Health Tips

COVID-19 jab for your child

COVID-19 Immunisation Programme for Children (#PICKids) has officially launched in the whole nation. Every 5 to under 12 year-old will receive a two-dose series of Comirnaty® 10 mcg (0.2 mL) Concentrate for Dispersion (PfizerBioNTech) vaccination, 8 weeks apart, between first and second dose. 

Here is why your child should take the jab:

• The vaccine reduces the risk of from getting very sick and hospitalization.

• The vaccine reduces the risk of serious complications such as multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C).

• The vaccine reduces the spread of COVID-19.

Before the vaccination 

• Tell your child the possible side effects after vaccination, reassure them those are the normal signs that their body is building protection.  

  Common side effetcs after injection
  On the injection side:	Throughout the whole body:
  Pain	Fever
  Swelling	Chill
  Redness	Tiredness
  	Muscle pain
  	Nausea
  	Headache

After the vaccination

• Do not give any pain relievers before vaccination to try to prevent side effects, the side effects are meant to happen as a sign that the immune system is working. Here are some helpful tips to help relieve the side effects.

• Inform the doctor or nurse about any allergies your child may have, or a severe allergy reaction that your child has had.

• Allow them to have some light activities, avoid jogging, bicycling, swimming or any kind of sports for at least 14 days.

• Monitor the signs of the side effects 5 to 7 days after vaccination, make an AEFI report if there is any. Serious adverse events are rare but may occur.

  Serioud adverse events

  Anaphylactic reaction (a severe form of allergic reaction), which can cause difficulty in breathing and rashes all over the body

  Myocarditis and pericarditis (myocarditis: heart muscle inflammation; pericarditis: inflammation of the outer lining of the heart). Most patients with myocarditis or pericarditis after COVID-19 vaccination responded well to medicine and rest and felt better quickly.

• Make sure they eat and drink well, and have enough rest.

All in all 

Vaccination helps protect your child and your family. It has been proven safe and effective against COVID-19, most importantly it decreases the risk of child getting serious COVID-19 infection, as well as the serious, long term complications associated with the infection. You may discuss with a doctor whether or not your child is suitable in taking COVID-19 vaccination, remember, serious adverse events are rare. Wait no more, register now on MySejahtera! For more information please visit COVID-19 Malaysia website.

Medically reviewed by Ashwini Nair, MB BCh BAO.

Free Covid-19 Vaccination Consultation For AIA Parents:

DOC2US COVID-19 Services: Free COVID-19 Virtual Health Chat | COVID-19 Home Care Plan

DOC2US COVID-19 Home Care Guidebook (Children and Adolescents’ Version)

References:

1.   CDC. COVID-19 Vaccines for Children & Teens. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published January 11, 2022. Accessed February 21, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/children-teens.html 

2.   CDC. COVID-19 Vaccination. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published February 11, 2020. Accessed February 21, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/adverse-events.html 

3.   PICKids | COVID-19 MALAYSIA. Accessed February 21, 2022. https://covid-19.moh.gov.my/vaksin-covid-19/pickids 

4.   Soalan Lazim PICKids

Written by

DOC2US Editorial Team