Do Kids Need Covid-19 Vaccine? Understanding Side Effects And Precautions

Covid-19 has undoubtedly shaken the world populace to its very core. The numerous incidents, the sudden oncoming of the symptoms, not to mention the degradation of oxygen levels in the body has caused quite the panic.

And why shouldn’t it? This may be the worst pandemic to hit the planet in the last century.

As humanity strives to develop antidotes to protect mankind from this unpredictable virus, the primary concern seems to be the elderly. There are tens of thousands of cases where the coronavirus has affected people above the age of 45, more so above 60. However, in this bustle, we seem to have forgotten another very vulnerable generation – The children.

How does Covid-19 affect children?

So far, covid-19 cases in children have been extremely limited up to 12%. Since kids and teens tend to have stronger immune systems, their ability to fight the novel coronavirus is noteworthy.

However, with the new wave expected to hit the planet soon, the likelihood of Covid-19 affecting more children is, unfortunately, a growing concern. If a child develops the multisystem inflammatory system, in particular, he or she must be treated with utmost caution and care.

Children tend to catch a common cold more frequently, which is a gateway for the novel coronavirus. Although, the maximum number of cases do turn out to be extremely docile or just the flu, it is best to have children tested instantly upon the onset of the symptoms. The effects of the virus are easily treatable in children, for the most part. But if they are in a vulnerable age group or suffer from weakened immunity, then chances are they may need to be admitted.

Do children need the Covid-19 vaccination?

In one word – Yes.

Children may have strong immune systems and there definitely are side effects to the vaccine observed across several age groups. However, precaution is always better than cure.

Furthermore, with the growing number of cases, it is not possible to initiate a complete bounce-back from the lockdown unless the entire population is inoculated. Children may not be overly affected by the virus but they can be carriers and even spread the disease.

The Pfizer vaccination available for children has been tested and proven to be quite effective in order to prevent coronavirus from attacking kids between the ages of 2 and 16. Children above the age of 16 and below 20 receive 95% protection from the novel coronavirus, which really is better than 100% vulnerability.

Covaxin has been tested in age groups 2 to 18 and approved for children to be immunized as early as possible with the destroyed coronavirus. The injection of these killed infections helps the body develop immunity and secures children from further contracting the virus. Even if they do catch Covid-19, the symptoms and effects are easily managed with minimum care and panic.

What are the side effects of the Covid-19 vaccines in children?

Several age groups have reported experiencing temporary adverse effects after being inoculated with the covid-19 vaccines. Children are no exceptions to the rule. However, if these side effects appear unbeknownst to the parents, they can be a bit unnerving.

Therefore, here is a list of the side effects that may appear after your child has been vaccinated against the novel coronavirus. If you see these signs, do not panic. They usually pass within the first 48 hours. If, after the time-lapse, the side effects prevail, then consult with a paediatrician or physician at the earliest.

• Fever is the most common side effect of the covid-19 vaccination. This is due to the introduction of the foreign component and nothing to worry about. The body recognizes the intrusion and raises the temperature simply to attain homeostasis while it develops antibodies for the killed virus.
• Swelling at the area where the injection was inserted is another very common occurrence. You need not fret as it is a natural phenomenon to experience a little swelling when precautionary vaccinations are introduced to the body.
• Pain at the site of the injection is also expected as the foreign body interacts with the internal system. Children tend to have delicate sensibilities, a lower threshold for pain, and a general dislike for injections. Therefore, you can expect a little crying about the injected area hurting for some time.
• Headaches are also a common occurrence after the covid-19 vaccination. This is simply because the central and peripheral nervous systems are working to accommodate the pain and introduction of the foreign body.
• Body ache is the most common side effect of the covid-19 vaccination. Much like the headaches experienced after the inoculation, the nervous system accompanies the immune system to create antibodies quickly. The levels of serotonin and other feel-good hormones tend to drop, causing some amount of body ache.

These side effects are all a result of introducing foreign particles into the body. Covid-19 has caused quite a bit of havoc that tends to manifest into a rising panic in parents. However, think back to when you inoculated your children of polio vaccinations or received your own smallpox and cholera vaccinations.

It is common and completely precedent for the body to react with pain, slight inflammation, and fever when injected with a foreign body. Therefore, stay calm and observe the children for the first 48 hours. Eventually, the side effects will subside and the child will be well protected against the novel coronavirus.

What precautions must you take before administering covid-19 vaccines to children?

As such, there are no serious precautions recommended for taking the covid-19 vaccination. However, you can take a few general precautions into consideration:

• Make sure you have a confirmed appointment for the vaccination so as not to needlessly encounter a crowd. Maintain social distancing and if at all possible, consider waiting outside the clinic with your child rather than an enclosed space with potentially infected people.
• If you have a baby who needs to be inoculated, keep them wrapped in soft fabrics for comfort and soothing effects, not to mention, protected.
• Make your children wear masks and gloves while ensuring that they do not take them off under any circumstance. You can also consider dressing them in PPE kits. Follow these precautionary measures yourself as well.
• Take a spray bottle full of sanitizer for emergencies. The spray noggins prevent actual contact or rubbing the sanitizer on the skin.
• Use digital payment methods to avoid carrying your child after touching money that may have passed through several infected hands.

As a rule, you must also keep a lookout for the following:

• In case the child suffers from an infection, it is best to consult a pediatrician or simply wait for the infection to pass before referring to a medical professional.
• Have an open discussion with the doctor at the place of inoculation about any existing ailments or health conditions that your child may have. It is necessary that you be absolutely honest about it, regardless of how necessary the vaccination is.
• Share any allergies the child may have. Doctors can guide you as per the correct vaccination to take in case of expected allergic reactions.
• If the child develops an allergic rash or similar symptoms after the vaccination, then consult a doctor immediately.
• After the vaccination, observe the children for the first 30 minutes. If they tend to develop high temperature or pain, then a simple oral treatment with paracetamol is enough. Do not administer any over-the-counter drugs without consulting with a physician or pediatrician.

Since children have very strong immune systems, precautionary measures are not a major concern when you need to administer the covid-19 vaccination. For the most part, covid-19 vaccination in children in itself is a precautionary measure. It prevents an attack from the virus in children aged 2-16 and above the age of 16, they have 95% immunity. Simply put, this means that even if they do contract the virus, the effects will be easily treated. Not to mention, the rate at which children can spread the virus after inoculation is heavily controlled.

Conclusion

The novel coronavirus is a frightening and dangerous adversary, no doubt. But there is no reason to panic and dread now that mankind has taken great strides to protect us against the virus.

Pandemics are nothing new. Every hundred years, humanity is struck by new diseases, and eventually, future generations are vaccinated to prevent those diseases. Covid-19 is a similar problem with a vaccination that is already developed and tested to be administered.

You have provided your children with vaccinations for polio, hepatitis, cholera, smallpox, etc. So do not fret about the covid-19 vaccination. Follow the simple precautionary measures and monitor the side effects calmly. If, in case, they are persistent then consult your regular pediatrician or physician.

The Covid-19 vaccination is a must-have for every individual, not only to prevent succumbing to the ill effects of the virus but also to control the further spread of the disease. Therefore, get your child vaccinated.