Vaccine News & Notes — November 2021

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Parents PACK

COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids Edition

Preparing yourself and your child for COVID-19 vaccine

The Vaccine Education Center (VEC) worked with our colleagues in the Child Life, Education and Creative Arts Therapy Department at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to create two helpful web resources related to COVID-19 vaccines and younger children:

New children’s book helps kids prepare

Helping Our World Get Well: COVID Vaccines is a new children’s book aimed at young children. Written by Beth Bacon, the book, which will be released on Nov. 16, talks about the new things children did during the pandemic. But, of all the new things being asked, the main character has one thing they don’t want to do — get the COVID-19 vaccine. After talking with several people, including their friend Wesley who can’t get vaccinated due to a health condition, the main character decides to get vaccinated, realizing that by working together, vaccinated people can protect vulnerable people, like Wesley, in their school, community and the world.

Help your young family members feel more confident when they get the vaccine with this new book. Available on Amazon.

“Perspectives on COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids” video series

The VEC has created a new series of short videos, “Perspectives on COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids,” that feature personal points of view related to COVID-19 vaccination of young children. Each group has a unique perspective that may be helpful for parents contemplating whether to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19:

  • Clinicians — Some of our colleagues at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia described what it has been like caring for children hospitalized with COVID-19.
  • Families affected by influenza (“flu”) — Partnering with Families Fighting Flu (FFF), the VEC appreciated the opportunity to talk with some of their members whose lives were changed when someone in their family, most often a child, became severely ill or died from influenza, a virus that, like COVID-19, is often considered to be so minor that it does not warrant vaccination. Many of the families who work with FFF say the same thing — they didn’t think influenza was that bad or that anyone in their family would be affected by it.
  • Polio survivors — Partnering with the PA Polio Survivors Network, the VEC was grateful for the opportunity to talk with some of their members whose lives continue to be affected by the lingering effects of childhood polio infections. As they understand what it is like to live with the long-term effects of a viral infection, this group identifies with those experiencing “long COVID” and want people to hear their stories at a time when they can protect their children from the long-term effects of COVID-19.

Materials in this section are updated as new information and vaccines become available. The Vaccine Education Center staff regularly reviews materials for accuracy.

You should not consider the information in this site to be specific, professional medical advice for your personal health or for your family's personal health. You should not use it to replace any relationship with a physician or other qualified healthcare professional. For medical concerns, including decisions about vaccinations, medications and other treatments, you should always consult your physician or, in serious cases, seek immediate assistance from emergency personnel.