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What You Need to Know About COVID-19 Booster Shots Now Available for All Adults

Nov 23, 2021 | COVID-19, Featured, Vaccines, Your Health

In another step to strengthen the public health defense against the COVID-19 pandemic, federal regulators have authorized “booster” shots for all adults.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized a booster dose for the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending booster shots for all adults over age 16. Health experts are encouraging all those eligible to consider getting the booster shot.

New Guidance on COVID-19 Vaccines: In April 2023, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced some major changes for COVID-19 vaccines. Click here to read more about what you need to know.

“The most important thing is to get vaccinated, and get a booster shot” if you over 16, says Waleed Javaid, MD, Professor of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and an expert on infectious diseases. “We at Mount Sinai are closely monitoring reports on various variants including Omicron and Delta. At this time, we encourage everyone to get vaccines and boosters, and continue to wear masks in public and follow guidance provided by the public health officials.”

Update: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has strengthened its recommendation on booster shots to include everyone 16 or older when they are eligible. The CDC is working to learn more about the new Omicron variant. The CDC continues to recommend wearing a mask in public indoor settings in areas where there are high rates of COVID-19, and getting vaccinated and booster shots for those who are eligible. Read more from the CDC

Waleed Javaid, MD

In this Q&A, Dr. Javaid answers other frequently asked questions about COVID-19 booster shots.

When should I get a booster shot?

If you were fully vaccinated with the Pfizer or the Moderna vaccine, you should get the booster at least six months after getting the two vaccine doses. If you received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you should get the booster at least two months after completing the primary vaccination.

What do we know about side effects from the booster shot?

I received my booster, and I had pretty much the same reaction as my second dose. Most of those around me also experienced very similar reactions as their second dose. The short-term side effects include pain in the arm where you got your shot, tiredness, and headache. There is nothing in the literature or in our experience at Mount Sinai to suggest the reaction will be any different from the first and second doses.

Does it matter which booster shot I get?

The most recent recommendation from the FDA and the CDC is that we can use these vaccines interchangeably, and they have not found one is better than the other. Right now, they are considered equal.

What if I got the J&J vaccine?

People who have received a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can get a booster using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, or they can get a Pfizer or Moderna dose as a booster. However, as of Thursday, December 16, the CDC recommends that patients receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine over Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine due to the increased effectiveness of mRNA vaccines.

What is the difference between a booster shot and a third dose?

A third shot is considered part of the original series and is considered necessary to provide full protection to a group of people who have reduced ability to fight infections, which includes patients being treated for some cancers or those with an organ transplant. Boosters are shots that have now been authorized for all adults after a certain time period has passed since they were fully vaccinated in order to boost their immune system to ensure they can continue to fight the infection. Right now, a booster shot is not required to be considered fully vaccinated if you are not among the special group specifically recommended for a third shot.

I’ve had COVID-19 and two doses of the vaccine, should I get the booster shot?

People who have had COVID-19 and got two doses of vaccine can certainly get their booster shot. There seem to be questions about this. The data shared by the CDC and other agencies is that getting the booster shot after being infected with COVID-19 offers you additional protection against infection. To all adults, I would say, definitely consider a booster as an option to protect yourself and your loved ones around you. I encourage everybody to reach out to their providers or to Mount Sinai for any advice we can provide.

Get more information about COVID-19 vaccines

What Are the Benefits of Using A Midwife?

Nov 18, 2021 | OB/GYN, Women's Health, Your Health

Midwives are health professionals who are best known for providing critical support and care for many expectant mothers, but their role is often little-known or understood. Patients may wonder if you can have a midwife and an OB/GYN, how their roles differs from a doula, and how to locate a reputable midwife.

In this Q&A, Rochelle Lipshutz, CNM, Clinical Director of Midwifery at The Mount Sinai Hospital, explains how midwives support patients before, during, and after childbirth and discusses how midwives work with consulting physicians at Mount Sinai to offer integrated care.

What is a midwife?

Midwives are licensed independent health care providers, meaning they provide care without the supervision of a physician. Certified nurse midwives are trained in both nursing and midwifery while certified midwives have graduated with a master’s-level degree in midwifery but do not have nursing training.

They offer a full range of reproductive and primary health care services for patients from adolescence through menopause. These services include independent provision of primary care, gynecological care, and family planning services; preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum care; and care of healthy, full-term infant for the first 28 days of life.

What is the difference between a midwife and a doula?

Both midwives and doulas are trained professionals. Midwives care for clients throughout the life cycle, especially during prenatal care, delivery, postpartum care, and gynecological care as well as primary care. Doulas provide non-medical physical, emotional, and informational support to a woman before, during, and shortly after the process of childbirth. A doula is an additional support during the birth process who—like a midwife—helps a woman achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.

If you are interested in working with a doula, Mount Sinai has partnered with Oula, a modern maternity care center that provides similar care.

Do midwives only provide services for child birthing?

Midwives are best known for attending childbirth. But that is not all they do. About 76 percent of midwives provide reproductive care and about 46 percent offer primary care. Reproductive care can include annual gynecological exams, Pap smears, and prescriptions including contraceptive methods, patient education, and reproductive health visits.

Midwives also treat the partners of patients in cases of sexually transmitted infections. They can also diagnose and offer initial and ongoing comprehensive care for many common health care problems as well as admit, manage, and discharge patients from hospitals. When appropriate, midwives prescribe use of medical devices, such as breast pumps. Midwives also promote health education, disease prevention, and personal wellness programs to patients and their families. They work in a variety of settings, including ambulatory care centers, hospitals, community and public health care arenas, and homes and birth centers.

What benefits do midwives offer?

Midwives are experts in ‘normal.’ For the most part, they respect and enjoy observing the natural birth process. Midwives encourage women to use their inner strength to cooperate with this process. If a woman in labor requests pain relief, midwives support her decision-making skills. In fact, the relationship between the midwife and patient focuses on shared decision making. If medical intervention is necessary, midwives will discuss the risks, benefits, and any alternatives. Together, midwives and patients reach a decision that will guide the care in a safe and comfortable manner. And, if necessary, the midwife will work closely with doctors and nurses to ensure safety throughout the birthing experience.

How do doctors and midwives work together?

Midwives participate in hospital births as well as home births and those at birth centers. In general, the midwife will focus on basic care, however, if complications develop, the midwife will work with the physician to ensure a comfortable, rewarding, and safe experience.

How do I find a midwife?

Midwifery services are available at The Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai West. Additionally, the Mount Sinai Health System partners with several well-established local midwifery groups including Central Park Midwifery, Community Midwifery Care, and Nettle Wellness.

You can also check with the American College of Nurse-Midwives to find a local midwife. This national organization lists midwifery practices and private groups in most communities. Many patients go by word of mouth. In addition, many websites that focus on local reproductive care provide information about midwives.

Learn more about Midwifery Services at Mount Sinai

How to Safely Gather With Family and Friends This Holiday Season

Nov 16, 2021 | COVID-19, Your Health

As we enter a second pandemic holiday season, many are comforted by the added protection of vaccines and the widespread availability of reliable testing to combat COVID-19. But the unpredictability of the virus means that we should continue to be vigilant.

Update: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on November 26, 2021, said the agency is working to learn more about the new Omicron variant. The CDC continues to recommend wearing a mask in public indoor settings in areas where there are high rates of COVID-19, and getting vaccinated and booster shots for those who are eligible. Read more from the CDC.

Krystina Woods, MD, Hospital Epidemiologist, Medical Director of Infection Prevention, and Deputy Chief Medical Officer at Mount Sinai West, explains why it is safer to gather with family and friends this year and offers advice for how to navigate get-togethers that have a mix of vaccinated and unvaccinated guests.

Is it safe to gather with family this holiday season?

This holiday season is a lot safer compared to last holiday season. We have vaccines, which didn’t become available for most of the public until January 2021, as well as a third dose available for those who are immunocompromised, as well as boosters for the elderly, and those with underlying health conditions or who are at high-risk of contracting COVID-19 due to their occupation. Also adolescents and children, even those as young as five years old, are now eligible for vaccination. The increased availability and eligibility of these vaccines adds an extra layer of protection that we didn’t have last year. You may still become infected, but the vaccines increase the likelihood that your symptoms will be mild and there is a lower chance of serious illness and hospitalization.

We also know more about the virus in general, how to treat it, and what we can do to mitigate its spread. Having learned all this definitely puts us in a better place.

There will be a mix of vaccinated and unvaccinated at my holiday gathering. What precautions should I take to keep myself and my family safe?

To the extent that you can, the best thing you can do for your unvaccinated family members and friends is to try to get them to understand how important the vaccine is and to be an advocate for vaccination. The best gift you can give your loved ones is to make sure that they are protected coming into the holidays.

However, that process takes three to five weeks, depending on which vaccine is used, and it is certainly not going to help you in the moment that someone is walking through the door into your Thanksgiving dinner. If you’re inviting somebody into your home, you have to decide the appropriate level risk to yourself and your family, and whether or not you’re willing to assume the increased risk that comes with having someone who is unvaccinated come into your home.

In a post on how to safely date during a pandemic, Mount Sinai pulmonologist Lina Miyakawa, MD, advised asking potential partners the following risk profile questions. They provide a great start in assessing anyone who enters your home for a holiday get-together.

To assess a guest’s risk profile, you can ask them these questions:

How many contacts do you have on a daily basis?
Do you follow the recommendations to mitigate the risk of exposure, like wearing a mask and practicing social distancing?
Do you work in situations with high exposure risk?

The other tangible precaution you can make is to take the festivities outdoors. We have seen that gathering outdoors presents a significantly lower transmission risk than gathering indoors. Unfortunately, this is not always easy in the New York area especially as the weather gets colder, but it would be helpful. Other options include opening up windows to improve ventilation. There are also some filtration units that can be purchased for homes that help facilitate improved air quality indoors. And then, distancing and asking the unvaccinated individual to wear a mask will also help. What you’re looking to do is layer interventions to decrease the risk.

Should an unvaccinated family member get tested for COVID-19 prior to gathering with family and what about a vaccinated family member?

That’s a difficult question to answer. But, I think if I were in a situation where I was going to have a gathering inside my home and I had an unvaccinated adult coming, I would ask them to produce a negative test. I would not mandate that unvaccinated children be tested, but I would strongly encourage it. We know children can spread COVID to adults. For vaccinated family members, testing isn’t essential. But if you’re having someone older or immunocompromised at your holiday dinner, you may want to ask a vaccinated person to get tested, if they work in a high risk setting. For example, if they work in a hospital, grocery store, or some other essential work that interacts with multiple members of the public.

Often times, we can have a false sense of security around negative test results, so I would caution that I wouldn’t necessarily assume a person who tested negative can’t have coronavirus.

It is important to remember that there is an incubation period of two-14 days with this virus. If, for example, your guest receives a negative test on Tuesday, this result does not tell you what their status will be on Wednesday or Thursday. So, if they attend Thanksgiving dinner and start experiencing COVID-19 symptoms on Friday, everyone who they encountered will likely have been exposed to the virus.

Despite this, it would be good to know that at least when that person is entering your home, they are negative. And if they were to be positive, then they would not come. So there is some benefit in testing.

Is masking and distancing necessary while gathering with family?

I encourage anyone who has not been vaccinated to mask. We know that if an unvaccinated person were to be positive, the mask will help to contain some of their virus by physically containing some droplets.

Also, as far as distancing and masking goes, you have to consider the venue and the mix of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. If you’re outdoors, the necessity to mask is a lot less—even if you have some unvaccinated guests. If you are indoors, and everyone has been vaccinated and feels well, I don’t feel strongly that you must be masked in that situation.

In short, to make a decision about whether or not you need to distance and mask, think about where the gathering is taking place, the ventilation and air filtration within the space, the risk profile of your guests, and the mix of vaccinated and unvaccinated guests.

How can families maintain safety in the days following a get-together?

I think it’s important to monitor yourself. Not just in the 14-day period following the gathering, but on a daily basis. If you begin to feel unwell, it’s important to stay home and get tested. Because you want to make sure that if you are not feeling well, and if you do end up testing positive, that you haven’t gone on exposing more people than was necessary.

So, just as a general rule of thumb, I think it’s a good thing to check in with how you are feeling. You don’t need to quarantine yourself after gathering with family, but be mindful of how you’re feeling in the days following.

Also, in addition to COVID-19, flu and several other respiratory viruses are starting to circulate. That is only going to ramp up throughout the winter and the holiday season. Many of these illnesses have overlapping symptoms. You should not assume that your sniffles are just a cold, it could be something more. Don’t be overly anxious about it, but if you’re feeling out of the ordinary, consider if you are really well enough to go to work, school, or to socialize.

Is there anything else that people should consider as they gather with family this holiday season?

It is important to stress that vaccines are safe and available for a wide range of the general public, including children as young as five. Everyone who is eligible should be vaccinated. Getting vaccinated will give everyone a level of comfort when they’re visiting family.

There are also a lot of questions around boosters. For people who fall into the categories that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has outlined as who should get boosters, they really should consider getting one coming into the winter season. This is not just to protect themselves as they mix with their family members, but because other viruses are floating around which could adversely affect them. We want to make sure everyone is as healthy as possible.

Can the Light In Your Office Make You Sleepy?

Nov 16, 2021 | Mental Health, Your Health

Do you often feel sleepy or unproductive at work? Poor lighting in your office could be one of the culprits. Whether you have returned to your normal office setting or continue to work from home, it is important to think about the kind of lighting you are using in your office space.

In this Q & A, Mariana Figueiro, PhD, Professor in the Department of Population Health Science and Policy at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Director of the Light and Health Research Center at Mount Sinai, explains how light affects the brain and how exposure to daylight can improve your overall health and mood.

Could the light in my office be making me sleepy?

Yes, absolutely. An office that is too dark can make you feel like crawling back under your covers. That is because light has a profound impact on people.

First, it shifts the timing of your biological clock so that you are in synchrony with your watch. So, when you wake up and open your shades, the light that pours in helps your body confirm that it is seven in the morning and time to get ready for the day.

Second, light has a direct effect on the brain. Similar to a cup of coffee, light makes you more alert. Increasing the amount of light at any time of the day will make you perkier because of the cup-of-coffee effect of light.

During the daytime hours, if you are in a dark room or a low-light level room—like an office with no windows and inadequate lighting—you will tend to be sleepier. To counteract this, I recommend exposing yourself to bright light during the day to both maintain your body’s synchrony with your watch and for the cup-of-coffee effect of light which increases your alertness and makes you less sleepy.

What can I do to reduce fatigue caused by lighting?

While bright light is important during the day, you should avoid being in the direct view of the light source or the light bulb. This can cause eye strain or headaches. Northern exposures from windows will give you the most comfortable light because it provides an indirect light, or diffuse daylight, instead of direct sunlight. That bright, diffuse light is overall more comfortable.

So, to reduce fatigue, increase the amount of diffuse and ambient light and minimize direct pools of light or direct sunlight in the space.

I am a remote worker. What kind of light should I have in my home office?

During the daytime hours you want brighter amounts of light than what you probably have at home. We typically tend to have low-light levels at home, and that is appropriate for the evening hours. But during the daytime, when you’re working, I suggest adding two to four more table or floor lamps near you. This way you’re increasing the amount of ambient light and making your space brighter during the day.

If you can work near a window, specifically a northern exposure window that has daylight (not sunlight) coming in, that is the absolute best light source. It’s bright, it’s the right color, and it’s on at the right time. But if you can’t have daylight, for instance if you are working in a basement, I suggest you use table and floor lamps to brighten up your space.

How does exposure to daylight help regulate my circadian rhythm, or the sleep-wake cycle?

Daylight has a considerable amount of short wavelength or blue light, which is the light that we need to be synchronized with our biological clock. Also, we know that inadequate indoor lighting can make you feel sleepy and, daylight provides a lot of light. For example, on a bright sunny day you get about 50,000 to 100,000 lux [a standard measurement of the amount of light] of daylight, but indoors you probably get 200 to 300 lux reaching your eyes. So that gives you an idea of how much less light we’re getting indoors and how important it is to be exposed to daylight, not only to avoid dozing at work, but to keep your circadian rhythm in synch.

At the Light and Health Research Center, we just finished an interesting study related to this, using “smart” windows in a large building in Reston, Virginia. The smart windows that were installed in the building change the transmittance and the amount of light coming through the windows based on the heat and the sunlight hitting the window. For example, if there’s too much heat or sunlight coming in, the smart windows would reduce the transmittance of heat and light, making it cooler indoors and reducing sunlight coming into the space, which reduces eye strain or other discomfort. As a result, there is no need for window shades and the lights that come in are appropriate for stimulating your circadian system and keeping you alert.

For this study, we compared these “smart” windows to regular, untinted windows with shades. In just one week, we found that people who were exposed to the “smart” window slept better, had fewer feelings of anxiety and depression, and reported feeling more energetic. Daytime light will lead to better nighttime sleep. And when you sleep better, you simply feel better.

I have heard about blue light emitted by my electronic devices. Should I avoid blue light in the evening? Do blue light filters work?

Exposure to blue light is important to keep your circadian rhythm in sync, but too much of this light in the evening can disrupt sleep by suppressing the body’s production of the hormone melatonin. Triggered by darkness, the levels of melatonin in your body typically rise in the evening about a couple of hours prior to your normal bedtime— a signal to your body that it is time to sleep. While daylight is the largest source of blue light, it is also emitted, to a much lesser extent, by florescent lights, LED televisions (the newest sets), and cell phones, as well as computer and tablet screens.

Blue light filters work to a certain extent. We have done some work where we collected data with the iPad Night Shift, which automatically reduces blue light emissions in the evening, and we did see that there is a reduction in the impact on melatonin production, but it’s not perfect.

If you are looking at your cell phone for three hours before going to bed, even with a blue light filter, there will still be an effect on melatonin production. Albeit it’s going to be a smaller effect, but it’s not going to completely take away the problem. It’s better than nothing, so I do recommend using a blue light filter. More importantly, you should also dim down the screen, so that you get less light at your eyes.

Learn more about the Light and Health Research Center at Mount Sinai

Is Your Child Afraid of Getting a Shot From the Doctor? Here’s How to Help Them

Nov 9, 2021 | Children's Health, COVID-19, Featured, Vaccines, Your Health

A trip to the doctor is a common childhood fear. But when kids are afraid of needles, even a simple checkup can cause problems for children and their parents or guardians alike. With the proper preparation and planning, you can help make your next doctor’s visit as smooth as possible, and that’s more important than ever for those getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

In this Q&A, C. Anthoney Lim, MD, the Director of Pediatric Emergency Medicine for the Mount Sinai Health System and the Medical Director of the Pediatric Emergency Department and Pediatric Short Stay Unit at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, explains how you can help calm your child’s fears and ease their anxiety about the doctor’s office and needles. And if needed, how you can talk with your doctor in advance about key issues, including medications that can help reduce the pain. Certified child life specialists and music therapists will also be present at the Mount Sinai vaccination pods to help support children of all ages using play, preparation, distraction and relaxation strategies.

“We have plenty of experience with children who are afraid of injections, so we can work with you and your child to ensure they get immunized in a safe and comfortable manner,” says Dr. Lim, who recently gave his own seven-year-old son the vaccine. “We are creating a very family-friendly space for the COVID-19 vaccine because you will need to bring them back in three weeks for their second shot, so it’s especially important that your child has a positive experience.”

How common is it for kids to be afraid of needles?

It is a very common fear. We see it among children who may have been hospitalized or have chronic illnesses and are in the doctor’s office a lot. But a healthy child without any medical problems is equally prone to needle-phobia.

How can I talk to my child who is afraid of needles?

There are many things you can do to help normalize the process, and it’s important to prepare. A lot of it is knowing your child and if they are at an age that we can talk about their fears. Then, prepare them by having a conversation in advance, letting them know what is going to happen at the doctor’s office and explaining what the process may look like. It can help quite a bit. Not all kids want to talk about it. But they are generally pretty smart, and they will know they are going to the doctor and what they are going for. It’s also worth remembering: Kids will often follow your lead. So if you are prepared and calm, your children will more likely be prepared and calm

Anything more specific?

For younger kids, play can be a really helpful way to prepare for a doctor visit. It provides children the opportunity to approach the event with a sense of control while creating a safe environment to express feelings and to practice coping strategies. One option for younger kids is showing them with their stuffed animal or having them play doctor to get used to what happens when you get your vaccine. For instance, when we were teaching kids how to use masks, we had them make a mask or put a mask on their teddy bear so they can see what it looks like. This is a similar process.

What about bringing something to distract my child?

You can bring a toy to distract them or a doll or plaything they can squeeze really hard. Tablets or smart phones are fine, so make sure your devices are charged. You can bring a cold pack because sometimes that will numb the area a little bit and that is often helpful. There are special cold packs for kids that also include a vibrating tiny bee that can help soothe and distract young children.

Any other techniques?

There are many relaxation strategies that children of all ages can use when feeling anxious and worried. One example is deep breathing—taking deep breaths right before the shot, and then breathing out as the shot is being delivered, can help minimize the discomfort. For younger kids, there are specific positioning techniques you can use, basically a big hug that exposes their arm for the nurse to administer the shot.

What about medications?

Most of the time, approaches that do not involve medications work really well in kids. Prescription medications require a visit or a discussion with your doctor beforehand. There are prescription products, like EMLA or ELA-Max, which are creams that contain a local anesthetic we sometimes use for children for some injections and vaccines. You put the cream on your child’s arm before you go to the doctor’s office because it takes about an hour to kick in. Over-the-counter topical creams are also available.

Is it okay to take over-the-counter pain relievers?

We recommend pain relievers like Motrin or Tylenol but only if your child experiences muscle pain or fevers after they receive the shot, and not beforehand.

How is Mount Sinai helping to make the vaccination process easier for young kids?

At our hospitals, we are setting up special areas for vaccinations for young children. We want to make it a child-friendly, family-friendly environment. We want to make sure that they have a great experience

What should I do if I have more questions?

There are some great resources online, such as from the American Academy of Pediatrics and from the Meg Foundation, an organization that helps families with pain management. A conversation with your pediatrician is very valuable.

Get more information about COVID-19 Vaccination, Appointments and Resources

What You Need to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines for Children Ages 5 to 11

Oct 28, 2021 | Children's Health, COVID-19, Vaccines, Your Health

The moment many parents have been waiting for is approaching: Federal regulators are expected to decide soon whether to authorize COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5 to 11. Vaccines for kids ages 12 to 15 were authorized in May.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first authorized COVID-19 vaccines for adults in December 2020, and the safety and efficacy of vaccines has been widely discussed ever since. But those with young children still have many questions.

In this Q&A, Roberto Posada, MD, a pediatric infectious disease specialist in the Jack and Lucy Clark Department of Pediatrics at Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital and Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases), and Medical Education, at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, answers some of the questions most commonly asked of pediatricians and explains why the vaccines are extremely safe and highly effective.

How effective is the new Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5 to 11?

The new vaccine is highly effective at protecting children from severe COVID-19 disease. The studies, which included more than 4,000 children, showed children developed essentially the same level of antibodies that result in 90 percent or higher protection in adults.

How safe are they?

The vaccines are extremely safe, the same as with adults. There were minor side effects, such as pain at the site of the injection, fatigue, and headache. Importantly, there were no serious adverse events at all related to the vaccine among the more than 4,000 children that were part of the studies.

What about concerns about rare cases of heart inflammation in young men and boys?

Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart, and a side effect that has been seen very, very rarely, mostly in young adult males. It was not seen in the recent studies of young children; there were no cases, and although the studies were too small to estimate what the rate might be in the general population of children, we expect it to be lower than in adolescents.

Will children experience any side effects from the vaccine? What can I do about that?

It is very likely that children who receive the vaccine, just like adults and older children, will experience pain at the site of the injection or headache. Those are expected to go away within a day or so. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) can be very helpful in managing the symptoms. Parents should follow the guidance of their pediatrician as to how to administer those medications to their children.

If my child had COVID-19, do they still need to get a vaccine?

Anyone who already had COVID-19 should still get the vaccine. That’s because cases of a second COVID-19 infection can happen in people who already had a first infection. The vaccine provides more protection against subsequent infections for people who already had COVID-19.

What are the benefits of vaccinating children ages 5 to 11 against COVID-19?

First of all, vaccinating young children protects them from getting seriously ill from COVID-19. We know that children have a lower risk for developing severe COVID-19 infection compared to adults, but that doesn’t mean they cannot develop severe COVID-19 infection. In fact, as an infectious disease specialist, I have seen children in the intensive care unit with complications of COVID-19. In addition, we know that even if children don’t get very sick themselves from COVID-19, children who have COVID-19 can pass it on to other people—to their parents, their siblings, their grandparents, and to kids and other people at school. So vaccinating children can also protect our community at large, including people that are at higher risk from COVID-related complications.

What if my child is afraid of injections?

It is not uncommon for children to be afraid of injections. Pediatricians have been giving vaccines for decades. Our staff are experienced in working with children who are afraid of injections. They will work with you and your child to make sure your child can get immunized in a safe manner.

Can the vaccine affect the fertility of my child?

It’s a very common misconception that the COVID-19 vaccine can affect fertility. There’s no evidence at all that the COVID-19 vaccine has that effect.

My child is 11 and about to turn 12. Should I wait and get them the adult vaccine?

We recommend that children get vaccinated at the first opportunity. Studies show that children age 11 responded very well to the pediatric formulation of the vaccine.

How do I get more information?

Parents who want to get more information about the COVID-19 vaccine for their children should contact their pediatrician for specific advice.