Why Pediatricians Want You to Protect Your Child With the COVID-19 Vaccine
Many parents are asking me questions about the COVID-19 vaccine now that it’s available for their kids. In some cases, they’re looking for facts, so I steer them to the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) webpage for up-to-date information.
But often, what parents are seeking is my reassurance that the vaccine is safe for their children. I let them know my 3 kids got the vaccine, and I’d like to protect all my patients the same way.
To hear how other pediatricians answer parents’ questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, I chatted with my colleagues Dr. Kiran Singh and Dr. Doug Balster. Here’s how our conversation went:
Kate: Kiran and Doug, what questions are you hearing about the COVID-19 vaccine?
Doug: Two main questions I’m getting about the COVID-19 vaccine for kids are is it trusted by pediatricians and should we wait before we get it? My answers to those are yes, pediatricians trust this vaccine and no, you shouldn’t wait. My colleagues and I are getting our kids vaccinated as soon as it’s available. Sufficient research has been done to verify and vet that it’s safe and appropriate for children.
Kiran: Some parents are concerned about how quickly it was made or long-term side effects. Others want my opinion on articles or news stories they have read online or heard about. Other families question why kids should get the vaccine if they don’t get as sick from COVID? All of which are valid and important questions to talk about
Kate: I am also asked why kids need the vaccine and explain that they should get vaccinated for a few reasons. The most obvious is that it prevents them from getting sick. While most kids who get COVID-19 have mild cases, some get very sick or suffer from serious long-term effects after infection. Now that the vaccine is available to younger kids, we can protect them. Getting vaccinated also helps prevent kids from spreading it to others, especially to younger siblings who can’t be vaccinated yet, or adults who might be at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19.
Kate: How do you address their concern that the vaccine is “too new?”
Kiran: I certainly understand why parents might have this concern! However, I love this question because it highlights how quickly incredible innovations can be developed if red tape or roadblocks are removed from the process. The technology used in the COVID vaccine has been studied for decades and now we have given the vaccine to millions of people. Because of this, we have an unprecedented amount of information about the safety of this vaccine. The vaccine is safe, and it protects against severe illness or death due to COVID-19.
Doug: That’s right! It’s great that medicine and science have progressed to allow us to rapidly produce a vaccine for a new virus during a pandemic. The technology behind mRNA vaccines is not new – it has been around for more than 10 years. And now a great deal of research has been done to verify the safety of the vaccine and millions have been protected by it over the past year.
Kate: Many parents are eager to vaccinate their children, but wonder if they should wait until their kids are 11 to get the ‘full’ dose of the shot?
Kiran: The data shows adequate protection from the lowered dose in younger children, so they should get the dose they’re eligible for now, rather than waiting.
Kate: My 3 kids are all fully vaccinated. They’re old enough to have chosen to get the vaccine and said that they wanted to get it so they could protect their grandmother, as well as have fewer limitations to their activities. Did you vaccinate your own children?
Doug: I have 3 children as well and my youngest is 8. All my children have received the COVID vaccine. My youngest just received her first dose and will receive her second soon.
Kiran: My children are 7 and 5 and just got their vaccines! My wish is for my children to not be fearful to play with their friends and not worry about getting sick or passing the virus to someone else who is not vaccinated or is more vulnerable to severe illness.
Kate: Parents ask about the side effects of the vaccine. What are you telling them?
Doug: The side effects of the vaccine are very similar to those we see in adults and other vaccines we give our children to protect them from other serious viral infections. The most common side effect is a sore arm. Some kids get a fever or mild flu-like symptoms for a day after the shot. These side effects are a sign that their body is building immunity to COVID-19. The benefits of vaccination clearly outweigh any potential risks.
More information for parents
- Schedule your child’s vaccination by calling your pediatrician’s office or via kp.org.
- When your child gets their COVID-19 vaccine they should also receive any other vaccines that are due – including the influenza vaccine.
- Some kids need to be prepared for getting a shot – let them know that shots keep us healthy and they hurt, but only a little!
Resources for Parents
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Teens
American Academy of Pediatrics
Getting Your Child Ready for the COVID-19 Vaccine
My Doctor Online
About the Author
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