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COMMUNITY LEADERS

Show your employees, customers, and the entire community that you care – that you’re invested in keeping everyone safe and stopping the spread of COVID-19.

*these materials cannot be used for unsolicited door to door activities.

Got questions about vaccinating your 5 – 11 year-old child? Get answers.

Are COVID-19 vaccines safe for children ages 5 through 11 years?

Yes. The vaccines are safe for children in this age group.

  • Tens of millions of children and teens ages 5 through 17 years have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Through continued safety monitoring, COVID-19 vaccination has been found safe for children and teens.

Learn more about vaccine safety here.

What are some possible side effects a child can get after vaccination?

Possible side effects among children after COVID-19 vaccination may include:

  • Soreness at the injection site
  • Headaches
  • Muscle aches
  • Low-grade fevers

These side effects may affect your child’s ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Some children have no side effects.

The benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the known and potential risks of getting COVID-19 disease.

How does COVID-19 vaccine dosage work for children? Is there a difference between the adult/teen and the children 5-11 vaccines?

Unlike many medications, COVID-19 vaccine dosage does not vary by patient weight but by age on the day of vaccination. This is also true for other routinely recommended vaccines, like flu or hepatitis vaccines.

However, the COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 through 11 has the same active ingredients as the vaccines given to adults and teens. But, the vaccine for children comes in a different vial with a different color cap to easily separate it from the adult/teen one.

Like adults and teens, children will need a second shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at least three weeks after their first shot.

What happens if a child has a severe reaction after vaccination?

If a child experiences a severe allergic reaction, vaccine providers can quickly treat it and call for emergency medical services if needed.

How will vaccine safety be monitored in this age group?
COVID-19 vaccines have undergone – and will continue to undergo – the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. CDC and FDA are using new and established safety monitoring systems. Parents and caregivers can register and enroll their child in v-safe, a free and easy-to-use smartphone-based app. V-safe allows them to report how their child feels days and weeks after vaccination. Additionally, patients, caregivers, and vaccine providers can report serious health events occurring after vaccination to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System(VAERS). CDC and FDA review VAERS data to identify potential safety concerns.

Need more details about general health and safety related to COVID?

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Promote Vaccination

Tell your personal story of why you chose to be vaccinated. You are a trusted member of the community and your voice matters. Share this resource with people who would like to get vaccinated.

Find Vaccine Locations

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Booster Shots

Let community members know booster shots are now available to anyone 18+ who completed their Pfizer or Moderna series 6+ months ago or received their Janssen shot 2+ months ago. Certain groups can get their second boosters 4+ months after the first booster.

Find Vaccine Locations

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Look out for your neighbor.

Wear a mask when needed so we can all work to Stay South Carolina Strong. Masks can protect people from the virus by preventing infected individuals who may not yet be showing symptoms from passing the virus to others.

Learn About Wearing a Mask

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Physical Distancing

  • Avoid crowds
  • Stay at least 6 feet away from others in public if you’re not vaccinated and boosted, if eligible. This is especially important if you are at higher risk of getting very sick with COVID-19.
  • Stay home when sick

Learn About Physical Distancing

Community Leaders Toolkits

Use these resources to share information with others who may have the same questions you have about vaccines

Rack
Cards

Order rack cards free of charge to put in your office or other common spaces

Flyers

Download a flyer you can post in your building or facility

Digital
Ads

Insert ad graphics into newsletters or correspondence

Videos

Share short videos from tv commercials in social media posts or on your website

Social
Graphics

Use these graphics in your organization's social media outreach

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