How we know the COVID-19 vaccines are safe for children
● Vaccine safety is the most important. The vaccines have been carefully studied before they were recommended to be given to children and teens.
● This process is called a clinical trial and all authorized vaccines have gone through it. Only vaccines shown to be safe and effective are authorized to be used.
● In the clinical trials:
○ The vaccines for children and teens were found to be safe and getting two doses of the vaccine provided very good protection from COVID-19.
○ The Pfizer vaccine for 5-11 year olds was determined to be 90.7% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 disease. This is similar to the effectiveness for people age 12 and older.
○ The clinical trials for the Pfizer vaccine for 5-11 year olds did not have any reports of these rare side effects: myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), pericarditis (inflammation of the lining outside the heart), or anaphylaxis (an allergic reaction).
○ Common, mild side effects were found less in the 5-11 year-olds in the trial compared to 16-25 year-olds.
○ The Pfizer vaccine that children age 5-11 will receive is a smaller dose than what is given to people age 12 and up to meet the unique needs of younger children. The current Pfizer vaccine for 12 and up cannot be used for children age 5-11 years.
● If you have questions about vaccines, your pediatrician or family physician can be an excellent source of information.