Children’s Mercy Shares the ‘Facts’ and Urges COVID-19 Vaccination for Children

As kids head back to school, many parents and caregivers with children have questions about the COVID-19 vaccines, including their safety, benefits and any potential side effects. Children’s Mercy Hospital Kansas is emphasizing the importance of understanding the facts about these vaccines and urging that all children six months of age and older get the shot.

Providers at Children’s Mercy shared “6 Facts You Need to Know” about the COVID-19 vaccine, which is posted on the hospital’s website:

1. The COVID-19 vaccines cannot give you COVID-19.
2. The development of the COVID-19 vaccines did not skip any steps in determining their safety.
3. The COVID-19 vaccines will not change your DNA or live inside you forever.
4. The COVID-19 vaccines do not cause miscarriage or infertility.
5. The COVID-19 vaccines can be given to people who already had COVID-19.
6. We know exactly what is in the COVID-19 vaccines.

The Children’s Mercy website offers additional information for parents on how the COVID-19 vaccines were developed, how mRNA vaccines work and what to expect after children receive the vaccine. A “Truth About Vaccines” handout and a video on why children should get the COVID-19 vaccine are available for downloading and viewing in nearly a dozen different languages.

The hospital website also highlights frequently asked questions about children and the COVID-19 vaccine and links to a handout answering top questions from teens.