What to know about COVID-19 vaccines for children 6 months and older
Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines is the best way to protect you and your loved ones from serious illness.
M Health Fairview offers the updated Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty) mRNA vaccine for children ages 6 months to 17 years. Your child does not have to be an existing M Health Fairview patient to get the vaccine from us.
For more information, please review our frequently asked questions. If you continue to have questions about the COVID-19 vaccines, we encourage you to speak with your child’s primary care provider.
How can my child get a COVID-19 vaccine?
Children over age 5 and teens can get an updated Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at our retail pharmacies and at some primary care clinics. Children under 5 can get their vaccine at primary care clinics.
Appointments at most retail pharmacies.
Most retail Fairview pharmacies are now scheduling appointments for children ages 5 and older. To make an appointment, visit our pharmacy site to find a vaccination location near you, then make an appointment online.
Appointments at some primary care locations.
Our primary care clinics have the updated vaccine available for pediatric patients during regularly scheduled appointments, or by scheduling a vaccine-only appointment. Find an M Health Fairview primary care clinic near you.
Do you provide COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant individuals and children?
We continue to offer COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant individuals and children, in line with recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). These leading medical organizations strongly support vaccination for these groups as a safe and effective way to prevent serious illness.
If you have questions about whether vaccination is right for you or your child, please speak with your healthcare provider.
What should I expect at my child’s COVID-19 vaccine appointment?
You and your child will be greeted by a healthcare professional who is an experienced vaccinator. They will ask some basic questions regarding your child’s health and may ask you to complete a vaccine consent form for your child.
If your child needs more than one COVID-19 vaccine dose, our healthcare workers will help your family schedule a follow-up appointment for the next dose in the series.
After receiving the vaccination, you and your child will be asked to wait nearby for 15 minutes so we can monitor your child for immediate adverse reactions. If your child has a history of allergic reactions to a vaccine, your family will be asked to wait nearby for a 30-minute observation period. Our vaccinators are prepared to respond to reactions during the observation time. They will have access to EpiPens and guidance on how to care for individuals experiencing reactions.
All parents or legal guardians of children younger than age 12 will need to give consent in order for their child or children to receive the vaccine.
Will my insurance cover a COVID-19 vaccine?
If you have questions about coverage, we recommend checking with your insurer.
What are the side effects?
Like adults, children may have some side effects after getting vaccinated. This is a normal sign that your child’s body is building protection. These side effects include injection site soreness and mild to moderate flu-like symptoms, including a headache, fatigue, chills, fever, and muscle and joint soreness. Most of these symptoms typically go away within three days of vaccination.
Cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, sore throat, or loss of taste or smell are not side effects of the vaccine. If your child experiences these symptoms, monitor their symptoms to see if they become worse and seek the advice of your healthcare provider if they do. While it’s not possible to get COVID-19 from any of the vaccines, your child may have been exposed to the virus before vaccination.
What should I do if I my child has an adverse or allergic reaction to the vaccine?
Your child may have some side effects after getting vaccinated. The side effects may feel like the flu and may last for a few days. These side effects are normal and are signs that the body is building protection against the virus.
There is a very small chance that the vaccine could cause a severe allergic reaction – often within a few minutes to one hour after getting the vaccine. Symptoms include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling of the face and throat
- A fast heartbeat
- A bad rash all over the body
- Dizziness and weakness
If you think your child is having a severe allergic reaction, seek immediate medical care by calling 911. If redness or tenderness around the area where your child got the shot increases after 24 hours, if your child’s side effects are worrying you, or if the side effects aren’t going away after a few days, call our Fairview Nurse Advisors line at 1-855-324-7843.
