Episode 24: Pediatric Vaccinations and COVID-19 in Children

Additional resources

Pediatric vaccinations and COVID-19 symptoms in children

Q1: Children ages 5 through 11 can now get the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Is it the same as the Pfizer vaccine for ages 12 and older?

No. The vaccine authorized for children ages 5 through 11 is a new formulation for younger children. It’s a smaller dose: The pediatric vaccine is 10 micrograms, while the vaccine for ages 12 and older is 30 micrograms.

Q2: Where can we take our children to get this vaccine? Can we get them in same places we get the other vaccines?

States are getting shipments of the vaccine in batches. But many, if not most, pediatric clinics will have the vaccine by the end of this week.

You can visit GetVaccinated.Oregon.gov to find locations that carry the pediatric Pfizer vaccine. You can also call 211, or ask your child’s doctor if they can provide the vaccine.

Pharmacies can also provide the vaccine, but it may take time for pharmacies to be ready to vaccinate younger children. If you plan to get the vaccines at a pharmacy, you will need to call ahead and ask if the pharmacy has the pediatric Pfizer vaccine; and if they are ready to vaccinate younger children.

Q3: What are the recorded side effects?

For the COVID-19 vaccines, side effects do not appear to last longer than 48 hours. They include pain at the injection site; body aches; headaches or fever. These are signs that the vaccine is working to stimulate your immune system. 

Allergic reaction (anaphalaxis) is a rare side effect that has also been reported. So if you care for children who have had severe allergic reactions in the past, especially to vaccines, you should consult with their doctor.

Q4: Are there long-term impacts of kids getting the vaccine? Will vaccines alter DNA or affect reproductive organs?

Data from vaccination of adolescents have not demonstrated a significant risk of long-term side effects. Virtually all side effects from vaccines occur within a few days and at most six weeks following vaccination.

The vaccines do not affect DNA. Data on COVID-19 vaccination of many women, including pregnant women, have not shown an effect on fertility or on the likelihood of miscarriage.

Q5: What about myocarditis?

Rare side effects such as myocarditis were not seen in the trials leading to authorization of the pediatric vaccine. The risk of vaccine associated myocarditis in this age group is thought to be lower than the risk noted in the older age groups. 

The group at highest risk of vaccine-associated myocarditis has been from the 2nd dose in males 16-17 years old, where it has been about 1 case out of every 14,500 people. The risk has been lower in males of other ages, and much lower in females. The risk of getting myocarditis from COVID-19 infection has been much higher.

Q6: Why is it important to get children vaccinated? Aren’t children less affected by COVID-19 than adults?

Although children are at a lower risk of becoming severely ill with COVID-19 compared with adults, children can:

Children with underlying medical conditions are also more at risk for severe illness from COVID-19 compared with other children. Children who get infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 can also develop serious complications like multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C).

Q7. Can you tell us more about MIS-C?

This condition causes different body parts become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs. We know that many children with MIS-C had the virus that causes COVID-19 or had been around someone with COVID-19. This suggests that MIS-C may be a delayed immune response to COVID-19. 

MIS-C can be serious, even deadly, but most children who were diagnosed with this condition have gotten better with medical care.

Q8. What about “COVID toes”?

The American Academy of Dermatology has noted that COVID toes and rashes may also be signs of past or present COVID-19 in children. These types of rashes can also occur with other infections, like the measles.

While COVID toes can appear at any age, children, teenagers, and young adults seem most likely to develop this condition. Many never develop other symptoms of COVID-19; and if they do, the symptoms tend to be mild. A recent study suggests that “COVID toes” are caused by having a powerful immune response to the COVID-19 virus.

While COVID toes aren’t harmful, other rashes may indicate MIS-C, which can be very serious. A skin rash is one of the symptoms the CDC advises parents to look for, in addition to:

Q7: What about children who have already had COVID-19? Should they get vaccinated?

Yes. Natural immunity provides some but not complete protection, and there continues to be continued spread of COVID-19 in this age group despite the larger number of children with prior infection; a COVID-19 vaccination provides additional proven protection.

Local vaccine events, Nov. 12 through 19, 2021

Date | Time | Location | Address
Friday, Nov. 12 | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. | IRCO-MId County | 10301 NE Glisan St
Saturday, Nov. 13 | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Rosewood Initiative  | 16126 SE Stark St
Saturday, Nov. 13 | 12:30 to 5 p.m. | Latino Network -Rockwood | 454 SE 165th Ave
Saturday, Nov. 13 | 1 to 5 p.m. | Painted Horse/4th Dimension | 10209 SE Division, Bldg D
Saturday, Nov. 13 | 12 to 4 p.m. | Compassion SE Portland  | 9715 SE Powell Blvd
Saturday, Nov. 13 | 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | Fabric Depot | 700 SE 122nd Ave
Tuesday, Nov. 16 | 2 to 8 p.m. | Lloyd Center | 1260 Lloyd Center Blvd
Thursday, Nov. 18 | 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Lloyd Center | 1260 Lloyd Center Blvd
Thursday, Nov. 18 | 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Walt Morey Middle School | 2801 SW Lucas AveTroutdale, OR 97060
Thursday, Nov. 18 | 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Reynolds High School | 1698 SW Cherry Park RdTroutdale, OR 97060

Find more local vaccine clinics at multco.us/vaccineclinics.

Document accessibility: For individuals with disabilities or individuals who speak a language other than English, OHA can provide information in alternate formats such as translations, large print, or braille. Contact the Health Information Center at 1-971-673-2411, 711 TTY or COVID19.LanguageAccess@dhsoha.state.or.us.