At long last, it's the kids' turn. It's time for eligible children to get the COVID vaccine, get protected and protect the health of their families and friends.
COVID-19 virus is still spreading. That's why getting the vaccine is the best thing to do for your child's health. It also helps make sure that your kids can keep attending school and other activities that are so important for their physical and mental health.
Finally, it's the kids' turn
The COVID-19 vaccine is now available to kids 5 years old and up. The COVID shot for children 5 years to 11 years old is a lower dose than the dose recommended for people 12 years and older. The only COVID-19 vaccine presently
available for children older than 5 years in the U.S. is the Pfizer BioNTech
mRNA vaccine.
Here's a checklist as you prepare for your child's COVID-19 vaccination:
✅
|
Call your child's pediatrician or primary care doctor and tell them you're planning to have your child vaccinated. Ask them
questions about any concerns you may have.
|
✅
|
Schedule your child's COVID-19 vaccine appointment at your pediatrician's office, vaccination clinic, pharmacy, community vaccination site, church or school. Some sites may even have walk-in hours. |
✅
| Your child can also
receive routine shots at the same appointment for the COVID-19 shot. This includes getting an annual
influenza shot. Ask if your child is
caught up on all routine immunizations.
|
✅
|
Talk with your child before the appointment. Many parents may have concerns about how their child might act when they
need a shot. But there are simple ways to help
make it a positive, calm experience.
|
✅
| After your child receives their first vaccine,
schedule the second dose. Make sure that your pediatrician's office
has a copy of the card in your child's medical record. Your child's school or college health office also may need a copy of the card.
|
✅
| Keep the
paper vaccination card you will receive!
Don't laminate the vaccination card, in case more information needs to be added. Take a photo of it or copy it and keep everything in a safe place. And to avoid identity theft risk, don't share a photo of the card on social media.
|
Remember
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all eligible children age 5 and older, and adults, should get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they can. Your child is considered
fully vaccinated two weeks after the second dose of the vaccine. Encourage your child to keep doing their part to protect others by
wearing a face mask and following other steps to keep people with a
high risk of infection safe. Then they can get back to activities they enjoy like
sports, choir, plays and
parties with some added confidence that they are protected!
More information