Pediatric COVID-19

COVID-19 is a disease caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2. Most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms, but some people become severely ill. Older adults and people who have certain underlying medical conditions are more likely to get severely ill. Long COVID (also known as post-COVID) is a wide range of health problems people can experience 12 or more weeks after onset of COVID-19 illness or SARS-CoV-2 infection. Even those who do not become severely ill from COVID-19 may experience post-COVID conditions.

Children can be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and can get sick with COVID-19. While most children with COVID-19 have mild symptoms or they may have no symptoms at all (asymptomatic), children can still become very ill and even die from COVID-19. Babies younger than 1 and children with certain underlying medical conditions are more likely to become very ill from COVID-19. Some children have developed a rare but serious disease that is linked to COVID-19 called multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C).

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms of COVID-19 may include:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Learn more information about COVID-19 symptoms and what to do if you think you have been exposed.

Children and teenagers who have the rare condition known as Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) develop symptoms within about 6 weeks after COVID-19 infection. Children should see a doctor if they have had COVID-19 infection (or had close contact with someone with COVID-19) and develop fever plus one or more of the following symptoms: stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, skin rash, bloodshot eyes, dizziness or lightheadedness. Take a look at CDC’s infographic that will help you recognize symptoms and learn more about MIS-C.

If your child's symptoms persist after COVID-19 infection for more than four weeks, they should see their primary care physician for evaluation and potential referral for Long COVID.

COVID-19 is spread in three (3) main ways:

• Breathing in air when close to an infected person who is exhaling small droplets and particles that contain the virus.
• Having these small droplets and particles that contain virus land on the eyes, nose or mouth, especially through splashes and sprays like a cough or sneeze.
• Touching eyes, nose or mouth with hands that have the virus on them.

The FDA approved the COVID-19 treatment Veklury (remdesivir), which can be administered to pediatric patients 28 days of age and older, weighing at least 7 pounds, who have tested positive for COVID-19. Children that receive this treatment may be hospitalized or not hospitalized. They may have mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and a higher risk for progression to severe COVID-19 which may result in hospitalization or death.

Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir + ritonavir) is an oral medication that is authorized for treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in children 12 years of age and older in the outpatient setting who are at increased risk of progression to severe COVID-19. 

The virus that causes COVID-19 is constantly changing, and new variants of the virus are expected to occur. Sometimes new variants develop and disappear. Other times, new variants persist and may require different vaccine or treatment formulations. Many variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 continue to be tracked in the United States and globally. 

• Pfizer:
  • The Pfizer vaccine is available for individuals 6 months and up. 

• Moderna:
  • The Moderna vaccine is available for individuals 6 months and up.

• Novavax:
  • The Novavax vaccine is available for individuals 12 years and older.

The CDC now recommends annual vaccination with updated COVID-19 vaccines for all individuals 6 months of age and older. Some children may be eligible for more than 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine annually. The CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccines page will tell you if and when your child should get additional COVID-19 vaccine doses every year to stay up to date.

The CDC website also has detailed information about the vaccines and how long you should wait between shots.

Yes. Based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Children’s National is administering the Pfizer vaccine depending on age/situation:

• Families can schedule a COVID-19 vaccine for children 6 months and older in our primary care practices. The vaccine is also available during certain specialty care appointments and for hospitalized children when medically appropriate.
• There are several other safe and convenient options available to families seeking vaccines for their children. We encourage families to call their pediatrician or to use schools and retail drug stores like Walgreens or CVS. Also, consider public health distribution centers in the county or city you live in to obtain the vaccine for your child. Families can visit vaccines.gov to find a location to receive the vaccine.

Learn more in our COVID-19 vaccine FAQs.

The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Millions of people in the United States have received these vaccines under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history.

You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Some people have no side effects. Read more from the CDC about potential side effects.

The CDC and the FDA continue to monitor potential side effects and/or rare adverse reactions. Learn more about the ongoing safety monitoring of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Some people have expressed concerns that the Pfizer vaccine may have long-term side effects. Although it is always important to consider the risks and benefits of any medical choice we make, there is no vaccine that has caused late-onset side effects (beginning more than 2 months after receiving the vaccine). All vaccines are made to disintegrate safely in your body. Vaccines introduce a non-harmful ingredient that looks like the true virus or bacteria, allowing your body to build antibodies against the virus/bacteria without getting infected.

For the Pfizer vaccine, the non-harmful ingredient is mRNA. This acts like a recipe that our body uses to build protein. This protein is harmless but does look exactly like the protein on the outside of the novel COVID-19, so our antibodies can be prepared if it sees the real virus. mRNA, however, is literally used up as it is read by the body. In fact, the end of the mRNA recipe has instructions to break down the mRNA and stop the production of the protein.

We provide an official CDC-issued vaccination card with the first dose of vaccine. Please bring that card with you when your child receives their second dose. The card serves as the official documentation of the COVID-19 vaccination, so it is important not to misplace the card.

Take a picture of the card after each dose is given and register for digital vaccine documentation with your state health department to maintain back-up proof of vaccination.

Children's National Hospital cannot issue replacement vaccine cards. Please take a photo of the card as soon as you receive it. If you need to obtain documentation of your child's vaccine, please go to the health department of the state/city where you received the vaccine.

• If your child received the vaccine in D.C. you can obtain documentation of your child’s vaccine here.
• If your child received the vaccine in Maryland you can obtain documentation of your child’s vaccine here.

Yes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine all recommend pregnant people get vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Because people who are pregnant or recently pregnant are more likely to get severely ill with COVID-19 compared with people who are not pregnant, getting a COVID-19 vaccine can help protect from severe illness from COVID-19. Evidence about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy has been growing and suggests that the benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine outweigh any known or potential risks of vaccination during pregnancy. Vaccination during pregnancy also builds antibodies that might protect the baby.

Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines and pregnancy.

Yes, blood donation is safe. The blood collectors check the health of all donors before they are allowed to donate. Individuals are not at risk of contracting COVID-19 through the blood donation process or via a blood transfusion, since respiratory viruses are generally not known to be transmitted by donation or transfusion. Learn more about why you should continue to donate blood.

Yes. We are accepting blood donors at our main hospital location on 111 Michigan Avenue NW, Washington, DC.

Yes, you can still donate blood after receiving a COVID vaccine. There is no waiting period but make sure you are feeling well. Learn more.