Cora Constantinescu - What are the long term effects of COVID-19 on kids? Cora Constantinescu - Are kids at greater risk of getting COVID-19 now? Cora Constantinescu - How is COVID impacting kids right now? Bruce Wright - Where vaccine misinformation begins Ben Sivarajan - Where can we find accurate info on vaccines for children? Bruce Wright - Where to find accurate information on vaccines for children Videos: Hear what the experts say about vaccines for children Government of Canada - COVID-19 vaccines for children.Canadian Paediatric Society - COVID-19 vaccines for children and youth.AHS Commitment to Comfort - Overcoming needle fear.AHS COVID-19 vaccine info for children under 12.If you have questions or concerns, contact your family doctor or call 811 to speak with a health professional. mRNA vaccines teach the body to trigger an immune response and produce antibodies to fight a virus.Researchers have been studying mRNA technology for 15 years to treat cancer, muscular dystrophy and other diseases. mRNA molecules exist naturally in human bodies.The vaccine works with the natural function of human immune systems – it will not change anything that is already occuring in the body.COVID-19 vaccines do not affect fertility now or later.Speak to your doctor if you have questions about your childs' allergies. The only time someone should not get a COVID-19 vaccine is if they are allergic to specific ingredients in the vaccine.The vaccines do not contain egg, latex or preservatives.Heart damage is far more likely after COVID-19 infection than after vaccination. The cases are typically mild and are treatable. Very rare cases of heart inflammation ( myocarditis and pericarditis) have been reported in some young people 16 to 29.99.98% of vaccines administered in Alberta to date had no serious side effects. Overall, serious side effects from vaccination are rare.No safety concerns were identified during the clinical trials for 5 to 11 year olds.Common side effects include muscle aches, fatigue, mild fever, and pain at injection site.It's normal to have minor side effects after vaccination – it's a sign your immune system is responding to the vaccine.All vaccines approved in Canada undergo a review and approval process to ensure they are safe and effective.Youth are 55 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than from an adverse event following vaccination.0.03% of vaccinated youth reported an adverse event (allergic reaction, fever, pain or swelling).14% of all cases in Alberta were in youth 10 to 19.Alberta statistics as of November 17, 2021:.Unvaccinated people are twice as likely to get infected again, compared to people who had been vaccinated after infection.Immunity for people who have had COVID-19 may not last long and it's not as strong as vaccine protection.Since COVID-19 is a new virus, no one has pre-existing immunity.While kids have a lower risk of severe illness, vaccines offer the best protection from getting or spreading COVID-19. The Canadian Pediatric Society recommends eligible children be vaccinated.Fewer infections means less chance of dangerous variants. Each person infected with COVID-19 provides a chance for the virus to mutate and become more resistant to treatments or vaccines.Children can spread the virus even if they don't have symptoms, potentially risking vulnerable friends, family or community members.Most cases in children are milder than adults, but some kids can get very sick, have long-lasting symptoms (Long COVID), or complications such as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).Children under 12 make up the largest number of new cases in Canada.
Routine school immunizations can continue as scheduled.