ATLANTA, GA-Getting a COVID-19 vaccination can help protect your child from getting COVID-19. They can also help keep your child from getting seriously sick even if they do get COVID-19.
COVID-19 vaccines have been used under the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history, which includes studies in adolescents.
Children and adolescents receive the same dosage of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine as adults and will need a second shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine 3 weeks after their first shot.
Help protect your whole family by getting yourself and your children 12 years and older vaccinated against COVID-19. To find a COVID-19 vaccine: Search vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find locations near you.
A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel voted unanimously, with one abstention, that the vaccine’s benefits in preventing COVID-19 in that age group outweigh any potential risks. That includes questions about a heart-related side effect that’s been very rare in teens and young adults despite their use of a much higher vaccine dose.
Although fewer children have been infected with COVID-19 compared to adults, children can:
- Be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19
- Get sick from COVID-19
- Spread COVID-19 to others
CDC recommends everyone 12 years and older should get a COVID-19 vaccination to help protect against COVID-19. Widespread vaccination is a critical tool to help stop the pandemic. People who are fully vaccinated can resume activities that they did prior to the pandemic. Learn more about what you and your child or teen can do when you have been fully vaccinated. Children 12 years and older are able to get the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.
Protect Unvaccinated Children
Children between the ages of 2 and 12 should wear a mask in public spaces and around people they don’t live with.
Find a COVID-19 Vaccine for Your Child
- Check your local pharmacy’s website to see if vaccination walk-ins or appointments are available.
- Check with your child’s healthcare provider about whether they offer COVID-19 vaccination.
- Contact your state or local health department for more information
Possible side effects
Your child may have some side effects, which are normal signs that their body is building protection.
- Pain
- Redness
- Swelling
- Tiredness
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Chills
- Fever
- Nausea
These side effects may affect your child’s ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Some people have no side effects.
Ask your child’s healthcare provider for advice on using a non-aspirin pain reliever and other steps you can take at home to comfort your child. It is not recommended you give pain relievers before vaccination for the purpose of trying to prevent side effects.
