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Some young people can get severely sick from COVID-19 or can experience lasting complications. Getting the vaccination can prevent children from getting harshly sick, especially kids who are at a greater risk than others, this can include young people with weaker immune systems, asthma or lung related complications etc. But what if this could also happen from the vaccination?

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Although I don't entirely support the vaccination in kids under the age of 12, I do support kids wearing masks, not only because they are key spreaders of the virus without showing symptoms, it also puts others and themselves in a safer situation, especially when going to school

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Is the vaccination good for children's health?

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Is the vaccination good for children's health?

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Studies have shown that the corona virus vaccination and the side effects are safe and can save lives, it is more beneficial then risking not the larger side effects of COVID-19.

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Do you want your kids to end up like this?

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Do you want your kids to end up like this?

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Australian Government Department of Health

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Approval for use in Australia

The Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine is currently available as a:

first and second dose for people aged 5 years and over

third dose for people aged 5 years and over with severe immunocompromise

booster dose for people aged 16 years and over.

Dose schedule

People aged 12 years and older need 2 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, given between 3 and 6 weeks apart.

Children aged 5 to 11 years need 2 doses of Pfizer for children (one third the adult dose), given 8 weeks apart unless advised by a medical professional.

Booster doses are available to everyone 16 years and over who have had their primary course of a COVID-19 vaccine at least 3 months ago.

You may not be fully protected against COVID-19 until 7 to 14 days after your second dose or booster.

Find out more about booster doses and third doses for people aged 5 years and older with severe immunocompromise.

Staying up to date

To be considered up to date with COVID-19 vaccination, you must have completed all the doses recommended for your age and health status.

Find out about how to stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.

What's in the Pfizer vaccine

Pfizer is a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine. This type of vaccine uses a genetic code called RNA to make your body's cells produce the coronavirus' specific spike protein.

Your immune system cells then recognise the spike protein as a threat and begin building an immune response against it. The RNA from the vaccine does not change your DNA in any way, and your body quickly breaks it down.

Pfizer does not contain any live virus and it cannot give you COVID-19.

This video from John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health explains how mRNA vaccines work.

You can read the full Cominarty (Pfizer) Consumer Medicine Information document on the TGA site for more details (click 'I accept' to see the PDF).

Pfizer vaccine for 5 to 11 year olds

On 5 December 2021, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) provisionally approved the Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 years .

The TGA's provisional approval of Pfizer for children was based on a careful evaluation of available data to support its safety and efficacy among this age group.

Vaccinating children can help protect children from getting COVID-19. It can also help prevent children passing the virus onto younger siblings, parents, grandparents and the wider community.

The paediatric vaccine dose of Pfizer for children is one third of the dose for people aged 12 and over.

Children aged 5 to 11 years will receive a 2-dose primary course of vaccination, given 8 weeks apart.

Parents, carers and guardians can book appointments through the Vaccine Clinic Finder. If you can't find an appropriate appointment, please check back regularly as more appointments will become available.

Note that not all vaccine providers will administer Pfizer to children aged 5 to 11 years.

Common side effects

As with any vaccine, you may have some temporary side effects after receiving Pfizer. This shows your immune system is working.

Common side effects after Pfizer include:

injection site pain or swelling

tiredness

headache

muscle or joint pain

fever and chills.

Most side effects are mild and go away within 1 to 2 days. AusVaxSafety data shows that side effects are more common after the second dose.

Rare side effects

Myocarditis or pericarditis in young people

In rare cases, myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) and pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane around the heart) can develop after vaccination with Pfizer.

Most cases have mild symptoms and recover well.

The TGA reports that these rare effects on the heart typically occur:

within 10 days of vaccination

after the second dose

more often in men aged under 30.

Contact a doctor or go to hospital immediately if you develop any of the following symptoms after a Pfizer vaccination:

chest pain

pressure or discomfort in the chest

irregular, skipped heartbeats or 'fluttering'

fainting

shortness of breath

pain when breathing.

Low risk of developing myocarditis or pericarditis

The risk of developing myocarditis or pericarditis is very low.

In the US, reported rates in males were 10 cases per million after first doses, and 67 cases per million after second doses. The TGA is monitoring the risk in the Australian population.

The risk in children aged 5 to 11 years is not yet known. The clinical trial in children aged 5 to 11 years did not have enough participants to assess rates of myocarditis or pericarditis following the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, but no specific safety concerns have been identified so far from millions of doses of this vaccine administered overseas to children aged 5 to 11 years. The benefits of vaccination outweigh this very rare risk, and vaccination is still recommended for all eligible age groups.

Fact sheets

We have printable guidance on myocarditis and pericarditis after mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

The Melbourne Vaccine Education Centre has a page on myocarditis and pericarditis that includes an explanatory video.

Injection technique unlikely to cause myocarditis

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) does not consider injection technique to cause adverse events because most myocarditis cases occur after the second dose. If accidentally injecting into a blood vessel was a factor, cases would occur equally after both doses.

Risks and benefits

The benefits of vaccination with Pfizer greatly outweigh the risk of side effects.

People who are not recommended to have the Pfizer vaccine

It's not recommended that you have the Pfizer vaccine if you have had:

a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of the vaccine

anaphylaxis after exposure to any component of the vaccine, including polyethylene glycol (PEG)

myocarditis and/or pericarditis attributed to a previous dose of the vaccine

any other serious adverse event attributed to a previous dose of the vaccine.

Patient information

Our patient resources include fact sheets about Pfizer and what to expect after your shot.

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The Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine is currently available as a: first and second dose for people aged 5 years and over third dose for people aged 5 years and over with severe immunocompromise booster dose for people aged 16 years and over.

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The amount of cases of corona virus are increasing fast among young people. The delta and omicron strain appears to be playing a key role.
Reducing viral transmission by getting vaccinated also decreases the virus’ chance to alter into new variants that may be even more dangerous to not only our communities but also the world.

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Although there is a chance that’s the younger generations can become sick from the vaccination, there are not only more advantages but also a higher chance that the vaccination can help children in the long run.

Not only can it help our community, but also can help our young people’s mental health and stress level.

It can also prevent their education becoming at risk, such as school not having to close, as studies show that online learning is less beneficial to majority of students, as well as children not having to give up extracurricular activities, which are proven to help kids mental health.

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They are being carefully observed in the largest worldwide vaccine rollout in history. Most side effects are minor and go away in the time period of a days.

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Another reason you might consider the corona virus vaccination is because of the secondary benefits to your child.

Vaccination might help avoid school closures and disturbances to extra-curricular events. School and activities are important for children’s general wellbeing and mental health.

Vaccination of children could also help your family and community through reduced spread of the virus. Though I believe this is all valid reasons for why you should let them get vaccinated, under 12's don't have these worries, it's you as a parent who has these worries, isn't it?

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Should I let my aged 12 and under child get the vaccination?

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Should I let my aged 12 and under child get the vaccination?

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Personally, I think that under 12 should not be eligible to get the vaccination. The consequences of the vaccination have not yet been determined in children. Why would you let your kids get the vaccination if you don't know what could happen to them?

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What are the benefits of the corona virus vaccination in under 18’s: scientist opinion

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What are the benefits of the corona virus vaccination in under 18’s: scientist opinion

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Although corona virus in kids is not as severe than in adults, some kids, especially children who can be at a greater risk of the virus, who have become ill with corona virus can get continuing, severe lung infections, become awfully sick and some may require hospitalization.