The COVID-19 vaccine is available for children aged 6 months to 4 years.
The vaccine is particularly recommended for children with underlying health conditions that would place them at higher risk of having severe COVID-19. But the vaccine is available to all children and provides extra protection from the rare risks of serious illness from COVID-19 as well as providing the benefit of reducing household transmission to those who are immunocompromised or too young for vaccination.
Dr. Aparna Keegan, Specialist in Public Health Medicine with the HSE National Immunisation Office, answered some common questions from parents about the vaccine for children aged 6 months to 4 years. She spoke about any risks and possible side effects, as well as other topics about the vaccine to help parents decide about COVID-19 vaccination for their child.
Is it still important to get vaccinated for COVID-19?
“COVID-19 is still with us and anyone can catch it. Thanks to the vaccine there are less people being hospitalised or dying from COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 6 months to 4 years is the most effective way we can protect our little ones. Even if your child has had COVID-19 before, they can still get the vaccine because it’s possible to catch the virus again”.
What are the risks of getting the COVID-19 vaccine?
Dr. Keegan explained that the most important thing for parents and guardians to know is that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe.
“In the United States, over 1 million children aged 6 months to 5 years have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. But as with any medication there can be side effects. The usual side effects include things like soreness where the vaccine is injected, feeling sleepy or irritable, not feeling hungry or having a fever. But these side effects generally don’t last long and get better on their own.”
Dr. Keegan explained what vaccine these younger children get, saying that the COVID-19 vaccine given to children in Ireland is manufactured by Pfizer and is a smaller dose vaccine than the one older children and adults get. “Your child will get their age specific vaccine and like all COVID-19 vaccines, this one is also safe and effective”.
Can my child get a COVID-19 vaccine if they are taking antibiotics?
Dr. Aparna says that there is no evidence that antibiotics affect vaccines or how they work. “It’s safe and okay for your child to get vaccinated if they’re on antibiotics. The vaccine won’t have an effect on the bacterial infection that your child may be taking antibiotics for”.
Can my child get vaccinated if they have a cold?
Dr. Keegan advises that if your child has a temperature of 38 degrees or higher, or has COVID-19, you should wait until they are better to get the vaccine. “If your child has COVID-19, they should wait for four weeks after they first had symptoms or tested positive before getting their vaccine”.
“It’s still important that your child gets vaccinated even if they’ve had COVID-19 as the vaccine gives them extra protection against the virus and helps keep them safe”.
Can my child get the COVID-19 vaccine if they have recently had other vaccines?
Dr. Keegan advises, “As a precaution, if your child has been given any other vaccine, for example, as part of their routine baby vaccine or through the schools vaccination programme, they should wait 14 days before they receive their COVID-19 vaccine”.
I had a COVID-19 vaccine when pregnant, does that mean my child is protected?
If you had COVID-19 or got the COVID-19 vaccine while you were pregnant, your little one can still get the COVID-19 vaccine as long as they are over 6 months old. Dr. Keegan says, “The vaccine helps teach your child’s immune system how to make antibodies so that they can fight infection if they come into contact with the virus themselves”. Again, the doctor highlights the importance of the vaccine for children with underlying health conditions that puts them at a higher risk of the virus.
Visit hse.ie for more information or to book an appointment.
Brought to you by
