The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the Pfizer Bio-NTech COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in children ages 5-11 in November 2020. It is a much smaller dose than the vaccine given to people 12 and older. The vaccine is dispensed in two doses three weeks apart using smaller needles. According to research, this vaccine is about 91% effective in preventing COVID-19 in this age group. The children’s vaccine is packaged in the vile with the orange cap as seen in the photo.
Your child may experience some pain at the site of the shot, redness and swelling may occur. Some children have experienced nausea, fever, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, while other children have no side effects. Your child should feel better in a few days.
You may give your child a non-aspirin pain reliever to help with pain or fever. Contact your healthcare provider or your local pharmacy to get your child vaccinated.
Children who have been vaccinated along with their families should continue to wear a mask and wash their hands. Avoid close contact with sick people, practice social distancing, avoid touching your nose or mouth. The vaccine is free to everyone in the U.S. regardless of immigration status and health insurance is not required. Contact your local pharmacy or health care provider to schedule an appointment to get the vaccine for your children.