Parents, have you done your homework?
It's okay. Learn from medical experts, all in one place. Get up to speed on the COVID-19 vaccine for kids.


Top Questions
See allHow can anyone be sure a vaccine developed so quickly is also safe?
Work on coronavirus vaccines has been ongoing for more than 10 years, due in part to the SARS-CoV-1 outbreak in 2003. It was important to develop the COVID-19 vaccine quickly because of how many people were dying and getting sick, and because of the disruptions to everyday life as a result of the pandemic. Even though the vaccines were developed quickly, all the usual steps for the approval of vaccines occurred, including clinical trials with the appropriate number of participants. Because of the large amount of resources that were made available to develop a COVID-19 vaccine and the large number of COVID-19 cases, the clinical trials were accelerated. This made it easier to tell quickly whether or not the vaccines worked to prevent cases of COVID-19. The vaccine was rapidly shown to be safe and effective in protecting against COVID-19.

What about reports of vaccine side-effects like myocarditis and pericarditis in younger people?
Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) or pericarditis (inflammation of the heart’s outer lining) are rare and most commonly experienced by older adolescents and young adults. Both are extremely rare in relation to the COVID-19 vaccine. More than 10 million children in the U.S. and Canada have received the vaccine with very few reports of these conditions. Myocarditis and pericarditis actually occur far more often after COVID-19 infection than after being vaccinated against COVID-19, as noted by Health Canada and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are multiple surveillance mechanisms in place in order to monitor any potential post-vaccination risk of these conditions over time.

Can the COVID-19 vaccine affect puberty or fertility in children?
There is no evidence or scientific reason to believe that the COVID-19 vaccine can affect puberty and fertility in children. Clinical trials of those who have been vaccinated in the general population have shown that the vaccine is very safe.


Ready to get going?
Book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment today.
- Book online through Ontario’s online booking system
Ontario.ca/covid-19 - Call the Ontario COVID-19 vaccine call centre
1-833-943-3900 - Contact your primary care provider
- Find a local pharmacy or use Vaccine Hunters to book a COVID-19 vaccine
appointment near you - Search for specialty clinics in your area for children with medical complexity
or sensory needs
Still have questions?
Talk to a tutor
Contact the SickKids COVID-19 Vaccine Consult Service. This by-appointment phone service is for Ontario residents and provides a safe, judgment-free space to have an open conversation about the COVID-19 vaccine with a pediatric registered nurse. Book an appointment online at www.sickkids.ca/vaccineconsult or by calling 1-888-304-6558.
Your child’s primary care provider can also help.
