COVID FAQs

Lancaster Pediatric Physicians answer the top COVID questions on your mind

Why does my child need this vaccine?

Fortunately, children do not typically get severe COVID-19 disease; however, they can become ill. In fact 2% of all hospitalizations for COVID-19 have been children. Close to 300 children in the United States have died from COVID. There also is a serious syndrome which can occur after COVID infection in children called Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome. Getting the vaccine provides protection for your child from serious COVID disease, hospitalization, and death and eliminates the risk of long term complications of the disease.

The other important reason to get this vaccine is that children can spread the disease. Lately, 25% of all new COVID cases in the United States have been in children. Vaccinating kids helps us stop the spread of the virus.

The final reason to get your child vaccinated is so that they can start to return to normal. The mental health of kids, especially teens, has really suffered from this isolation. Getting vaccinated means safely returning to part-time jobs, sleepovers, sports, vacations, swimming pools, and summer camps.

Is the vaccine safe for kids?

These vaccines have received a more comprehensive safety analysis than any vaccines ever previously approved in the United States. They have been tested in a wide range of ages, ethnicities, and races. The trials in children began in October and have been scrutinized for safety by independent organizations including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). They have been found to be very safe and amazingly effective.

What are the side effects to the COVID-19 vaccine in kids?

Research shows that the side effects in children and teens are similar to those in adults. The most common are sore arm, headache, fever, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes. Side effects typically resolve within 48 hours and can be treated with acetaminophen, if needed. You may want to plan your child’s shot so that the day after they are able to rest.

Was the vaccine rushed through development and trials?

Despite the fast timeline, the COVID-19 vaccine went through the same rigorous safety analysis as all other previous vaccines. The development was helped by a few things: 1. mRNA vaccines such as these had been in development for a decade prior so there was a good foundation from which to start. 2. The government and private sector were able to apply lots of resources to the vaccine and remove obstacles to getting trials going. 3. There were lots of volunteers who stepped up for trials and testing making the data collection easier.  Parents can be reassured that although these vaccines were developed quickly, the safety standards for them are the exact same as any other vaccine.

Do the vaccines affect fertility?

The COVID-19 vaccine does not interfere with fertility. In fact, there is not a single vaccine that has ever been shown to affect fertility. This concern likely comes from European researchers who asked the question because the coronavirus shares some proteins similar to placental proteins. Paul Offit, MD, vaccine specialist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, compares this sharing of proteins to two people who both have a 5 in their social security number. There are millions of possible combinations, and they are not the same. Just like sharing a 5 does not mean they are the same person, sharing proteins does not mean the body will mix up antibodies to the virus with placental tissue. The body knows they are different. Supporting this are the multiple studies of vaccinated pregnant women which show that they have normal placentas and normal pregnancies. And in the last 3 months, millions of women have received the vaccine, yet there has been no significant drop in the pregnancy rate.

Could there be long term side effects that we will find out about later?

Many parents express concern that there will be “surprise” side effects discovered down the road from these vaccines. It helps to look at historical data about vaccines and how they work. Any serious side effect to vaccines which has ever been reported and validated has occurred within 6 weeks of receiving the vaccine. Long term surprise side effects simply do not occur. The side effects of the COVID vaccine in children are the same as in adults with the most common being sore arm, muscle aches, and fever. Side effects do not typically last more than 24-48 hours.

Is it safe to get other vaccines with the COVID vaccine?

Based on recent research and a cumulative understanding of how vaccines work together, routine vaccinations such as tetanus, meningitis, HPV, or measles, do not need to be delayed or rescheduled due to COVID vaccination. Other vaccines may now be given with the COVID vaccine, and waiting a time interval between vaccines is not necessary.

What should I do if I still have concerns about the vaccine? 

Call your child’s healthcare provider. Pediatric providers are vaccine experts, and it is very important you get advice from someone you trust and who has your child’s health and wellbeing as their priority.