Why should children get the COVID-19 vaccine?

Medical and public health experts, including the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend that children and adolescents age 6 months and older get a COVID-19 vaccine to help protect them from contracting and spreading the virus.

The vaccine is the best way to protect children from becoming severely ill or having long-lasting health impacts due to COVID-19. While children and adolescents are typically at lower risk than adults of becoming severely ill or hospitalized from COVID-19, it is still possible. COVID-19 has become one of the top 10 causes of pediatric death, and tens of thousands of children and teens have been hospitalized with COVID-19. 

Another important reason for children to get the COVID-19 vaccine is to protect their friends, family, and the broader community from the spread of the virus. The higher the vaccination rates, the lower the chances that the coronavirus will mutate into additional variants.

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1. Can I get a booster shot of the COVID vaccine?
2. Why should children get the COVID-19 vaccine?
3. How soon after having COVID can I get vaccinated?
4. Why should I get vaccinated if I've already had COVID-19?
5. What do I do if I lose my vaccine card?
6. Can I stop wearing a mask and following public health protocols if I am vaccinated?
7. After getting vaccinated, do I still need to quarantine after possible exposures?
8. Can I still catch COVID after being vaccinated? Can I still spread COVID after being vaccinated?
9. After I’ve gotten vaccinated, how long will it take to get immunity?
10. Will I still be protected if I only get one dose? Why is important to get the second dose?
11. If I get symptoms shortly after I’ve been vaccinated, should I get tested?
12. What is community immunity or herd immunity? How many people need to get vaccinated to develop community immunity from COVID-19?
13. Are the vaccines effective against variants?