Is the COVID-19 vaccine available for my child? 

If he or she is over the age of twelve, yes. 

The Pfizer vaccine is now the only one that has been licenced for children aged 12 to 17.

Anyone above the age of 18 is allowed to take the Pfizer and Moderna shots. 

All of the coronavirus vaccines that have been approved and authorized are highly effective in avoiding serious disease or death from COVID-19. 

Is there a COVID vaccine for children under the age of 12? 

Pfizer has asked the FDA to review data on COVID vaccination in children aged 5 to 11 years old and to recommend emergency approval of the vaccine for this age group. On October 26th, the FDA has tentatively scheduled a meeting to discuss this request. Pfizer has released data that shows a lower dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, given to children aged 5 to 11, is effective in preventing COVID-19 illness. In the coming weeks, the FDA is anticipated to approve at least one of the coronavirus vaccinations for children in this age group. 

Also read How to boost my childs immunity ?

Is it necessary to vaccinate my child against COVID-19? 

Yes. According to experts, there are numerous advantages: The vaccine protects children from contracting COVID-19: Although COVID-19 in children is often milder than in adults, some children infected with the coronavirus can develop serious lung infections, become very unwell, and require hospitalization. This is especially important to remember because the delta coronavirus variation is more contagious than other coronavirus variants. “The current immunizations are still effective in avoiding serious illness caused by the virus's delta form." Complications in children, such as multisystem inflammatory syndrome, may necessitate hospitalization. 

The vaccination aids in the prevention or control of COVID-19: Children, like adults, can spread the coronavirus to others if they are sick, even if they show no symptoms. The COVID-19 vaccination can protect the kid and others, lowering the risk of spreading the virus to others, such as family members and friends who may be more vulnerable to the infection's devastating consequences. 

Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 can help prevent the spread of additional variants: COVID-19 cases are on the rise in youngsters, and the delta variation appears to be a factor. Getting vaccinated decreases viral transmission and reduces the virus's ability to evolve into new types. 

Vaccinating your child against COVID can help them return to more normal life: "Getting vaccinated can also help keep youngsters in school and engaging in the things they enjoy." Vaccinated children who are exposed to the coronavirus are less likely to become ill, and hence are more likely to be able to continue participating with fewer interruptions to school attendance and other activities." 

Another reason to strongly consider a COVID-19 vaccine for your child is to preserve the health of individuals who live and work in your region. Each coronavirus-infected kid or adult has the potential to spread the virus to others in the community. 

If this happens, some of the infected people may become very sick or transfer the virus to others, who will become very sick and possibly die – all because of preventable sickness. This transmission also allows the virus to mutate and generate a new variant that could be more contagious or resistant to current vaccines and treatments. With fewer overall infections in the population, there is a lower risk of severe infection and death in the community, as well as the emergence of deadly coronavirus variations. 

Is there anything to be concerned about when children receive COVID vaccines? 

Vaccine safety precautions are taken very seriously by the FDA and the CDC. They're still looking at the existing clinical trial data before deciding whether to allow immunization in different age groups, and they're keeping a close eye on the vaccinations for any indicators of public safety concerns. 

Does the COVID vaccine cause heart problems in teenagers with myocarditis? 

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than a thousand instances of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the lining outside the heart) have been reported in the United States since April 2021. If you or your kid feels chest pain, shortness of breath, or a fast, fluttering, or pounding heartbeat within a few days of receiving the second injection of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna), seek medical help right away. These reports are extremely rare, given the hundreds of millions of COVID-19 vaccination doses that have been provided. Adolescents (teens) and young adults, as well as males, are more susceptible to the condition. Almost of occurrences of myocarditis or pericarditis are minor and cure rapidly.

Are the side effects of the COVID vaccine the same in children? 

Yes, in general. Your youngster may have pain and be more tired than normal at the injection site (upper arm). It's also possible to get a headache, achy muscles or joints, or even fever and chills. These adverse effects are often transient and disappear within 48 hours. 

Is it possible for me to get COVID-19 from my child?  

Yes, a youngster infected with the coronavirus has the potential to spread COVID-19 to another person. According to some research, young children are less likely to spread the coronavirus to others than older children and adults, although it can still happen. 

Is it true that returning to school increases my child's chances of contracting or transmitting the coronavirus? 

Those who have not been vaccinated, including youngsters, are at risk from the highly contagious delta version of the coronavirus. With this in mind, the CDC has updated its COVID-19 prevention recommendations for K-12 schools, recommending universal indoor masking for all students (age 2 and older), staff, teachers, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status, as well as physical distancing and other precautions. COVID-19 infections and spread can be prevented by having your teen or child vaccinated as soon as he or she is eligible. 

Will the COVID-19 vaccine protect me if my child contracts COVID-19? 

Yes. After completing the two-dose series, the COVID-19 vaccinations from Moderna and Pfizer each have a 95 percent probability of keeping you from getting severe COVID-19 symptoms. The immunizations are quite efficient at avoiding COVID-19-related hospitalization and death.