Getting Your Child Ready for the COVID-19 Vaccine

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 being part of in-person activities that are so important for their physical and mental health.

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.

The COVID-19 vaccine is now available for kids 5 years old and up. If your child is between the ages of 5 to 11 years old, they can sign up here (link to pediatric clinic page). 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 age 5 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 and share any concerns you may have.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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

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!

Resources

• The Science Behind the COVID-19 Vaccine: Parent FAQs
• Ask the Pediatrician: My child is about to turn 12. Which vaccine should they get?
• Ask the Pediatrician: Do I have to pay to vaccinate my child against COVID?
• Ask the Pediatrician: If my child had COVID already, do they need the vaccine?​
• VaccineFinder (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)