A: Yes! COVID-19 vaccines are safe to give with other vaccines. Vaccination is incredibly important and delaying vaccination can result in increased risks of infection, serious illness, or death.
Many parents and families worry about giving the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as other routine childhood vaccines. But we come with good news! It is safe to give a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as other childhood vaccines. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention all support giving the COVID-19 vaccine with other vaccines. There has not been any evidence of increased risk of harm or side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine when given with other vaccines.
Giving multiple vaccines at the same time cannot overwhelm the immune system. Kids are exposed to all sorts of germs and antigens every single day. Antigens are substances that trigger an immune response and tell the body to make antibodies. Every time they eat a new food, stick their fingers in their mouth, or decide it is time to lick every item in your house (because of course they do!), they are exposed to whole bunches of antigens and their immune systems do just fine.
In fact, getting multiple vaccines at the same time can actually be beneficial. First, it gives kids their vaccines as quickly as possible to protect them from diseases that can make them very sick. Second, it means fewer trips to the doctor’s office. This saves time, money, and can be less scary for kids in the long run. Giving different vaccines at the same time doesn’t cause any chronic health problems or decrease the efficacy of the vaccine.
Unfortunately, childhood vaccinate rates dropped during the pandemic. Roughly 25 million kids worldwide are missing doses of life-saving vaccines. In the US, only 3.9% of kids under 2 and 5.6% of kids 2-4 years old have completed their COVID-19 primary series. We don’t want any more barriers to getting kids immunized. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe for kids and prevents hospitalization and severe illness. Getting COVID-19 vaccines as part of routine childhood well visits can increase vaccination rates and protect children.
Stay safe. Stay well.
Those Nerdy Girls
Links!
CDC Multiple Vaccinations at Once
Dear Pandemic Why have routine childhood vaccination rates been decreasing in the US?
CDC MMWR Vaccination Coverage among Children in Kindergarten 2020-21 School Year
CDC 6 Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines for Children
American Academy of Pediatrics Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 vaccines
