How to Talk to Your Kids About the COVID-19 Vaccine

On May 10, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to include children aged 12 and older. In June 2022, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for ages 6 months on up were approved by the U.S, Food and Drug Administration and officially recommended by the CDC on June 18, 2022.

The approval of these vaccines is a huge step forward in the fight against COVID-19 because the more people who are immunized, the better protected we all are against future outbreaks.

As of June 15, 2022, 10.1 million kids—and counting—have received their first dose, while 8.3 million children are fully vaccinated.

Starting the Conversation

“If your child is old enough to get the vaccine...it's a good time to talk about why the COVID-19 vaccine is important, how it works, and why they might experience side effects if they get it,” says Jessica Madden, MD, a board-certified pediatrician and neonatologist and medical director of Aeroflow Breastpumps.

If you don’t know how to start the conversation, Dr. Madden suggests asking your child what they already know about COVID-19 and vaccines. “You might be surprised to find out that they already know more than you thought, but on the flip side, you might also find out that they have a lot of misinformation in this regard,” explains the doctor. 

You could start by explaining that getting the vaccine will protect them from serious illness from COVID-19. It's also a good time to introduce the concept of "herd immunity" and explain that we get vaccinated not only to protect ourselves but for others—and that this is particularly important to prevent the medically vulnerable from getting sick. 

Kevin Ban, MD, chief medical officer at Walgreens, recommends telling your kids that getting the vaccine is one more step toward getting back to pre-pandemic life.

“It’s important to ask questions and maintain an open dialogue,” Dr. Ban adds. “Parents should focus on the benefits of the vaccine for their children, how it will help protect them, their families, and those around them, and the evidence behind that. If applicable, parents can also refer to other routine immunizations their children may have received in the past, noting that the experience will be very similar.” 

The Science of the COVID-19 Vaccines

Kids love to ask questions, but luckily you don’t need to have a degree in science to be able to give them a basic understanding of how the vaccine works. 

“Most kids have a good idea of what ‘germs’ are,” says Dr. Madden. “I would explain that germs are bacteria and viruses that pass from person to person and can make us sick. When we are exposed to germs, our bodies make antibodies, which are tiny soldiers that fight off and kill germs to keep us healthy. When we get a vaccine, it helps our bodies to make more antibodies so that we don't get sick or die from the germs we are exposed to.”

Remember, your pediatrician is there to help if you need help explaining how the vaccine works, or if you’re worried about safety. “I explain how studies are conducted and how many thousands of children have been studied after receiving the vaccine,” says Danelle Fisher, MD, FAAP, pediatrician and chair of pediatrics at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.

Dr. Fisher continues, “If parents are worried about the vaccine affecting fertility, I reassure them that this vaccine does not alter DNA and cannot cause fertility problems."

As a pediatrician, Dr. Fisher is confident in the COVID-19 vaccine. “We have been seeing great results with the adult population and the studies in children are also showing impressive results,” she says. 

Putting Their Minds at Ease

It’s completely natural for your child to feel nervous about getting their shot. “With access to an overwhelming amount of information—from social media to television to those closest to them—it’s likely they’re hearing conflicting information about the vaccine and it may raise concerns,” says Dr. Ban. 

Try to make listening to what your children have to say your primary focus, and answer questions and address concerns in a respectful manner, as you would with anyone else. "There are many reasons for hesitancy and questions around the vaccine, and it’s important to understand what those are first so that you can respond appropriately and address any fear or concerns," Dr. Ban says.

The process will be easier if you validate your kids' feelings about getting their shot. For instance, if they're scared of getting that it might hurt, let them know that it's okay to have those fears, and reassure them that you'll be with them the entire time. "I've found that the less nervous that I am when discussing potentially uncomfortable topics with my kids, the less likely they are to be nervous. Kids really do pick up on our non-verbal cues," Dr. Madden explains.   

Dr. Fisher agrees that kids take emotional cues from their parents, so if you show apprehension or fear about the COVID-19 vaccine, there's a chance your kids will model that. At the same time, it's important to be honest about the potential side effects of the vaccine. "Tell your child that they may have mild pain in their upper arm after the vaccine and that it will go away within one day," Dr. Fisher says.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page.