Want your kids fully vaccinated for the holidays? Here are key dates to follow.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week endorsed the use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11, making about 28 million kids nationwide in that group eligible to get vaccinated.
In North Carolina, more than 24,000 5- to 11-year-olds have received their first dose of the vaccine as of Nov. 10, according to North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen.
If you’re a parent with kids in the now-eligible age group, you might be excited about what it could mean for the holidays: Your entire family could be fully vaccinated just in time for family gatherings, church services and other festive holiday events.
Due to the dosing schedule required for the Pfizer vaccine, it’s too late for kids to be fully vaccinated by Thanksgiving, set for Nov. 25, and Hanukkah, which runs Nov. 28 through Dec. 6 — but there’s still time to get vaccinated for other holidays, including both Christmas Eve and Day.
Here‘s some information on the dosing schedule for the Pfizer vaccine, as well as the deadlines you should follow for your child to be fully vaccinated by the upcoming holidays.
(Hint: time is running out.)
What is the dose schedule for the Pfizer vaccine?
The Pfizer vaccine is a two-dose vaccine.
▪ After you receive the first dose, you wait three weeks, or 21 days, then receive the second dose.
▪ You are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after you receive your second dose.
That means in order for your child to be fully vaccinated by Christmas Eve or Day, they should receive their second dose a minimum of two weeks beforehand.
To be fully vaccinated by Christmas Eve
Whether you’re attending a church service or you just want to make sure your kids are fully vaccinated for any run-ins with Santa when he visits on Christmas Eve, if you want to have your kids fully vaccinated by Dec. 24:
▪ They should receive their first dose no later than Nov. 19. That’s by the end of next week.
▪ Your child would then be eligible for their second dose on Dec. 10.
▪ They would be fully vaccinated two weeks later, on Dec. 24.
Christmas Day
If you’re more concerned about your child being fully vaccinated for activities on Christmas morning or later that day, you have an extra day to get them vaccinated, compared to a Christmas Eve deadline.
If you want your child fully vaccinated by Dec. 25:
▪ They should receive their first dose no later than Nov. 20.
▪ Your child would then be eligible for their second dose on Dec. 11.
▪ They would be fully vaccinated two weeks later, on Dec. 25.
What about side effects?
Receiving the Pfizer vaccine is safe, and there are no serious side effects — but, like adults, your child could experience mild side effects, including:
▪ Pain at the injection site
▪ Fatigue
▪ Headache
▪ Chills
▪ Muscle and/or joint pain
▪ Fever
▪ Nausea
Side effects are most likely to occur within two days of receiving the vaccine, and they could last for one to three days.
More children reported side effects, except for injection site pain, after the second dose of the vaccine.
Since it takes two weeks after receiving the second dose to be fully vaccinated, your child should be in the clear from any side effects well before Christmas Eve or Day, so long as you get them vaccinated by the suggested deadlines.
Note: It is not recommended to give your child pain relievers before vaccination to try to prevent side effects.
Where can I find a vaccine?
▪ To find a vaccination site near you, visit covid19.ncdhhs.gov/vaccines or takemyshot.nc.gov.
▪ You can also call the North Carolina Vaccine Help Center at 888-675-4567. The center takes calls from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends.
▪ You can also text your ZIP code to 438829 to find a vaccine location near you.
▪ The News & Observer previously compiled a list of vaccination sites for children in the Triangle.
This story was originally published November 11, 2021 at 10:56 AM.
