Why I Vaccinated My Kids Against COVID-19

This post is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Having worked in social media communications for a leading teaching hospital for more than a decade, including a year at the start of the pandemic, I have learned far more about vaccines than the average person. And what I believe to my core is that science can be trusted.

Here are some facts that have been helpful to me:

• Clinical trials found vaccines were nearly 100% effective in preventing hospitalization and death from COVID-19.
• Moreover, millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history. This safe, effective vaccine, tailored for younger ages, can now help us protect our children ages 5 and older from COVID.
• If you are not vaccinated—no matter your age—you are at risk of getting sick, and yes, even dying. Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 1,000 children have died from COVID.

Data and science don’t lie. I feel more informed and confident about this vaccine than I ever have about any other vaccine I have given my children.

So it is of no surprise that when the COVID vaccine became available for children ages 5-11, I was one of the first in my city to schedule my two young children. They have been fully vaccinated for several weeks.

I didn’t realize the weight of fear I was carrying, sending them to school each day without the protection of a vaccine. But I now send them to school with a peace of mind I didn’t have at the start of the school year. They are safer now because they are vaccinated, and I am so grateful.

We can do this, friends. We can proactively offer our children the protection they need and deserve. Find vaccines near you at vaccines.gov or text your ZIP code to 438829 for vaccines near you. Also, the vaccines are free, regardless of insurance status.

If you have questions, reach out to your family’s doctor or pediatrician. They can help you make an informed decision.

Please note: I will not tolerate anti-science comments or negative comments about my parenting choices on this post.