{"id":11699,"date":"2021-12-01T14:36:19","date_gmt":"2021-12-01T14:36:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/ehealth\/?p=11699"},"modified":"2021-12-01T14:51:50","modified_gmt":"2021-12-01T14:51:50","slug":"what-you-need-to-know-kids-and-the-covid-19-vaccine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/ehealth\/2021\/12\/01\/what-you-need-to-know-kids-and-the-covid-19-vaccine\/","title":{"rendered":"What You Need to Know: Kids and the COVID-19 Vaccine"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"What<\/p>\n

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently authorized a lower-dose COVID-19 vaccine<\/a> for emergency use for the estimated 28 million children in the U.S. According to the FDA, the vaccine\u2019s safety was studied in approximately 3,100 children ages 5 through 11. No serious side effects were detected in the ongoing study.<\/p>\n

The vaccine was found to be 90.7% effective in preventing COVID-19 in children. Although the burden of disease from COVID-19 has been greater in adults, the virus can cause illness in children, and there is the potential for spreading the virus to others, even if a child doesn\u2019t have severe symptoms.<\/p>\n

Vaccinating children ages 5 to 11 can help to protect your child, your family, and others from COVID-19.<\/p>\n

Are There Risks or Side Effects?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When it comes to parents\u2019 concerns about the risks associated with the vaccine, April Douglass-Bright\u00a0, MD<\/a>, Division Head of Pediatrics<\/a> at Cooper University Health Care<\/a>, says that the potential risks of the virus outweigh the risks of side effects from the shot.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor children receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, the most common side effects have been pain and swelling at the injection site, fever, chills, muscle aches, headaches, and tiredness that could last a day or two.\u00a0 Side effects are typically a sign that the body is working to build immunity,\u201d Dr. Douglass-Bright says.<\/p>\n

Preparing Your Child for the Vaccine<\/strong><\/h3>\n

There is no need to wait for your child to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.<\/p>\n

\u201cWaiting only increases the amount of time your child is not protected, the risk of getting infected, and the risk of passing infection to others,\u201d Dr. Douglass-Bright says.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s understandable that many children may feel nervous about receiving a needle, but Dr. Douglass-Bright recommends that the best thing to do before your child receives the COVID-19 vaccine is to prepare them for the experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt helps to use positive words to explain the procedure, validate and discuss their concerns, and explain that this vaccine\u2014like other vaccines they have received\u2014will help keep them from getting sick as well as help keep others from getting sick,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Although it is fine to give a child acetaminophen or ibuprofen for any side effects that occur after the vaccine\u2014such as soreness or fever\u2014it is not recommended to give children over-the-counter medications before they receive the vaccine. It is not yet known whether these medications may affect the way the COVID-19 vaccine works.<\/p>\n

Where to Get Your Child a Vaccine<\/strong><\/h3>\n

There are several ways for children to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.<\/p>\n

Cooper is offering vaccine appointments to current pediatric patients. Appointments are available at the following pediatric practices by calling the offices or scheduling through MyCooper<\/a>\u00a0. \u00a0Please note that walk-in appointments are not available at these locations.<\/p>\n