Now that vaccines are also available for kids under the age of 12, there are some things parents who are preparing their young ones for the jab should know before they go get it.
That being said, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, aka the CDC, have shared some tips on what not to do prior to the vaccination.
As you might know by now, children between ages 5 and 11 are also eligible for a smaller dose of the anti-COVID vaccine despite that not being the case before.
And since it’s uncharted territory, it makes sense that some parents could be concerned about some things and may be wondering what to do and what not to do before taking their young ones to receive the vaccine.
Here are all the recommendations coming directly from the CDC:
– Make sure to have a chat with your child and let them know about it. Explain what they should expect.
– To avoid any unpleasant symptoms or even complications, tell your doctor or nurse if your young one suffers from any allergies and what they are.
– Your child should be seated or lying down while getting the vaccine as well as 15 minutes after just to avoid any fainting and injuries caused by them possibly passing out.
– You should know that following the vaccination, you will be asked to stay for 15 to 30 minutes for observation. This way, your little one will be monitored to make sure there is no allergic reaction to worry about and if there is, they will receive the needed treatment immediately.
The CDC shared something you should avoid before the vaccination as well!
As it turns out, it is not recommended that you give your child any pain relievers prior to the vaccination.
The agency explained that “It is not recommended you take over the counter medicine – such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetaminophen before vaccination for the purpose of trying to prevent vaccine related side effects. It isn’t known how these medications could affect how well the vaccine works. However, if you take such medications regularly for other reasons, you should just keep taking them before you get vaccinated. It’s also not recommended to take antihistamines before getting the COVID-19 vaccine to try to prevent allergic reactions.”
Finally, you might have wondered what the side effects of getting the vaccine are for someone under the age of 12.
Well, they are quite similar to the ones an adult might be experiencing, namely redness, pain in the vaccinated arm, and local swelling as well as muscle pain, headache, chills, nausea, and fever.
Just know that these side effects, if experienced, are generally mild and are expected to go away in a matter of days.
