer parents’ questions about the vaccine. Can my child get a COVID-19 vaccine? Which one? Yes, if your child is at least 5 years of age. Currently, the only vaccine option for kids is the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (also known by its brand name, Comirnaty). My child is under 5. When can younger kids get vaccinated? Clinical trials are currently evaluating COVID-19 vaccines in children as young as 6 months. These trials must be completed and reviewed before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can determine whether the vaccines are safe and effective for younger kids. 10 MendoLakeFamilyLife
In the meantime, younger kids should continue taking precautions, such as wearing a mask (ages 2+), avoiding crowds (particularly indoors), and maintaining a safe distance from anyone not in their household. Making sure older kids and adults in the home get vaccinated also protects children from the virus. Who shouldn’t get the COVID-19 vaccine?
We don’t recommend giving pain relief medication before the shot to prevent side effects. minutes after getting their injection, instead of the 15 minutes that most people are asked to wait. There are some reasons for delaying your child’s vaccination, such as the following circumstances: • Anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should wait until the symptoms have resolved and self-isolation is no longer required.
Anyone who’s had a severe allergic reaction to the first dose of a COVID vaccine—or to any of its ingredients—shouldn’t get that type of vaccine.
• Kids who recently had COVID-19 and were treated with antibody-based therapies (such as monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma) should wait 90 days after treatment.
Children who have allergies—such as to pollen, specific medications, or pet dander—should get the vaccine when they’re eligible but should remain at the vaccination site for 30
• People diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome should wait until they are recovered and at least 90 days have passed since their diagnosis.
December 2021 www.mendolakefamilylife.com
