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COVID-19

COVID-19 is a disease caused by a coronavirus (SARS-CoV2). An infected person exhales droplets that contain the virus into the air when they talk, cough, or sneeze. Sometimes these droplets can contaminate surfaces they touch. The risk of getting COVID-19 increases the closer someone is to an infected person or the longer amount of time they spend with an infected person. Although kids are typically at lower risk than adults of getting very sick with COVID-19, kids with COVID-19 can spread the virus to others, get very sick, have short- or long-term health problems, or in some cases die.source: 1,source: 2

The COVID-19 vaccines teach the body to fight the virus so that it can keep your child healthy if they encounter it in the future. There are three vaccines authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that protect your child from severe illness, hospitalization, or death from COVID-19.source: 3 The first two are the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, which protect children 6 months and older. The third is the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, which protects children 12 years and older.source: 4

Why does my child need to be vaccinated against COVID-19?

There's no way to know if your child will have a serious case of COVID-19, but the vaccines help protect them from severe illness. Some medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, and diseases that cause weakened immune systems, can make a child more likely to be seriously ill if they get COVID-19.source: 5 Kids who do not have other health conditions can also become very sick and need to go to the hospital. In fact, 1 out of every 2 kids who goes to the hospital with COVID-19 has no other health conditions.source: 6

How safe are the vaccines?

COVID-19 vaccines have been thoroughly reviewed by medical and scientific experts at the FDA and recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and by CDC. COVID-19 vaccines are also recommended by health care experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and more.

Like any medicine, there's a small chance that COVID-19 vaccines could cause serious reactions. These reactions are rare, and include heart inflammation. This most frequently affected adolescent and young adult males after the second dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, but cases have been seen in females and after other doses.source: 7,source: 8 However, getting a COVID-19 vaccine is much safer than getting COVID-19.

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VPD COVID-girl and doctor

How effective are the vaccines?

How well a COVID-19 vaccine works for a child can vary depending on how long it has been since their last dose, the variant they are exposed to, and whether they’ve previously had COVID-19. The vaccines are effective in preventing hospitalization and death.source: 9 So even if a vaccinated child gets sick, they are unlikely to have serious illness.source: 10

One study found that children ages 6 months to 5 years old who had received at least one dose of an updated COVID-19 vaccine were 80% less likely to be taken to the emergency department or urgent care with COVID-19.source: 9 A similar study reports that children and teens ages 5–17 who had received one or more doses of an updated COVID-19 vaccine were 63% less likely to be taken to the emergency department or urgent care with COVID-19 in the 2 months after receiving the vaccine.source: 11

What are the vaccines’ side effects?

Kids may have mild side effects after their COVID-19 vaccines that go away in a few days. These side effects are like those from other routine vaccines.source: 12,source: 13

For kids 4 years old and younger, the most common side effects are: source: 13,source: 14

  • A red, sore, or swollen arm
  • Swelling or tenderness where lymph nodes are located, like in an armpit
  • Irritability
  • Sleepiness
  • Loss of appetite (particularly in children under age 3)

Fever is a less common side effect.

For kids 5 years and older, the most common side effects are: source: 13,source: 14

  • A red, sore, or swollen arm,
  • Swelling or tenderness where lymph nodes are located, like in an armpit
  • Tiredness
  • Headache

Less common side effects can include muscle or joint pain, fever or chills, diarrhea or nausea or vomiting.source: 13,source: 14

In all age groups, most symptoms are mild to moderate in severity, typically beginning 1–2 days after vaccination and resolved after 1–3 days.source: 13,source: 14

Serious side effects like a serious allergic reaction are rare.source: 15 Inflammation of the heart muscle or lining is a rare side effect and mostly seen in teen and young adult males, but cases were also seen in females.source: 7,source: 8 Studies about these vaccines showed that the risk of these heart problems after having COVID-19 was greater than after COVID-19 vaccination.source: 16

Understanding the Risks

Getting COVID-19 vs. Getting Vaccinated

COVID-19

Vaccines to Prevent Severe COVID-19

Common: Mild to Moderate Symptoms or Side Effects

People with COVID-19 have a wide range of symptoms ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. These symptoms may also change with new COVID-19 variants:

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Runny nose
  • Cough
  • Vomiting
  • Nausea, belly pain, or diarrhea
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Sore throat
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle aches or pains
  • Headache

If side effects occur, they are usually mild and last 1–3 days:

  • Soreness, redness, or swelling where the vaccine was given
  • Muscle pain
  • Headache
  • Tiredness
  • Fever or chills
  • Nausea or diarrhea

Children 4 and younger may also cry, feel sleepy, or lose their appetite.

Rare: More Serious Symptoms, Complications or Side Effects

  • Myocarditis*
  • Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome**
  • Neurologic issues, such as seizures
  • Long COVID

*Studies during the COVID-19 pandemic showed that the risk of myocarditis after having COVID-19 is greater than after COVID-19 vaccination (up to 65 cases per 100,000 males aged 12–17 after infection; up to 36 cases per 100,000 males aged 12–17 after vaccination).

**Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare but severe condition caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection that can affect a child’s heart, lungs, and other organs. Cases of MIS-C in 2023 predominantly occurred among unvaccinated children and children whose immunity from prior vaccination had declined over time. COVID-19 vaccination is an important tool in preventing MIS-C.

  • Myocarditis*
  • Severe allergic reaction (generally, for every 1 million vaccines administered in the United States, only about 5 cases result in a severe allergic reaction)

*Studies during the COVID-19 pandemic showed that the risk of myocarditis after having COVID-19 is greater than after COVID-19 vaccination (up to 65 cases per 100,000 males aged 12–17 after infection; up to 36 cases per 100,000 males aged 12–17 after vaccination).

I choose to vaccinate my child because I would rather prevent infection than treat infection.

— Crista S., Mother

When does my child need the vaccines?

Everyone 6 months and older should get a COVID-19 vaccination.source: 3,source: 4 COVID-19 vaccine doses for children are different for different age groups. Your child's age on the day of the vaccine determines the dosage so that they get the vaccine that is right for their age.source: 17 Dosage is determined by age, not weight. Kids can get COVID-19 vaccines at the same time as other vaccines.source: 13,source: 17 Kids who had COVID-19 should still get a COVID-19 vaccine once they are well. These families can delay vaccination for 3 months after a COVID-19 infection.source: 13

Infants younger than 6 months old are not eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines; however, receipt of COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy can help protect babies younger than 6 months old from hospitalization due to COVID-19.source: 18

Visit CDC’s website for the recommended dose schedule for COVID-19 vaccines based on your child's age, the vaccine manufacturer, and whether your child has a weakened immune system or not.

More information

You can also visit these sites:

Sources

  1. CDC: About COVID-19
  2. CDC: Information for Pediatric Healthcare Providers
  3. FDA: COVID-19 Vaccines for 2023-2024
  4. CDC: Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines
  5. CDC: People with Certain Medical Conditions
  6. Havers FP: COVID-19–associated hospitalizations among children and adults–COVID-NET
  7. CDC: Myocarditis and Pericarditis After mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination
  8. CDC: Clinical Considerations: Myocarditis and Pericarditis after Receipt of COVID-19 Vaccines Among Adolescents and Young Adults
  9. CDC: Effectiveness of Monovalent and Bivalent mRNA Vaccines in Preventing COVID-19–Associated Emergency Department and Urgent Care Encounters Among Children Aged 6 Months–5 Years — VISION Network, United States, July 2022–June 2023
  10. CDC: Benefits of Getting A COVID-19 Vaccine
  11. Link-Gelles R: Updates to COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) in the U.S
  12. CDC: COVID-19 Vaccine Safety in Children and Teens
  13. CDC: Getting Your COVID-19 Vaccine
  14. CDC: COVID-19 VIS
  15. CDC: Allergic Reactions after COVID-19 Vaccination
  16. CDC: Cardiac Complications After SARS-CoV-2 Infection and mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination — PCORnet, United States, January 2021–January 2022
  17. CDC: 6 Things to Know about COVID-19 Vaccination for Children
  18. CDC: COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant or Breastfeeding
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