Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Stages

What you need to know about COVID-19 vaccinations for kids

Lauren Barth
By

We’re all ready to move on and resume real life again. The COVID-19 pandemic completely turned our worlds upside down in early 2020, and it’s been a roller-coaster ride ever since.

The good news? Vaccines have arrived — and extremely effective ones at that. While adults are eagerly rolling up their sleeves, it may be a bit longer until children can officially join the ranks of the vaccinated. Feeling eager? Nervous? Reticent? It’s okay; it’s normal to experience all the emotions after such a turbulent 12-plus months. The best thing you can do right now while you wait is educate yourself and stay on top of the latest guidelines. Here is what you need to know about vaccinating your kids.

vaccine
LookerStudio/Shutterstock

When will your kids be vaccinated for COVID-19?

There are three vaccines widely available in the United States right now: A two-dose vaccine from Pfizer, a two-dose vaccine from Moderna, and a one-shot dose from Johnson & Johnson/Janssen.

Related

As of April 19 this year, all people ages 16 and up are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccination — so some teenagers can get shots in their arms ASAP. This will be incredibly useful in stopping the spread among college-age students and older adolescents.

Recommended Videos

Those under 16 will have to hang tight a little longer, though. Pfizer recently announced results of a trial among children 12 to 15; its vaccine was found to boast 100-percent efficacy among that age group. Moderna is expected to yield similar results, and both companies should be seeking Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA soon. All three pharmaceutical companies are currently or plan to soon be studying their respective vaccines in younger kids (6 months-plus).

While there’s no definitive timeline, many in the research and medical field believe that 12- to 15-year-olds will likely be able to get the vaccine before the 2021/2022 school year kicks off. Children under 12 will probably have access toward the end of 2021 or at the beginning of 2022.

mom putting mask on child
FamVeld/Shutterstock

What can you do to protect your children?

Of course, waiting is frustrating — especially if you are now vaccinated and ready to make plans, mingle, and join civilization again. The happy news is that you mostly can. We all still need to take some proactive precautionary steps to help protect the unvaccinated public — and it’s a small price to pay for the greater good. Here’s what you should continue doing:

  • Continue wearing well-fitting masks in public settings: When in public, keep those trusty masks covering your mouth and nose — and those of your children ages 2 and older. You want to find masks that have two or three breathable layers and fit snugly without gapping.
  • Socially distance: Even with masks, you and your kids should still try to maintain social distance (6 feet) from people who live outside of your household and are unvaccinated. This is especially important when indoors in public settings.
  • Encourage frequent hand washing: While transmission via surfaces has been shown to be rare, it’s still smart (and helpful) to continue encouraging proper hand hygiene. Make sure your kids are washing their hands for at least 20 seconds with warm water before eating, after playing outside, etc.
  • Avoid mass events: At this point, even fully vaccinated individuals are advised to avoid congregating at large-style events.

The guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continue to evolve as the situation develops. With more and more people vaccinated, there is some initial loosening of rules that will affect your family and your not-yet-vaccinated children.

The CDC has advised that fully vaccinated people can spend time indoors together without masks. Of course, until your children are vaccinated, this scenario might be a bit tricky. Fortunately, the agency has also stated that it’s okay for fully vaccinated people from one household to mingle with another single household of nonvaccinated, low-risk individuals. This means that if your kids don’t have any preexisting conditions that make them vulnerable, you can feel pretty good allowing a vaccinated extended family member or friend into your home.

COVID-19 vaccinations for kids are not available yet (unless your child is 16), but they will be fairly soon. In the meantime, we all need to continue doing our part to keep our children healthy and our communities safe. We’re at the home stretch — we’ve got this!

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Lauren Barth
Lauren Barth
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Lauren Barth is a freelance writer and digital editor with over a decade of experience creating lifestyle, parenting, travel…
If you love Disney, these are the motivational quotes to complete your nursery decor
Decorating the nursery or redoing a bedroom? These motivational quotes for kids will fit right in
A crib with nursery decor hanging above it

Decorating a nursery for the first time, redoing a kid's room with a new theme, or wanting art added to your child's bedroom? Motivational quotes are always the way to go. If you're stuck with where to pull inspiration from, how about your kiddo's favorite Disney characters? Disney-loving families will find the perfect motivational quotes for kids to help keep their focus on the positive side of things while leaning on them as room decor.
To remind your child it's all about their attitude
A child is never too young to learn how to work out a problem on their own, and it's never too early to help them have a positive attitude when working through an issue. These Disney characters have the right attitude.
"The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem." -- Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean)
"The only way to get what you want in this world is through hard work." -- Tiana (The Princess and the Frog)
"You control your destiny -- you don’t need magic to do it. And there are no magical shortcuts to solving your problems." -- Merida (Brave)
To remind your kid they are the only one of them out there
We all think our child is the most precious creature alive. And while we are all correct, hang one of these quotes in their nursery or bedroom to remind them daily.
"Your identity is your most valuable possession. Protect it." -- Elastigirl (The Incredibles)
"I can’t go back to yesterday because I was a different person then." -- Alice (Alice in Wonderland)

To remind them that taking a risk is always worth it
From the first step to the first day of school to the first activity they want to sign up for, every risk your child takes is worth it. Most children love risk-taking anyway, so foster that fearlessness by hanging these quotes up around their room.

Read more
Need to clean out the playroom? This is where you should donate toys
Need help on where to donate toys to tidy up your child's room? We have the local spots to go to first
A child's room that's a bit messy with toys and items all over

Between holidays, birthdays, and "just because" moments, the playroom and kids' bedrooms fill up pretty quickly with all sorts of items. If you want to declutter that toy room and get rid of the things your children no longer play with, donating will teach your kids to help others while letting you see the floor again. Instead of the places that are the usual stops for toy donations near you, try these other places first.
Local Buy Nothing group
If you don't know about your local Buy Nothing group, please look into it. It's a safe place to swap, give away, or ask for items or services completely free of charge. Sure, we'd all like to get a few bucks back from our child's toys, but if you don't want to go through that hassle, this is the best option. You don't even have to leave the house if you're more comfortable with porch pickups in your neighborhood.
Ask hospitals what they could use
Hospitals have tighter rules about what they can take, but it's never a bad idea to ask. The hospital would be the best for when you purchased something, it was the wrong size or item, and now you can't return it. Though items still in the packaging and with tags are always preferred, there are exceptions. Call and ask what your local hospital would take.
Reach out to local day cares/schools
If your children have ever gone to day care, you know how quickly they ask for donations. Day cares are open to more kinds of things, not just toys, so if you need to do a bit of an overhaul in your kids' rooms, ask your local day care facilities. The schools in your area are a great go-to, as well. Teachers always need classroom supplies, and the younger grades would need toys, books, and even clothing for when accidents happen.
Parent groups
Whether you're in a bunch of Facebook groups or are part of a group that meets in person, ask people you already know if they could use some toys your children have outgrown. You have a rapport with these other parents, and if you meet up in person, you could bring the items along and not have to make another stop.

Women's and children's centers in your area
For your donations to make a bigger impact, make sure women's and children's centers are on your list. If you were a struggling parent, you know how much it means to have a place like that to go to when in need. If you're a parent who doesn't have to struggle, pay it forward and count your blessings by donating to one.

Read more
Funny science jokes kids will love – and you might just enjoy them, too!
Why can't you trust atoms? They make everything up! Gotta love science jokes
Smiling girl with chemistry set

Why is it so hard to get kids up in the morning? Sir Isaac Newton knows! Newton's first law says it all: "A body at rest wants to stay at rest." Getting kids to love science is a tough sell as children get older. Younger kids typically enjoy science because the subject is a fun hands-on one. Around middle and high school, though, the interest in science tends to wane.

Science jokes are a wonderful icebreaker that works to get kids thinking and make them laugh. Don't confuse science jokes with dad jokes. They're similar since both rely a bit on puns, but science jokes have a purpose, too, and are rooted in subjects like biology, physics, and chemistry. Sure, science jokes make kids smile and giggle, which is always a plus; science jokes for kids are a great way to ignite an interest in science. When the kids are done chuckling, you can talk about why the joke is funny.
Science jokes for kids
Whether you're a teacher looking for science jokes to start off a lesson or anyone who just loves the subject and making the kiddos laugh, here are the top science jokes to put under the microscope.

Read more