Wondering if the Covid-19 Vaccine Is Safe for Your Child?

Possible Covid-19 vaccine side effects

Vaccines, like all medications, have a risk of side effects, and this worries some parents. According to Myint, though, “Covid vaccines tend to be similar to flu shots. Low-grade fevers and chills are probably a little more [common] than perhaps some other vaccines. They are generally limited and localized.” The most common side effects associated with the Covid-19 vaccine in kids are:

• Pain, swelling or redness at the injection site
• Sleepiness or fatigue
• Swollen lymph nodes

Children 3 years and younger may also be irritable and not nurse or eat well. Older children might have a headache, muscle or joint pain, or chills.

Severe reactions are rare. That being said, children should be watched for signs of an allergic reaction for at least 15 minutes after each Covid-19 vaccination, including boosters.

Where to get pediatric Covid-19 vaccines

Both Myint and Drummond brought their children to a local pharmacy for their vaccinations. If parents aren’t sure of where to bring their child, they should ask their pediatrician, Myint said. Locations can include pop-up clinics, schools and pharmacies, as well as doctors’ offices. But this can vary between states. In many places, pharmacists are allowed to give vaccines to infants.

Wherever parents choose to go, there should be no charge for the Covid-19 vaccine. It’s free to everyone in the United States. Whether they have health insurance doesn’t matter, nor does immigration status.

Issues that may face unvaccinated children

Not all parents want their children to get the vaccine. So what does that mean for these children and their families?

Unvaccinated children could:

• Have more severe symptoms if they get Covid
• Develop MIS-C, a rare but serious complication where body parts, including organs, become inflamed
• Miss more school days
• Have a higher risk of developing long Covid
• Keep parents home from work while they care for their children

Unvaccinated children are more likely than vaccinated children to spread the virus. This could be dangerous for vulnerable family members and others in the community who may be at risk for serious disease.

Parents should also not count on herd immunity to protect their children. Herd immunity happens when enough people in a community are immune from an illness, which reduces the risk of unvaccinated children getting exposed to the virus. Herd immunity to Covid-19 doesn’t seem possible at this point, however, because the virus changes rapidly.

“I think that we all want the best for our kids,” Myint said. “I think that parents who are on the fence should reach out to trusted individuals. It could be their pediatrician or others in the community. Reach out and try to inform yourself as much as possible.” It is true that while Covid-19 vaccines don’t always prevent infection, they do reduce the risk of severe illness, Myint added.

Drummond also believes that doctors have a role in helping parents who aren’t sure whether they want to get their children vaccinated. “I think it's important for pediatricians to take parents' concerns seriously,” she said. “If a parent has concerns about vaccines and the physician does not approach those in a satisfactory manner, that parent is going to go to the internet. That is where they are going to find anti-vax content.”