Experts Say, One Dose of The Covid Vaccine Can Give Kids Huge Protection for the Holidays

With the holidays around the corner, family gatherings at the dining room table, and hugs and kisses from grandma and grandpa, experts are urging parents to vaccinate their kids.

While adults have been getting immunized for nearly a year and children 12 and up became eligible to get vaccinated this past May, kids between the ages of five and 11 have only begun their COVID vaccinations earlier this month.

Dr. Michael Mina, an epidemiologist at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health published a tweet on Twitter, sharing tips for parents on booking their child’s appointment for the vaccine.

His main advice?

Book an appointment and start the immunization process as soon as you can, the earlier the better. “Even a single dose for your kid 10 days prior is an incredible safeguard,” he said.

Although currently the only vaccine approved for that age group is Pfizer and similar to adults, kids need two doses that are spaced three weeks apart; any child who gets their first dose in the next week or two could have the series of shots completed by Christmas.

However, keep in mind that doctors don’t consider someone fully vaccinated until two weeks after their second dose is completed.

However vaccinated or not, kids and adults can still spread COVID, be cognizant that break through infections can happen.

Dr. Michael Mina had more advice to share ahead of family gatherings this year. “Rapid test the morning of,” he said. “Don’t join if Pos. It will massively reduce risk – much more than intermittent masking,” he said.