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The Science Behind the COVID-19 Vaccine: Parent FAQ’s

As a parent, you probably have plenty of questions about COVID-19 vaccines. Right now, only the Pfizer vaccine is authorized for kids age 12 and older. However, the rest of the vaccines are expected to be available for children age 12 and up soon. Kids First Pediatrics of Raleigh and Clayton currently do not provide COVID-19 vaccines. But our providers would be happy to answer any questions you may have during this confusing time. Raleigh: 919-250-3478, Clayton: 919-267-1499.

In the meantime, here are answers to some of the most common questions families have about COVID-19 vaccines.

How does the COVID-19 vaccine work?

The COVID-19 vaccine works similarly to other vaccines your child has had. Germs such as SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, invade and multiply inside the body. The vaccine stops this by helping the immune system make special proteins called antibodies to fight the virus. After vaccination, your child has less of a chance of getting COVID-19. And if they do get infected with the virus, they may not be as sick as they would without the vaccine.

What are the types of vaccines?

Three different vaccines were given emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) so far. Two require two doses (Pfizer and Moderna), and one involves a single shot (Johnson & Johnson).

The COVID-19 vaccines that require two doses are both messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines. The other was developed as a “viral vector” vaccine. They all have the same result — protecting people from COVID-19—but their delivery systems are a bit different.

How RNA and viral vector vaccines different?

COVID-19 mRNA vaccines carry instructions to our cells to produce harmless pieces of “spike” protein found on SARS-CoV-2. This triggers an immune system response that the body remembers if the virus ever invades.

How do we know COVID-19 vaccines are safe for kids?

Before getting FDA authorization, clinical trials showed COVID-19 vaccines to be remarkably safe and effective for adults and teens ages 16 and up. Trials for each of the vaccines involved tens of thousands of volunteers.

Based on clinical trial results for younger adolescents, one of the vaccine makers has now asked the FDA to extend emergency use authorization for children as young as age 12 and clinical trials are starting for children as young as six months old.

The vaccines continue to be monitored very closely. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that COVID-19 vaccines will have “the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history.”

How effective are the vaccines?

Research shows that all of the COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at stopping people from getting COVID-19. The vaccines also help prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death in those who get COVID- 19.

Scientists don’t know how long immunity from the vaccine will protect people. This will become clearer in the future.

How long does it take for the vaccines to create immunity?

It takes around 2 weeks after getting the second dose of the mRNA vaccines for your body to build up an immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19. For the one-dose vaccine, building up immunity takes 2 to 4 weeks.

Do mRNA vaccines change your DNA?

No, the mRNA actually doesn’t interact with your DNA at all. DNA is your genetic material and it’s stored in the nucleus of a cell. The mRNA in the vaccines doesn’t get into the nucleus and once your immune cells have used the instructions, they break down the mRNA and discard it.

Which vaccine should my child get?

Currently, one of the two-dose vaccines (Pfizer) is approved for kids and teens who are 12-17 years old. Anyone who is 18 or older should get whichever vaccine is available to them first. This is especially important now with the rise in cases caused by the variant strains of the virus, which seem to be more contagious and continue to spread at alarming rates here in the US and globally.​ COVID-19 vaccines are free, whether or not you have health insurance.

What about side effects of the vaccine?

We’re still waiting for more detailed information on side effects in kids under the age of 16 years old. Some people don’t have any side effects at all. But for those who are 16 or older, the most common side effects that have been reported include:

  1. Pain, redness, and swelling where the injection was given

  2. Fever

  3. Chills

  4. Headache

  5. Fatigue

  6. Nausea

  7. Pain in the muscles

While also rare, some people have had serious allergic reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine. This is why you’ll need to wait for 15 to 30 minutes after you have a vaccination. If you happen to be one of the few people who has an allergic reaction, there are medications to quickly treat it.

As for long-term side effects, the CDC says this is unlikely. We have years of research and monitoring on other vaccinations that show side effects almost always happen within six weeks of getting a vaccine.

We know that these are very confusing times as a parent. While COVID-19 Vaccines are only authorized for kids and teens over the age of 12, and while Kids First Pediatrics does not provide vaccines, our providers would still be happy to answer any questions you have. Raleigh: 919-250-3478, Clayton: 919-267-1499.

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*This article is informational but is not a substitute for medical attention or information from your provider.

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