COVID & Kids: What to Know About Treatment and Vaccination

A lot of parents have asked the question – when can I get my child vaccinated for COVID-19? The answer is “now,” as vaccines are approved for all kids age 6 months and older. with boosters available for kids age 5 and older.

Dosages are different for different ages and different manufacturers, and you can talk to your pediatrician or family doctor for more information. “Unvaccinated individuals of all ages have greater risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19,” said David Basel, MD, Avera Medical Group Vice President of Clinical Quality. 

Medical Treatments for COVID-19

Avera has a multidisciplinary team including pediatricians, pharmacists and specialists who have developed clinical guidelines for kids with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.

Avera has established clinical guidelines for caring for children with COVID and also offers guidelines to at-home caregivers.

In addition to the threat of COVID-19, Avera physicians are watchful for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) which can occur after a COVID infection.

“With the changing virus, flexibility and collaboration are critical tools we put to use constantly,” Basel said.

Prevention Is the First Line of Defense

Vaccines are safe; adverse reactions are very rare. Experts rigorously tested both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in a large sampling of children.

Parents can include COVID-19 vaccination in the routine of traditional, important childhood immunizations.

Caring for Kids with COVID

Most children can recover at home without additional medical attention. Parents can use these guidelines to manage symptoms.

Use children’s fever- and pain-reducing medication according to the manufacturer’s directions. This includes acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Avoid aspirin.

To manage symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath, try the following:

• A chest rub, such as Vicks VapoRub^® for kids older than 2. For children 2 and under, avoid using rubs containing camphor. Instead, try Vicks BabyRub^®.
• Give the child a warm bath or encourage older children to take a warm shower.
• Prop older kids up with pillows. Children younger than 2 should continue to lie on their back in their crib with no extra pillows or blankets.
• Use a cool air humidifier.

For all ages, warm fluids or something cold like ice cream or ice-pop snacks can soothe sore throats.

When to Call or Take Action

If your child’s condition does not improve after three or four days, or if symptoms get worse, call your clinic. You can also message your provider through AveraChart.

If children in diapers don’t have a wet diaper every six hours, parents should call their provider.

If outside of clinic hours, call the Avera Medical Call Center at 877-282-8372. Registered nurses answer it 24/7, and they can access on-call doctors. If your child has difficulty breathing, chest pain or pressure or cold, clammy skin, call 911 right away. For babies, signs of breathing difficulty might include grunting, bluish skin or an inability to breastfeed.