Should I consider vaccinating my child?

Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend vaccinating children ages 6 months and older. The coronavirus does not typically cause serious illness in children, but they are still at risk. Data shows that of the more than 13.5 million children in the United States who have tested positive for the coronavirus, more than 40,000 have been hospitalized and more than 1,000 have died. To put that into better perspective: 188 children died of influenza during the 2019-2020 season — mostly before the pandemic, which brought about protective measures such as masking and social distancing. Although a thousand coronavirus-related deaths among more than 74 million children may not be a relatively large number, Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said covid-19 is “right up there among the vaccine-preventable diseases as one of the more likely killers” among children. In addition, children are at risk of significant complications. More than 8,500 children have suffered a rare but serious condition called multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), which is associated with covid-19 and can cause inflammation of the heart , lungs, kidneys, brain, eyes and other organs, according to the CDC. But aside from protecting children themselves, vaccination makes sense for the greater good — to help reduce community transmission, get the country as close as possible to herd immunity and allow adults and children to get back to their pre-pandemic lives, health experts have said. “The more people we can vaccinate, the more lives we’re going to save,” said Sean O’Leary, vice chair of the Committee on Infectious Diseases for the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Is my child eligible?

Children 6 months and older are eligible for coronavirus vaccination and, in fact, federal health authorities recommend it . Older teens have been eligible since Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson were granted emergency-use authorization from the FDA. The Pfizer vaccine was initially authorized for people 16 and older, while the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson shots were authorized for those who are at least 18. The CDC gave the green light last year for children in the 12-15 age group, and then in the 5-11 age group, to receive the two-dose Pfizer vaccine. In June, the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/06/18/cdc-coronavirus-vaccine-young-children/?utm_campaign=wp_to_your_health&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_tyh&wpmk=1&pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJjb29raWVuYW1lIjoid3BfY3J0aWQiLCJpc3MiOiJDYXJ0YSIsImNvb2tpZXZhbHVlIjoiNTk2YzMyM2U5YmJjMGYyMDg2NTU0MDg5IiwidGFnIjoiNjJiMGRmM2VjZmU4YTIxNjAxYjVkNzE5IiwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL2hlYWx0aC8yMDIyLzA2LzE4L2NkYy1jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy12YWNjaW5lLXlvdW5nLWNoaWxkcmVuLz91dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249d3BfdG9feW91cl9oZWFsdGgmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImd3Bpc3JjPW5sX3R5aCZ3cG1rPTEifQ.ViEEaUQrisToYqBDN6b5IHqMOuXJGUczKRb83EEpP5s" target="_blank">CDC signed off on a three-dose Pfizer vaccine for children ages 6 months through 4 years, as well as a two-dose Moderna vaccine for children ages 6 months to 17 years — making nearly all children eligible for vaccination and giving their parents a choice between vaccine manufacturers. The Johnson & Johnson shot has not been authorized for use in children.

Should my child get a booster shot?

In addition to Pfizer-BioNTech’s primary vaccination series, booster shots are recommended for children ages 5 and older. For 5- to 17-year-olds, the CDC recommends one booster administered at least five months after the final dose of the primary series. Currently, boosters are not recommended for children younger than 5. Moderna boosters are not recommended for children at this time.

What about kids who are immunocompromised?

Additional shots are recommended for children who are moderately to severely immunocompromised. Such children ages 5 to 11 should receive four doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine — three primary shots and a booster, the CDC said . Those 12 and older should receive three primary doses and two boosters — the first booster given at least three months after third primary dose and the second booster given four months later, the CDC said. For immunocompromised children ages 6 months to 17 years who get the Moderna vaccine, a third primary dose is recommended at least four weeks after the second shot. There are currently no recommendations for children younger than 5.

Is this the same vaccine that is administered to older teens and adults?

The two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines that has been cleared for children 12 and older is the same vaccine administered at the exact same dosage as the shots given to teenagers and adults — 30 micrograms for Pfizer and 100 micrograms for Moderna. But younger children are administered smaller doses of the vaccines. For the Pfizer vaccine series , children ages 5 to 11 are given two 10-microgram doses, which is one-third the amount given to adolescents and adults. And those ages 6 months through 4 years are given three 3-microgram doses, or one-tenth of the adult dose. For the Moderna vaccine series , children ages 6 to 11 are given two 50-microgram doses. And those ages 6 months through 5 years are given two 25-microgram doses — or one-quarter of the dose given to adults. When voting on recommending Moderna, CDC scientist Sara Oliver cautioned against one-to-one comparisons between the dose strengths of the two vaccines. “We do not expect that the Moderna vaccine at 100 micrograms would be three times as high as Pfizer at 30,” she said , explaining both vaccines have been shown “to elicit similar levels of antibodies and efficacy.”

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been approved by the FDA under the name Comirnaty for people 16 and older, but it is under emergency-use authorization for those ages 6 months through 15 years. Moderna, which is FDA-approved as Spikevax for use in adults, has been granted emergency-use authorization to offer its shots to children ages 6 months to 17 years. Emergency-use authorization is a way to use unapproved medical products , such as vaccines, during public health emergencies. Gaining authorization is a rigorous process, experts said.

Is it safe for children?

Federal health officials said the coronavirus vaccine was shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials, and since then, millions of children ages 5 through 17 years have been vaccinated. As for children younger than 5, the FDA said data from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna trials showed that the vaccines met the criteria for safety and effectiveness for the youngest children. The FDA said preliminary data indicated the Pfizer vaccine was more than 80 percent effective at preventing symptomatic disease. Specifically, it was more than 75 percent effective for those ages 6 to 23 months old, and more than 82 percent effective for those ages 2 to 4 years old, the FDA said. As for safety, the agency said side effects from the Pfizer vaccine were mild and included irritability, drowsiness and pain at the injection site — similar to the side effects seen in older children, teenagers and adults. The FDA said the Moderna vaccine also met safety and efficacy requirements. Data from the manufacturer , which was confirmed by the FDA, showed that in the youngest age group, the shots generated an immune response that was at least as strong as that seen in young adults but that the shots were not as effective at preventing illness. The shots were 51 percent effective at preventing illness in children ages 6 months to 2 years, and 37 percent effective in children 2 to 5 years old, according to the data. Side effects from the Moderna vaccine were generally less significant in younger children than in adolescents and young adults, aside from fevers, but those were similar to what is seen with other childhood vaccines, the FDA said.

Can the coronavirus vaccination be given at the same time as other shots?

Yes. The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics have stated that co-administration is acceptable. Also, O’Leary stressed that regardless of whether families get their children immunized against the coronavirus, they should make sure their children are caught up on other vaccinations. He said that during the pandemic there was a drop in childhood vaccinations , and now that children are socializing more in person, those who are unvaccinated will be prone to other vaccine-preventable diseases — “some of which are much more severe in kids than covid-19.”

What are the side effects?

As with adults and older teens, adolescents and children may experience some side effects from the vaccination, including pain and redness at the injection site, as well as tiredness, headache, muscle pain, fever and chills. Younger adolescents have experienced side effects more commonly than older teens , which may be more intense after the second injection, but the side effects should subside within a few days, the CDC said. Although such events are rare, those who experience a severe or immediate allergic reaction to the first dose should consult a doctor before proceeding with the series.

What about serious adverse reactions?

Serious adverse events after vaccination are rare. Anaphylaxis — a severe allergic reaction that can cause difficulty breathing, among other things — can occur after any vaccination, including the coronavirus vaccine. As of June 16, 80 reports of anaphylaxis after the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine were reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) for eligible children ages 5 to 17, but those cases have not been confirmed, the CDC said. About 27 million U.S. children in that age group have received at least one dose of the vaccine. However, if you are concerned about severe allergic reactions or your child has experienced them after vaccinations in the past, discuss your concerns with your child’s pediatrician. Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), which causes blood clots, is another known adverse reaction that is more often seen after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. But it is exceedingly rare — even more so after the mRNA vaccines. And the CDC said that there have been no reports of TTS in VAERS among 5- to 17-year-olds.

What about myocarditis?

There have been rare instances of heart muscle inflammation in vaccinated adolescents and young adults. As of June 9, more than 1,000 preliminary reports of myocarditis or pericarditis (inflammation of the outer lining of the heart) were reported to VAERS among people younger than 18 in the United States who received one of the coronavirus vaccines. About 650 cases have been confirmed in that age group, the CDC said. Symptoms included chest pain , shortness of breath and heart palpitations. But most experienced a full recovery, according to the data . After reviewing the data, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which makes vaccine recommendations to the CDC, and the CDC determined the benefits of the mRNA vaccines outweigh the risks of both myocarditis and pericarditis. Still, the FDA added a warning about potential risks to the Pfizer and Moderna fact sheets. The CDC said there has not been “ a similar reporting pattern ” among those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is an adenovirus vector vaccine and is not authorized for people younger than 18. Given that millions of children, adolescents, teens and young adults have received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine in the United States, health experts said if there were a link between the shots and the onset of myocarditis, it would be very small. Offit said the incidence is about 1 in 20,000 to 1 in 50,000 people — meaning in 100,000 people who received a vaccination, two to five of them might develop the condition (depending on their ages). The risk of developing myocarditis from covid-19 is much higher, he said. A cohort study published in JAMA Cardiology looked at nearly 1,600 college athletes who underwent extensive cardiovascular testing after having covid-19 and found that 2.3 percent — or roughly 1 in 40 — had myocarditis. And multisystem inflammatory syndrome, which is much more common and has been linked to the virus, can also cause heart inflammation. “There are no risk-free choices; there are just choices that take different risks,” Offit said. “The goal of a parent is to make the choice that puts the child at lesser risk. And the vaccine puts the child at lesser risk than not vaccinating the child.”

Where can I find additional information?

With so much misinformation about vaccines , O’Leary said, families should be careful to get information from a reputable source, such as the child’s pediatrician or authorities such as the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics or the Immunization Action Coalition. The vaccinations are provided free . To find nearby vaccination centers, visit vaccines.gov . Carolyn Y. Johnson and Laurie McGinley contributed to this report, which has been updated.

clockThis article was published more than 1 year ago

Well+Being

Should my child get a coronavirus vaccine? Is it safe? Here’s what you should know.

By Lindsey Bever

and

Allyson Chiu

Updated June 28, 2022 at 1:12 p.m. EDT|Published October 8, 2021 at 4:07 p.m. EDT

With millions of U.S. children eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine, public health authorities and experts are urging parents and guardians to immunize their children as the virus continues to mutate and infect Americans.

More than 13.5 million children in the United States have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic started, according to data from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Although children account for a relatively small number of hospitalizations and deaths related to the virus and the disease it causes, covid-19, many pediatricians are calling for vaccinations to protect kids from covid-19 and potential complications.

We’ve answered some of the most common questions.