COVID-19 Vaccine

Will there be a cost for the vaccine?

The COVID-19 vaccine is available to your child at no cost to you. You will not have to pay a fee or any other extra charge. The federal government has arranged to buy the vaccine and provide it to individuals. If you do have insurance, bring your insurance card. The information will be collected to bill a small administration fee to your insurance company, but no cost will be charged to you.

How are the vaccines administered?

The Pfizer vaccine for children 5 and older requires two doses. For children 6 months to 5 years, the vaccine requires three doses. The Moderna vaccine for children requires two doses. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the second dose.

How will I schedule my child’s second vaccination?

You will schedule an appointment for your child’s second dose while at their first appointment. Keep this in mind when selecting a day/time for their first appointment. You and your child will need to be available to return to the same location 21 days after your first appointment (Pfizer vaccine), or 28 days later (Moderna vaccine).

The second dose for these vaccines should be given within the recommended time frame. According to the CDC, if it is not feasible to adhere to that interval, the vaccines may be scheduled up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose.

Who is eligible for an updated (bivalent) booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine?

Anyone 5 and older who received their last COVID-19 shot two months ago is eligible. The Pfizer booster shot is available to anyone 5 and older. The Moderna booster shot is available to anyone 6 and older.

Does a parent/guardian need to be present for a minor child to receive a vaccine?

A parent/guardian must consent for a minor child (under the age of 18) to receive a vaccine during registration. The preference is that the parent/guardian be with the minor at the vaccination site.

We understand this may not always be possible and in those cases, parents/guardians can provide written or verbal authorization.

Are there side effects after getting the vaccine?

After getting vaccinated, your child may have some mild to moderate side effects, which are normal signs that their body is building protection. The most common side effects are pain and swelling in the arm where they received the shot. In addition, your child may have fever, chills, tiredness and headache.

If your child develops symptoms within 48 hours after their vaccination, but they resolve within 24 hours of starting, no action is needed.

Why should my child get the COVID-19 vaccine?

Children are still at risk, and it’s hard to predict which kids infected with COVID-19 will develop severe symptoms that could lead to missing school or, in rare cases, hospitalization. Research on the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have shown that they are safe; no new safety problems were found in the studies.