Joe Gastaldo, MD, System Medical Director for Infectious Diseases at OhioHealth explains everything you need to know about COVID vaccines for children.
There is now an FDA authorized and CDC recommended Pfizer vaccine for children ages five to 11 years old. The Pfizer vaccine is two doses – the child dose is 10 micrograms separated by 21 days, and the adult dose is 30 micrograms separated by 21 days. Based on the clinical trials, this vaccine is well tolerated and induces a robust immune response with a vaccine clinical efficacy in the 90 percent range in preventing symptomatic COVID-19.
The side effect profile for five to 11 year olds is very similar to that of adults. The biggest side effects reported are pain at the injection site, headache, muscle pain, and low-grade fevers. The side effects go away in most within one to two days.
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