Before they can be given to the general public, vaccines go through a rigorous series of trials and approvals to address their safety and effectiveness. In general, approved vaccines are safe and effective at helping prevent severe disease.

The safety of COVID-19 vaccines is a top priority. Multiple federal partners have worked together to ensure that the COVID-19 vaccines are as safe as possible.

The early trials to test for warning signs about the vaccines’ safety do not indicate any serious concerns. Health officials reviewed all the safety data from the clinical trials to ensure they’re safe before making them available to the general public.

So far, the COVID-19 vaccines have only been fully tested on adults. Children’s immune systems are different from adults and their immune systems can even vary at different ages.

Last fall, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine trials started to include children as young as 12, but the results aren’t available yet. We anticipate more and more clinical trials to begin expanding recruitment to other age groups. The bottom line is that more research is needed to ensure the vaccine will be safe and effective for infants, kids and teens younger than 16.

Therapy centers are not able to provide or schedule for the vaccine. Please speak with your child’s CHoR medical provider. If you do not receive medical services at CHoR, please speak with your child’s pediatrician.

Parents/caregivers of CHoR patients UNDER the age of 16: If you would like to receive the vaccine, you are eligible. Please complete the CHoR vaccine clinic registration form and we will contact you to schedule an appointment. In order to streamline vaccine operations, please do not call us to schedule.

Only non-pregnant adults participated in the early clinical trials for various COVID-19 vaccines. We need more information before vaccines are recommended for children, and specifically determining which groups of children should receive the vaccine. Clinical trials continue to expand, so hopefully, we will have this information in the near future.

If your child has COVID-19, they can get the vaccine after they are feeling better and meet the criteria to stop isolation. Read the CDC’s quarantine guidelines here If your child had COVID-19 and had monoclonal antibody or convalescent plasma treatments, they should wait 90 days to get the vaccine. If you have questions, speak with your child’s doctor about when your child should receive the vaccine.

No. There is no evidence that the vaccine affects future fertility.

Currently, there are no COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in children under the age of 16. Children’s immune systems are different from adults and their immune systems can even vary at different ages, so more research is needed to ensure the vaccine will be safe and effective for infants, kids and teens younger than 16.

There are currently three types of vaccines available at VCU and the VCU Health System: Johnson & Johnson, Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines here

Currently, two parents and any personal health care providers (i.e. in-home nursing) can accompany patients to get their vaccine. No siblings may do so at this time.

The biggest thing right now is to keep up with the practices currently in place to protect against COVID-19 – handwashing, social distancing and masks for those age 2 and older. Self-quarantine at home if anyone in your family might be sick to avoid spreading the virus. It’s also important to keep up with routine vaccinations and medical care to help everyone stay healthy.

It’s been a long year, but there’s been a lot of progress too – with more on the horizon. We’ll continue to keep you informed every step of the way!

Yes, the COVID vaccine will be FREE for everyone.

The vaccine will either be covered by insurance or for uninsured patients, the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Provider Relief Fund, and there will be no out of pocket cost to people receiving the vaccine.

Yes! Here are additional resources from the CDC and VDH:

• What are the benefits of getting a vaccine?
• Are the vaccines safe?
• Who should get the vaccines first?
• What is a mRNA vaccine?
• How was the COVID vaccine tested?
• How do vaccines work

It’s been a long year, but there’s been a lot of progress too – with more on the horizon. We’ll continue to keep you informed every step of the way!