Frequently Asked Questions on COVID-19 Vaccines

Those who are 5 years and older can get vaccinated at any one of several locations across the county, including a variety of pharmacy locations, community vaccination sites, health systems, participating schools, clinics, and doctor's offices. Many sites throughout L.A. County are now offering vaccines without an appointment, and have expanded hours to include evenings and weekends. Visit myturn.ca.gov to find a vaccination location near you.

You can also access vaccine appointment tools at our Vaccine Info web page or your local public health department's website. You may also call the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health call center at 833-540-0473, daily between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 p.m., for help finding a vaccination site near you or to get the vaccine at home if needed. At-home vaccine appointments can be made at the County's In-Home Vaccination web page.

Individuals are encouraged to use the website whenever possible to avoid long wait times on the phone. L.A. Care and public health agencies recommend that everyone who is eligible get the vaccine. It is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones and for all of us to get back to a more normal life.

There is no cost to receive the vaccine. If you are asked to pay for the vaccine, report it by calling the L.A. Care COVID-19 information line at (844) 656-7272 (TTY 711).

The CDC now recommends that everyone ages 12 and older who received a Pfizer vaccine for their primary vaccination series get a booster shot at least five months after their second dose. For some immunocompromised children aged 5-11 years old, the CDC now recommends an additional dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at least 28 days after the second dose – a total of three doses. Those who received the Moderna vaccine for their primary series are eligible for a booster at least five months after their second dose. The booster dose for those aged 18 and older does not have to be the same brand as the primary series.

If you received a Johnson & Johnson vaccine for your first dose, the CDC recommends you receive an mRNA Pfizer or Moderna booster two months later. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is still available if you prefer it or have an allergy to the ingredients in the mRNA vaccines. If you already had a Johnson & Johnson booster, you don't need to get another booster at this time.

Adults 50 and older who received a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for their primary series can get a second booster at least four months after their first booster. The second booster must be an mRNA vaccine. Anyone who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for both their primary dose and booster should get a second booster. Adults 50 and older who received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine as their primary dose should get a second booster, regardless of what type of vaccine they received for their first booster.

The CDC made this decision after reviewing the latest evidence on vaccine effectiveness, safety, and rare adverse effects. The mRNA COVID-19 Pfizer and Moderna vaccines offer better protection and are not associated with rare blood clot side effects that one may get after getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

I got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but the CDC is now recommending mRNA vaccines over the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, what should I do?

Adverse side effects to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are extremely rare, and being vaccinated is safer than not being vaccinated. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine still offers protection against COVID-19, and is still available for individuals who prefer it and those who are allergic to ingredients in the mRNA vaccines. If you received a Johnson & Johnson vaccine for your first dose, the CDC recommends you receive an mRNA Pfizer or Moderna booster 2 months later. If you already had a Johnson & Johnson booster, you don't need to get another booster at this time.

I am having trouble using the County's online vaccine appointment scheduling tool. How can I schedule a vaccine appointment? â€‹

Many sites throughout L.A. County are now offering vaccines without an appointment, and have expanded hours to include evenings and weekends. You may call the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health call center at 833-540-0473, daily between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 p.m., for help finding a vaccination site near you. Individuals are encouraged to use the website whenever possible to avoid long wait times on the phone.

At this time, both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are recommended for those who are 6 months and older, while Johnson and Johnson and Novavax vaccines are recommended for people 18 years and older. 

L.A. Care recommends that everyone who is eligible get the vaccine. It is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones and for us all to get back to a more normal life.  

Yes. People who have had the virus should wait until they have recovered from the acute illness (if the person had symptoms) and no longer need to be in isolation.

Yes. A small percentage of people who get immunized with the COVID-19 vaccine can get infected with the virus after they've been vaccinated. Because they've been vaccinated, their body is better prepared to fight a COVID-19 infection, the virus' symptoms will be milder than if they had not been vaccinated, and it is highly unlikely that they will need to be hospitalized.

The information below includes a list of ingredients for each COVID-19 vaccine currently authorized for emergency use by the FDA. The information is from the CDC.

Moderna Vaccine

Note: Does not contain: eggs, preservatives, latex

Includes the following ingredients: Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), lipids (SM-102, polyethylene glycol [PEG] 2000 dimyristoyl glycerol [DMG], cholesterol, and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine [DSPC]), tromethamine, tromethamine hydrochloride, acetic acid, sodium acetate trihydrate, and sucrose. (Source: CDC)

Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine

Note: Does not contain: eggs, preservatives, latex

Includes the following ingredients: mRNA, lipids ((4-hydroxybutyl) azanediyl) bis(hexane-6,1-diyl)bis(2-hexyldecanoate), 2 [(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N,N-ditetradecylacetamide, 1,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3- phosphocholine, and cholesterol), potassium chloride, monobasic potassium phosphate, sodium chloride, dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate, and sucrose. (Source: CDC)

Johnson & Johnson's Janssen Vaccine

Note: Does not contain: eggs, preservatives, latex

Includes the following ingredients: Recombinant, replication-incompetent adenovirus type 26 expressing the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, citric acid monohydrate, trisodium citrate dihydrate, ethanol, 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HBCD), polysorbate-80, sodium chloride. (Source: CDC)

I was vaccinated outside the United States with a vaccine other than Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax, or Johnson & Johnson. Am I considered to be fully vaccinated in the U.S.?    

While the United States and its vaccine review committees have only authorized the use of the COVID-19 vaccines produced by Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax and Johnson & Johnson, the World Health Organization (WHO) has approved other vaccines. The CDC has not recommended mixing the first two vaccine doses between different vaccine manufactures and/or vaccine types (i.e., mRNA and viral vector) in a two-dose vaccine series. However, this is common in many other countries. Therefore, individuals vaccinated outside the U.S. can be considered fully vaccinated when entering the U.S. at least 14 days after being vaccinated with any single dose of an FDA approved/authorized or WHO-approved single-dose series (i.e., J&J), or any combination of two doses of an FDA approved/authorized or WHO emergency use-listed COVID-19 two-dose series. The recommended interval between the first and second doses of FDA-approved/authorized and WHO-listed vaccines varies by vaccine type. However, for purposes of interpretation of vaccine records, individuals must have been vaccinated with the second dose in a two dose mixed series no earlier than 17 days after the first dose. This guidance on interpreting vaccine records does not impact CDC recommendations on primary series vaccination and should not guide clinical practice.

The benefit of getting the COVID-19 vaccine is protecting ourselves, friends, and family against COVID-19, helping to end the pandemic, and getting back to a more normal life. All three COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized for emergency use by the FDA have been shown to prevent COVID-19 disease in ongoing clinical trials and in the real-life setting. The duration of protection against COVID-19 is currently unknown. We do know that getting the virus is much, much worse than getting the vaccine. The virus can cause significant lasting harm and damage to your body, and even death. Side effects that have been reported from COVID-19 vaccines are generally mild to moderate and go away after one or two days, these include pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle and joint pain, chills and mild fever. A small percentage of people may experience more severe symptoms, such as swelling of the face, legs, lips or eyes, or sudden and severe shortness of breath, or severe and persistent abdominal pain, leg pain, or headache. Severe adverse reactions to the vaccine usually occur within a few minutes to one hour after being vaccinated. For this reason, you will be asked to stay for a short period of observation after you receive the vaccine. There have been a few cases in which symptoms of a severe adverse reaction were developed up to three weeks after vaccination. Please seek immediate medical attention if you develop any of these symptoms at any time after you've been vaccinated. If you experience an adverse reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine, please report it to the CDC through its V-Safe website, vsafe.cdc.gov.

People should not be charged for the vaccine. If you are asked to pay for the vaccine, contact L.A. Care to report it by calling the L.A. Care COVID-19 information line at (844) 656-7272 (TTY 711).

At this point, there are only a limited number of primary care providers who have access to the vaccine. Please check lacare.org/vaccine or your local public health department's website to see if your provider is listed in the appointment scheduler. You may also call the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health call center at 833-540-0473, daily between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Individuals are encouraged to use the website whenever possible to avoid long wait times on the phone.

L.A. Care's Medi-Cal members can use their transportation benefit to be driven to and from eligible walk-up COVID-19 vaccination sites, such as at a local pharmacy. To find eligible walk-up COVID-19 vaccination sites, please visit lacare.org/vaccine. You may also call the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health call center at 833-540-0473, daily between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 p.m., for help scheduling a vaccine appointment. Individuals are encouraged to use the website whenever possible to sign up for an appointment to avoid long wait times on the phone. Drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination sites are not eligible. Same-day transportation appointments may be available. Please use the number on the back of your ID card to schedule your transportation after you have scheduled your vaccine appointment.

Yes. If you received a vaccination that requires two doses for the primary series, such as the Pfizer, Moderna, or Novavax vaccine, then it is very important to follow public health guidelines and return for the second dose to complete the series. 

Yes. It is currently recommended that both doses come from the same manufacturer.

For two-dose vaccines, such as Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax, it takes two weeks after the second dose to reach maximum effectiveness. For single-dose vaccines like Johnson and Johnson, it takes two to three weeks after the single shot to reach maximum effectiveness. And currently, the CDC recommends that people who eligible, also receive their boosters to receive the maximum benefit and protection of the vaccine from long COVID and reducing the risk from hospitalization and death.

The COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death, including against known variants. But they are not 100% effective, and some fully vaccinated people will become infected (called a breakthrough infection) and experience illness. For such people, the vaccine still provides them strong protection against serious illness and death. The vast majority of infections and hospitalizations are among the unvaccinated.

The COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe disease and death, including against known variants. Even though some fully vaccinated people can become infected (called a breakthrough infection) and experience illness, the vaccine still provides them strong protection against serious illness and death. The vast majority of infections, hospitalizations, and deaths related to COVID-19 infection are among the unvaccinated.

Yes. Viruses constantly change through mutation resulting in variants. As expected, multiple variants of COVID-19 have been documented in the United States and globally throughout this pandemic. The COVID-19 vaccine and good public health measures are our best tool in stopping the development of new variants and ending the pandemic.

L.A. Care will not require members to be vaccinated. L.A. Care strongly encourages them to be vaccinated as soon as possible so that they are protected against severe COVID-19 illness and hospitalization.

There are two types of COVID-19 tests. One of them is the PCR test which needs to be analyzed at a lab. PCR means polymerase chain reaction. It's a test to detect genetic material from a specific organism, such as the coronavirus. Results for PCR tests take around 2 to 3 days, but in times of high demand, it may take longer. The other type of COVID-19 test is an antigen test. This type of test is more commonly known as a rapid test or at-home test. Antigen tests detect specific proteins on the surface of the coronavirus. This test makes it convenient to get tested without going to an in-person test site, and results are available within 20 minutes. Some places may require proof of a negative PCR test for entry, as opposed to an antigen test, because the antigen test may not be as sensitive or accurate as the PCR test. For information on how to access COVID-19 rapid at-home antigen tests, please visit our rapid test FAQ page here.

For information on how to access COVID-19 rapid at-home antigen tests, please visit our rapid test FAQ page here.

Both vaccines are shown to be safe and effective. L.A. Care does not have a recommendation. The main difference is that currently, Moderna is only 2 shots and Pfizer is 3 shots. However, many experts predict that boosters will be needed.

To access your vaccine record, go to myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov.

"Fully vaccinated" is no longer a term that is used because of the rapid mutation of the virus. The term that one will hear more regularly is that one is "up to date" with the COVID vaccine based on the CDC recommendations for the primary and boosters based on the current guidelines. Given how quickly COVID has been mutating, the number of recommended boosters will change with time as we learn more.

Several treatments are now available for individuals who are at high risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, test positive, and have symptoms. Some treatments are taken by mouth and some are given by injection. For information on available treatment options and eligibility, please consult with your medical provider. 

If you are unable to speak to a provider, you can use the Test to Treat program which provides access to testing, evaluation, and if eligible, oral treatment. There is currently no cost for these COVID-19 medications, but the treating facility may charge for administering the drug. Medicare and Medi-Cal cover all costs. 

A monoclonal antibody-based medicine, Evusheld, can be used before a person is exposed to COVID-19 to prevent them from getting infected. For information on available treatment options and eligibility, please consult with your medical care provider. If you are unable to speak to a provider, you can use the Test to Treat program which provides access to testing, evaluation, and if eligible, oral treatment. 

Both Johnson & Johnson and Novavax uses a more traditional virus or protein based vaccine technology.  These are both shown to be effective in clinical trials.  Johnson & Johnson has had some concerns with blood clot, but the risk is low and Novavax is relatively new, butwas shown to be safe and effective in the clinical trials.  

Unlike the mRNA and vector vaccines, Novavax is a protein-based adjuvant (an adjuvant is an ingredient used to strengthen the immune response). While other vaccines require the body's cells to create parts of the virus that can trigger the immune system, the Novavax vaccines take a different approach. It contains pieces of the coronavirus spike protein itself, but it cannot cause actual COVID disease. When the vaccine is injected, this stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies. Novavax is only approved for individuals 18 years of age and older. 

L.A. County will start administering the vaccine beginning Wednesday, August 3. If you are 18 years and older, you can get the vaccine at any Public Health vaccination location. You can also contact your provider to see if they are offering the vaccine.

Yes. All the COVID-19 vaccines were tested in large clinical trials to make sure they meet safety standards. In addition, over the past year, billions of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered. The science behind vaccines for coronaviruses has been underway for more than 20 years, which enabled scientists to develop one so quickly after this specific coronavirus (COVID-19) emerged in the general population. 

Side effects that have been reported from COVID-19 vaccines are generally mild to moderate and go away after one or two days, these include: pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle and joint pain, chills and mild fever. A small percentage of people may experience more severe symptoms, such as swelling of the face, legs, lips or eyes, or sudden and severe shortness of breath, or severe and persistent abdominal pain, leg pain, or headache. 

Severe adverse reactions to the vaccine usually occur within a few minutes to one hour after being vaccinated. For this reason, you will be asked to stay for a short period of observation after you receive the vaccine. There have been a few cases in which symptoms of a severe adverse reaction were developed up to three weeks after vaccination. 

Please seek immediate medical attention if you develop any of these symptoms at any time after you've been vaccinated, and report it to the CDC through its V-Safe website, vsafe.cdc.gov. While there is a small number of people who may develop serious side effects from the vaccine, we know that many more unvaccinated individuals have been hospitalized and have died from COVID-19 than those who are vaccinated.

Mild to moderate symptoms (not requiring hospitalization) sometimes occur when the body makes antibodies from the vaccine. This does not mean you are sick or have COVID-19. Common side effects of this vaccine during clinical trials include pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle and joint pain, chills and mild fever. 

Side effects are generally mild and go away after a day or two. If you experience more severe symptoms, such as swelling of the face, legs, lips or eyes, or develop sudden and severe shortness of breath, or severe and persistent abdominal pain, leg pain, or headache, please seek immediate medical attention and report it to the CDC through its V-Safe website, vsafe.cdc.gov.

Trial participants for the vaccines included people with cardiovascular conditions or risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and history of heart attacks. 

There is no evidence so far to suggest that patients with cardiovascular issues or diabetes experience more side effects than the general population when getting vaccinated. Because patients with high blood pressure, diabetes, and other chronic health conditions are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, they should get the first vaccine available to them as soon as possible.

Since mass vaccination started in early December 2020, billions of vaccine doses have been administered in the United States and worldwide in adults and children. Side effects from vaccination have usually occurred within the first few days of getting a vaccine. Please check our main vaccine web page for any updates. 

COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines may be co-administered without regard to timing, this includes simultaneous administration of the COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines on the same day. 

Adverse reactions (which are different from mild to moderate symptoms) to the COVID-19 vaccines are rare. In the event that an adverse reaction occurs, it will usually occur within a few minutes to one hour after being vaccinated. For this reason, you will be asked to stay for a short period of observation after you receive the vaccine. 

There have been a few cases in which symptoms of a severe adverse reaction were developed up to three weeks after vaccination. Signs of a severe adverse reaction can include swelling of the face, legs, lips or eyes, or sudden and severe shortness of breath, or severe and persistent abdominal pain, leg pain, chest pain, headache, and blood clotting. 

Please seek immediate medical attention if you develop any of these symptoms at any time after you've been vaccinated and report it to the CDC through its V-Safe website, vsafe.cdc.gov. 

While there is a small number of people who may develop serious side effects from the vaccine, we know that many more unvaccinated individuals have been hospitalized and have died from COVID-19 than those who are vaccinated.

Severe adverse reactions to the COVID-19 vaccines are very rare. If you experience a severe adverse reaction to the vaccine, and you are an L.A. Care member, L.A. Care will cover your medical care expenses. 

For more information on your COVID-19 care coverage, please call the L.A. Care COVID-19 information line at (844) 656-7272 (TTY 711). If you are uninsured, the government will pay for your care. If you don't have or recently lost health care coverage, you can get covered. 

Please visit our Help Me Choose web page or the Covered California website for more information on available health coverage options. If you've experienced an adverse reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine, please report it to the CDC through its V-Safe website, vsafe.cdc.gov.

Out of billions of people who have received the COVID-19 vaccine, there have been only a few documented cases of individuals dying because they received the vaccine. There is a much higher risk of severe illness leading to hospitalization or death from being infected with COVID-19 if you are not vaccinated. 

If an individual contracts the virus before the vaccine reaches maximum effectiveness, the infection may still result in severe illness leading to hospitalization or death. This is why it's important to get the vaccine as soon as it becomes available to you. 

Two weeks after the second dose – or single dose, if you get the Johnson and Johnson vaccine – the vaccine reaches maximum effectiveness, meaning your body should be better prepared to fight a COVID-19 infection if you become infected with the virus, and the virus' symptoms will be milder than if you had not been vaccinated.

L.A. Care recommends that everyone who is eligible get the vaccine. Over 256 million Americans have been vaccinated against COVID-19. It is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones and for us all to get back to a more normal life. 

The science behind vaccines for coronaviruses has been underway for more than 20 years, which enabled scientists to develop one so quickly after this specific coronavirus (COVID-19) emerged in the general population. Hundreds of millions of people have safely received the vaccine. If you are still unsure, please speak with your doctor about your health and other risk factors and follow your doctor's direction.

In general, people with comprised immune system should absolutely get the COVID-19 vaccine. People with weakened immune systems are at significant risk of dying or being hospitalized if they contract COVID-19. 

If you are still unsure, then you should talk with your personal physicians to understand the risks and benefits of getting vaccinated for COVID-19.

Regardless of vaccination status, it is strongly recommended that people continue to wear masks that fit and filter well in all indoor public places. The spread of COVID-19 continues to be a significant risk for many in Los Angeles County. 

Therefore, masks are strongly recommended indoors or in crowded outdoor settings for people at high risk of severe illness, or who live or are gathering with someone who is at high risk, and for everyone in indoor public settings, K-12 schools, and daycare. 

Everyone 2 years of age and older must wear a mask:

• On public transportation and rideshares
• In airports and on airplanes
• In healthcare settings
• Shelters and cooling centers
• In any other location where it is the policy of the business or venue

Different cities, counties, and states may have additional and/or different public health orders. Please regularly check with the local public health department to know what the public orders are where you're located.

The COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death, including known variants. But they are not 100% effective, and some fully vaccinated people will become infected (called a breakthrough infection) and experience illness. 

Additionally, infections with some known variants result in high viral loads and an increased risk of transmission. This means that vaccinated people infected with those variants can still transmit the virus to others. However, when one is vaccinated, the severity of the COVID-19 disease and the viral load and transmission rate is much lower than when not vaccinated. 

If you have a weakened immune system, or if your age or an underlying medical condition puts you or a member of your household in a high risk category, you might choose to wear a mask regardless of the setting you're in or the level of transmission in your area.

The COVID-19 vaccine does not impact fertility and it is safe for pregnant people. No loss of fertility was reported in the clinical trials or in the millions of women who have since received the vaccines. 

Pregnant people are at higher risk of getting very sick with COVID-19. Pregnant and lactating people may receive any of the COVID-19 vaccines to protect themselves. Vaccination also allows the mom to pass down the immunity to the newborn for a period of time.

For some immunocompromised children aged 5-11 years old, the CDC now recommends an additional dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at least 28 days after the second dose – a total of three doses. For children adolescents 12 to 17, the CDC recommends a booster dose at least five months after their second dose.

Yes. The COVID-19 vaccine has been proven safe and effective for children as young as 5 years old. The science behind the vaccines has been underway for many 2 years which enabled scientists to develop the COVID-19 vaccine quickly.  In addition, the COVID-19 vaccine trials were conducted with tens of thousands of children before the FDA authorized its use emergently. Over 15 million children ages 12 to 18 have been vaccinated already in the United States, with very few serious adverse events. No vaccine in history has been so closely monitored for safety.

Unfortunately, children can get sick, be hospitalized, and die with COVID-19 infection. Most kids do not get seriously ill from COVID-19, but hundreds of children have died from it, and thousands have been hospitalized. Others experience long-term COVID-19 symptoms that last for months. 

Children can also transmit to other more vulnerable people in their lives. Vaccination is the most important way to control the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the number of people of all ages being hospitalized or dying from COVID.  

There have been no reported concerns or cases of the COVID-19 vaccine impacting child development. In fact, being vaccinated allows our young people to get back to doing things crucial to their development, such as in-school learning, socializing, and playing with their friends.

The pediatric formulation for those ages 5-11 is a smaller dose, 10 micrograms, one-third the size of the 30-microgram adult/adolescent vaccine (ages 12 and up). 

According to medical experts, this lower dose offers immune protection, but with lower side effects, including a decreased risk of any heart-related adverse effects. No serious side effects have been detected with the 10-microgram dose.

Clinical trials compared 10, 20 and 30-microgram doses in children. The first few children who received 30 micrograms developed fevers and red, sore arms. So the trial continued with only 10 and 20-microgram doses. 

Results showed the same immune response in those who received 10 micrograms versus those who got 20 micrograms, and minor side effects were lower in the 10-microgram group. The 10-microgram dose ensures the same immune response as a higher dose, but with fewer side effects. 

Yes, children need two doses of the vaccine, administered three weeks apart.

The child should get 10 micrograms for each dose.

They should get 10 micrograms. The dose is not weight based. It's based on the maturity of the child's immune system. 

Yes. Children should be vaccinated even if they've been previously infected by the COVID-19 virus because vaccination will improve their immune protection.

Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle which can reduce the heart's ability to pump and can cause rapid abnormal heart rhythms. It is very rare following a COVID-19 vaccination in adults and adolescents ages 12 and older. Signs and symptoms of myocarditis include chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, and arrhythmias. 

Well-recognized causes of myocarditis include some common viral illnesses, such as COVID-19, bacteria like strep, and even medications like antibiotics. Myocarditis has been reported as a rare adverse effect in adolescents and adults 12 and older. Most people who experienced myocarditis following vaccination recover from it on their own.

Myocarditis and pericarditis (an inflammation of thin layers of tissue surrounding the heart) are much more common if you are infected with COVID-19, and the risks to the heart from COVID-19 infection can be more severe. So far, zero children ages 5 to 11 who participated in the ongoing clinical trial testing of the COVID-19 vaccine experienced myocarditis or pericarditis. No serious side effects have been detected in the ongoing study of those ages 5 to 11. 

Developing myocarditis or inflammation of the heart after receiving the COVID vaccine can occur, but it is very rare. And in most cases, myocarditis is not dangerous.    

Yes. Children under age 18 who are not emancipated must have parental or legal guardian consent for any vaccine. A parent or legal guardian generally should accompany the minor to receive the vaccine, unless the administration of the vaccine occurs in a physician's office, school-based or school-associated clinic setting, or similar setting.

Make sure your child has eaten well and is well hydrated prior to receiving the vaccine. Children should get plenty of rest the night before the appointment if possible. We encourage parents to discuss health concerns with their primary care physician prior to coming in for the vaccine. Questions about side effects, allergies, and other topics are best answered by your child's pediatrician.

The vaccine is highly effective in youth ages 12 and up, at least as effective as in adults. As in adults, the vaccines are nearly 100% effective at preventing severe disease requiring hospitalization. Unlike most medicines, which treat or cure diseases that are already there, vaccines prevent them.

Yes. Both Moderna and Pfizer available for children 6 months old to 5 years old. The Food and Drug Administration and CDC recently determined the Pfizer vaccine and the Moderna vaccine both safe and effective and met the criteria for emergency use authorization for children. The known and potential benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine in individuals under five years of age outweigh the known and potential risks. 

The following vaccines are available:

• Pfizer will include three doses for children 6 months to 4 years old. The second dose should be given three weeks after the first, and the third dose should be given at least eight weeks after the second.
• Moderna will include two doses for children 6 months to 5 years old. The second dose should be given one month after the first.

For children ages 6 months to 5 years, the Moderna and Pfizer clinical trials found that the vaccines prompted an immune response in younger children similar to that observed in young adults in protecting young children from severe COVID disease (hospitalization or death). The vaccines are both shown to be effective to the various COVID variants.

Currently, the side effect profiles tend to be similar to those of other vaccines. These symptoms include arm soreness, some general malaise (not feeling great or loss of appetite or fussy)  for a day or two.