The Ministry of Health’s Post Vaccine Symptom Check survey results show that most tamariki aged 5 to 11 did not experience a reaction after receiving the child Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
The majority of tamariki who experienced a reaction after receiving the vaccine only experienced a minor reaction. National Immunisation Programme Group Manager Post Event, Dr Tim Hanlon, says that based on the survey results from nearly 18,000 parents and caregivers across Aotearoa New Zealand, no new safety concerns have been identified for the child Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and the reactions are similar to those seen in the clinical trial. “Overall, just 21% of caregivers reported that their child experienced a reaction after their vaccination.
The most commonly reported reactions were tiredness, a reaction at the injection site, headaches and body pain. These are all known and expected side effects of the vaccine. “For tamariki who missed school or other daily activities, the majority were reported to have missed one day or less after their vaccination.
Less than 1% of tamariki visited a doctor after vaccination,” says Dr Hanlon. The survey did not ask whether the missed activities or visit to a doctor were due to a vaccination reaction.