Who is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the United States?

COVID-19 vaccines are now approved primarily for adults aged 65 and older, and individuals 6 months and older with at least one health condition that puts them at higher risk for severe illness. According to the FDA, examples of high-risk conditions include (but are not limited to):

• Asthma
• Diabetes
• Cancer
• Obesity
• Pregnancy

If you have questions about whether your child is eligible for the vaccine, please reach out to your child’s healthcare provider.

What are the vaccine’s side effects and how can I treat them?

Common side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine include:

• Pain, redness or swelling at the injection site
• Tiredness
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Chills
• Fever
• Nausea

Most of the time, these side effects will go away in a few days.

Pain at the injection site (where the shot went into the arm) is also a common reaction. If your child feels pain or discomfort in the spot where they got their COVID‑19 vaccine, try placing a cool, wet washcloth on the area. You can also give them pain or fever-reducing medications following vaccination.

It is not recommended that you give your child any over-the-counter pain reliever before vaccination to prevent side effects.

Should I call my child’s pediatrician about any COVID‑19 vaccine side effects?

Contact your child’s health care provider if:

• The redness or pain at the injection site gets worse after 24 hours
• Their side effects are worrying you or do not go away after a few days

Seek immediate medical attention if you think your child is having a severe allergic reaction to the COVID‑19 vaccine. Signs of severe allergic reaction include rapid heartbeat, swelling of the throat, rash or hives. This reaction is extremely rare.

How should I prepare my child to receive the vaccine?

Make sure your child has eaten well and is hydrated prior to receiving the vaccine. The appointment itself should take only about 20 minutes. We encourage parents to discuss health concerns with their primary care physician prior to coming in for the vaccine. Questions about side effects, allergies and other topics are best answered by the child’s pediatrician.

What should parents look for after their child receives the vaccine?

We recommend that parents monitor their children for symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath and fast or irregular heartbeat that may be consistent with myocarditis, and immediately report those symptoms to their doctor.

Is it safe for my child to get the flu shot and the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time?

Yes, as long as your child is eligible to get the flu shot and the COVID-19 vaccine, then it is safe to administer them together.

Is there a chance that a coronavirus vaccine will cause MIS-C?

MIS-C, or Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children, is a condition in which different body parts become inflamed, such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, gastrointestinal tract, skin or eyes. One of the reasons clinical trials are important is to make sure that the vaccines do not have any side effects, such as causing MIS-C. While the vaccines have yet to be tested in children, adult clinical trials have not resulted in any cases of MIS-A (Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Adults). In fact, it is possible that by protecting against COVID-19, a vaccine will also protect against MIS-C.

Where can I get a vaccine?

Vaccine availability and distribution varies from state to state. For the most current information on vaccine distribution, contact your local health department.

Should I get vaccinated if I’ve already had COVID-19?

If you have already had COVID-19, you can still benefit from being vaccinated. A vaccine will add to your immunity to the virus and protect you from getting the virus again.

Can children with a known COVID-19 infection be vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine?

If your child has COVID-19, they should wait until they have recovered from the illness AND met the criteria to discontinue isolation before getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

My child already had COVID-19. Why should they get the vaccine?

Even if your child has already had COVID-19, if they are eligible, they should still receive the vaccine once they have recovered from the illness. While there is some evidence that people who been infected with SARS-CoV-2 develop immunity for several months after infection, it is unclear if that immunity is fully protective and how long any protection may last. The vaccines have been studied specifically to answer these questions and have been demonstrated to be very effective at protecting vaccinated individuals from COVID-19.