Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs for 6 months through 17 years
Why should my child get the COVID-19 vaccine?
· To protect your child from getting sick from COVID-19. While it is true that most children have mild disease, some get sick and die. Thousands of children have been hospitalized for COVID-19, and almost 700 have died to date. Approximately 8,300 children ages 5-11 have been hospitalized due to COVID-19 infection.
· To protect others. Even when children don’t feel sick from having COVID they can spread it to others, such as old people like their grandparents or people they don’t know.
· COVID-19 isn’t going to go away soon. Thanks to vaccines and new treatments, we have made great progress, and there is less disease now. We have to expect pockets of disease to keep happening and need to prepare our children for the next waves. Collectively vaccinating all is the only way we will ever get to close to zero cases.
Is it safe for my child to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
· Yes, it is very safe. Most recently, the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine was approved by the FDA.
Could my child still get COVID-19 after getting the vaccine?
· COVID-19 vaccines are very effective. However, a small percentage of people who are fully vaccinated may still get COVID-19. These are known as “vaccine breakthrough cases”.
· Though a small percentage of those fully vaccinated will get infected, being fully vaccinated means that even if you are infected, you have much more mild symptoms. Vaccines are almost perfect in preventing people from dying.
What are some side effects I can expect after getting the COVID-19 vaccine?
· Side effects seen in 6 months to 17 year olds are similar to side effects seen in older populations, with most common side effects including arm pain or soreness, redness, and swelling of the arm. Less common side effects that can occur are chills, fatigue, fever, headache, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, nausea.
· Side effects were mostly mild and went away within 1-2 days.
· Rare side effect. Myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart has been reported in a small number of adolescents. While rare, the risk is highest in males 12-17 years. Most patients who receive care responded well to medicine and rest and recovered quickly.
· Myocarditis symptoms to look for and which you should seek immediate medical attention are:
o chest pain
o fast heart rate
o trouble breathing
· COVID 19 infection can cause long lasting, permanent organ damage. The FDA conducted a benefit/risk assessment to predict symptomatic COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and ICU (intensive care unit) admissions and deaths and determined the overall benefits of the vaccine outweigh any risk.
Do the COVID-19 vaccines work against the new variants?
· Many different strains of the virus, often called “variants,” have now been identified. Some, like the “Delta” variant, are more contagious and spread more easily. COVID 19 vaccines provide protection against variants and prevent severe disease.
· References:
1. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccines for Children Down to 6 Months of Age, FDA, Jul 17, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-moderna-and-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccines-children
2. “Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, 23 May 2021, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html.
3. CDC. “COVID-19 Vaccination.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, 21 Apr. 2021, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/effectiveness/why-measure-effectiveness/breakthrough-cases.html.
4. CDC, 24 June 2021, https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm#SexAndAge
5. Children and COVID-19: State-Level Data Report. American Academy of Pediatrics, 24 June 2021, https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/children-and-covid-19-state-level-data-report/
6. Myocarditis and Pericarditis following mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, 23 June 2021, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/myocarditis.html
COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some excerpts from information at the CDC vaccine website. For information regarding COVID-19 booster, please see this link:https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/p1021-covid-booster.html
For information regarding the COVID 19 third dose, please see this CDC link at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/immuno.html.
For more information on the vaccines, view the CDC link at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/keythingstoknow.html?s_cid=10493:covid%20vaccine:sem.ga:p:RG:GM:gen:PTN:FY21
What You Need to Know regarding Booster doses
Please check the CDC website for updates on who is eligible for a vaccine booster. Vaccine boosters are also recommended for any persons who received a Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine two or more months ago. Individuals can choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose.
Please check the CDC website for updates. Vaccine boosters are also recommended for any persons who received a Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine two or more months ago. Individuals can choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Press release: https://sf.gov/news/sf-opens-covid-19-boosters-broadly-adults-avoid-winter-surge
Third Doses
This additional third dose intended to improve immunocompromised people’s response to their initial vaccine series is not the same as a booster dose, given to people when the immune response to a primary vaccine series is likely to have waned over time. The CDC states people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 because they are more at risk of serious, prolonged illness and because they may not build the same level of immunity to 2-dose vaccine series compared to people who are not immunocompromised. Third doses of mRNA Covid-19 vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer) should be given at least 28 days after the 2nd dose. The CDC is currently recommending the additional third dose for the following persons:
- Receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
- Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune responseAdditionally, you can talk to your healthcare provider to determine if getting an additional dose is appropriate for you.
Are the COVID-19 vaccines safe?
All the COVID-19 vaccines being used have gone through rigorous studies to ensure they are as safe as possible. Systems that allow CDC to watch for safety issues are in place across the entire country.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Emergency Use Authorizations for COVID-19 vaccines that have been shown to meet rigorous safety criteria and be effective as determined by data from the manufacturers and findings from large clinical trials. Watch a video describing the emergency use authorization. Clinical trials for all vaccines must first show they meet rigorous criteria for safety and effectiveness before any vaccine, including COVID-19 vaccines, can be authorized or approved for use. The known and potential benefits of a COVID-19 vaccine must outweigh the known and potential risks of the vaccine. Learn more about how federal partners are ensuring the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States.
Will a COVID-19 vaccine protect me from getting sick with COVID-19?
Yes. COVID-19 vaccination works by teaching your immune system how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19, and this protects you from getting sick with COVID-19.
Being protected from getting sick is important because even though many people with COVID-19 have only a mild illness, others may get a severe illness, have long-term health effects, or even die. There is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you, even if you don’t have an increased risk of developing severe complications. Learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work.
Can a COVID-19 vaccine make me sick with Covid?
No. None of the authorized or vaccines in development in the United States contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. This means that a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19. If you or a family member are experiencing severe symptoms, please call your doctor. If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please call 911.
How do the COVID vaccines work?
Vaccines teach our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. Sometimes this process can cause symptoms such as fever or flu like symptoms. These symptoms are normally limited to a couple of days and a normal effect and sign that your body is building protection against the virus.
It typically takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity (i.e. Protection against the virus that causes COVID-19) after vaccination. This means it is possible a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or after vaccination and still get sick. This is because the vaccine has not had enough time to provide protection.
Is there a risk of severe allergic reaction if I receive the vaccine?
Serious problems from vaccination can happen, but they are rare. CDC has learned of reports that some people have experienced severe allergic reactions—also known as anaphylaxis—after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. As an example, an allergic reaction is considered severe when a person needs to be treated with epinephrine or EpiPen© or if they must go to the hospital. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and allergies.
After getting the COVID-19 vaccine, will I test positive for COVID-19?
No. Neither the recently authorized and recommended vaccines nor the other COVID-19 vaccines currently in clinical trials in the United States can cause you to test positive on viral tests, which are used to see if you have a current infection. If your body develops an immune response—the goal of vaccination—there is a possibility you may test positive on some antibody tests. Antibody tests indicate if you had a previous infection and that you may have some level of protection against the virus. Experts currently are looking at how COVID-19 vaccination may affect antibody testing results. You should continue to get tested for possible current infection of COVD-19 per public health recommendations when possibly exposed or due to work or school requirements. PCR, NAAT, and antigen testing are all used for screening for active infection, and the vaccine does not interfere with these screening tests.
If I have already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to be vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine?
Yes. Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that reinfection with COVID-19 is possible, vaccine should be offered to you regardless of whether you already had COVID-19 infection. CDC is providing recommendations to federal, state, and local governments about who should be vaccinated first.At this time, experts do not know how long someone is protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. The immunity someone gains from having an infection, called natural immunity, varies from person to person. Some early evidence suggests natural immunity may not last very long.
We won’t know how long immunity produced by vaccination lasts until we have more data on how well the vaccines work.
Both natural immunity and vaccine induced immunity are important aspects of COVID-19 that experts are trying to learn more about, and the CDC will keep the pubic informed as new evidence becomes available.
Will a COVID-19 vaccine alter my DNA?
No. COVID-19 mRNA vaccines do not change or interact with your DNA in any way.
Messenger RNA vaccines—also called mRNA vaccines—are the first COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the United States. mRNA vaccines teach our cells how to make a protein that triggers an immune response. The mRNA from a COVID-19 vaccine never enters the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA is kept. This means the mRNA cannot affect or interact with our DNA in any way. Instead, COVID-19 mRNA vaccines work with the body’s natural defenses to safely develop immunity to disease. Learn more about how COVID-19 mRNA vaccines work.
At the end of the process, our bodies have learned how to protect against future infection. That immune response and making antibodies is what protects us from getting infected if the real virus enters our bodies.
Is it safe for me to receive a COVID-19 vaccine if I have an underlying medical condition?
People with underlying medical conditions can receive the FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines provided they have not had an immediate or severe allergic reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine or to any of the ingredients in the vaccine. Learn more about vaccination considerations for persons with underlying medical conditions. Vaccination is an important consideration for adults of any age with certain underlying medical conditions because they are at increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19.
When do I need to arrive for my appointment?
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