COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by the highly contagious SARS-CoV-2 virus. The virus most often causes respiratory symptoms that feel like a cold or the flu. Most children with COVID-19 have mild symptoms, but some children may have symptoms severe enough to require care in the hospital or an intensive care unit. Children can also develop long-term complications from an infection.
Why does my child need protection against COVID-19?
Although children are less likely to experience severe illness from COVID-19 compared to adults, they can still suffer from serious outcomes. Infants and children of all ages with medical conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart, lung or neurological conditions are at higher risk for developing severe COVID-19. In children, serious complications of COVID-19 include croup (swelling of the voice box and windpipe), bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways), acute respiratory distress syndrome (lung injury), myocarditis (inflammation and weakening of the heart) or even death.
Children can also develop long COVID, a condition in which often difficult-to-treat symptoms persist long after the initial infection. Long COVID can affect quality of life, may require comprehensive medical care and can even result in disability.
A rare, but severe complication of COVID-19, called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), can also occur several weeks after infection. MIS-C can occur after even asymptomatic or mild COVID-19 infection, resulting in inflammation of the heart, lungs, kidneys and other organs, which can require hospitalization, often in the intensive care unit.
Which vaccines protect against COVID-19?
Several COVID-19 vaccines are available to protect against COVID-19 illness. Starting at 6 months old, children are recommended to receive a COVID-19 vaccine series. The number of doses in the series will vary based on your child’s age and the type of COVID-19 vaccine they receive. Annual boosters of COVID-19 vaccine are recommended following completion of the primary series. As the COVID-19 virus continues to adapt and change, a booster dose provides your child with the best protection.
Are they safe?
Millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been safely given to children and adolescents. It is safe for children to receive the COVID-19 vaccine along with other routine childhood vaccines.
Are they effective?
Vaccinating your child greatly lowers their risk of hospitalization, severe illness and long-term complications, such as long-COVID and MIS-C, from COVID-19 illness. COVID-19 vaccines provide strong protection, especially in the first few months after vaccination. Real world data has shown that keeping your child up to date with the COVID-19 vaccine significantly reduces the number of urgent care and emergency department visits for COVID-19.