By Sophia L. Thomas, DNP, FNP-BC, PPCNP-BC, FNAP, FAANP
In yet another milestone in our 15-month long fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, children aged 12 and older are now eligible to receive one of the COVID-19 vaccines. This is truly a day to celebrate, but we can’t become complacent. It is imperative that we continue to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance and urge everyone who is eligible to receive the vaccine to do so at their earliest opportunity.
Ensuring that your children get the COVID-19 vaccine is the most consequential step you can take to prevent them, and your family, from contracting the virus. By getting your children vaccinated, you will enable them to resume many of the activities they participated in prior to the pandemic and help them return to some semblance of normalcy.
The CDC has provided tips to support your children before, during and after they receive their vaccination. Here is some additional advice to help make it a smooth and safe process:
- Tell the health care provider administering the shot about any allergies your child may have.
- Talk to your children ahead of time about what they should expect during the vaccination.
- Make sure your child is seated when receiving their vaccination, and for the 15-minute observation period afterward.
- Be sure to comfort and provide reassurance to your children during the entire visit.
The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. More than 133 million Americans have been vaccinated, with nearly half a million of those being children aged 12 to 15. Be sure to get your children, and yourself, vaccinated as soon as possible, and then enjoy safely resuming many activities that have been paused for more than a year!
