College health doctors sort out myths, concerns about COVID-19 vaccines for children

St. Antony – With the Food and Drug Administration COVID-19 Booster Shot Approval For healthy 5-11 year olds, some parents may have questions or concerns about the vaccine.

Dr. Mandie Svatek, a pediatrician at University Health, answered frequently asked questions about COVID cases across the United States. Here in Bexar County It will start to rise again.

Why do children need to be vaccinated when they think they can’t get COVID-19?

Svatek: “Therefore, anyone can catch the COVID. Most notably, I’ve seen COVID affect adults much more positively. However, COVID can still cause a variety of symptoms in children. It may be asymptomatic, it may be hospitalized with severe symptoms, or it may die from COVID. Therefore, looking at the spectrum, we can see that some children who are positive for COVID are asymptomatic and others are. “

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Do I need to be vaccinated even if my child is already infected with COVID-19?

Svatek: “Still, it is very important to vaccinate your child. Vaccines have long been proven to show a continuous immune response. If you actually experience the process of illness, its immune response in other illnesses diminishes and they find it very similar to COVID. Therefore, vaccination is important to provide longer-term response and protection against future COVID diseases. “

Does the COVID-19 vaccine protect my child from future variants?

Svatek: “We hope that the vaccine will continue to protect against future mutations. But as things change, they continue to look to science and ensure that their vaccines continue to be effective. Therefore, COVID vaccines are currently showing to be more effective than influenza vaccines. As we progress, we need to continue to understand it and continue to consider further approvals, perhaps for further changes in those vaccines, in order to create that appropriate immune response. “

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What side effects can my child have from the COVID-19 vaccine and how should I treat them?

Svatek: “Therefore, in general, what they see in their studies is very similar side effects compared to post-vaccinated adults, but sometimes less. Arm pain is one of the most common consequences of receiving the COVID vaccine. It may also cause fever and fatigue. These are primarily common symptoms. Obviously, if they have a fever, you can treat them with Tylenol and you can just monitor them. There is also a vaccine reporting system that is safe in the event of other side effects. That way, you can report and record them so that the CDC and FDA can see them. “

Why is it important for my child to receive a COVID-19 booster?

Svatek: “Therefore, two doses of the vaccine may reduce the immune response. And when new variants come in, you still want to protect your body. Therefore, it is important that the booster dose is still shown to be effective in preventing death and hospitalization. And you want to continue to initiate that proper immune response, so you can get that proper response the next time another mutant comes in. “

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Can vaccination of my child before reaching puberty affect their development and future fertility?

Svatek: “Vaccination of children is not known to affect fertility or future development. And it is important to understand that this vaccine does not affect an individual’s DNA. It does not enter the nucleus of any cell. This is an RNA vaccine that helps the body create a defense against peplomers on COVID. “

Can my child get another vaccine when he gets the COVID-19 vaccine?

Svatek: “The CDC says it’s okay to inoculate the COVID vaccine with other vaccines. You want to ensure that you stay on the right schedule to protect your child from the right illness. Therefore, there was no conflict with vaccination with COVID vaccine in addition to other vaccines. “

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