Nearly 1 million kids have gotten COVID vaccines. Here’s how to talk to your children about shots
Here’s what experts say you should do about COVID-19 vaccine
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Strategies that work for parents and kids
Whether you’re taking your child to get vaccinated in the coming days or next year, Keating said there are “good, evidence-based strategies for helping kids to be more comfortable with shots.”
That includes letting them “choose where they sit, whether it’s on the table or on a parent’s lap. They can choose which arm they get it into. They can choose whether or not they look or they don’t. They can prepare themselves with distraction techniques, whether it’s a screen or a toy or a book or singing.”
Turner said parents can practice breathing exercises with kids, including taking “a couple of really deep breaths” to “help better regulate yourself and help you feel less anxious.”
He said parents can give their children cues to signal they don’t need to be scared about vaccines.
“It’s really important for parents to really manage their own fears and anxieties that they may have about their child getting vaccinated,” he said. “Because if they see you being worried or concerned, that may freak them out and make them a little bit more anxious about the situation.”
Talking about side effects
According to the CDC, kids may have some side effects after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, which can include a sore arm, redness and swelling where the shot was administered, tiredness and other minor symptoms.
Health officials said any side effects should go away in a few days. Turner said parents shouldn’t be afraid of telling children they might experience these symptoms, but they can explain the vaccine’s benefits.
“Talking with them about those risks can help normalize that this is an experience that others may feel and not just you,” he said. Parents can tell their kids, “I’m a little bit worried that you may not feel great for a couple days, but I’m also excited that this is a way that’s going to help you be healthy and safe.”
Myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, has been reported after the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination in children 12-17 years old, according to the CDC. Those cases are rare, and Keating noted that a coronavirus infection “has a significantly higher risk of myocarditis.”
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Keating urged parents and children who may have questions to talk to a pediatrician or health care provider about side effects or concerns surrounding vaccines.
“It’s a big deal for a kid to get a shot, particularly when it’s scary and they’re young,” Keating said. “Everything that we can do to help make this more comfortable, less fearful early on makes a big difference for their lifetime relationship with medical care.”