Impact of COVID-19 in Children and Teens

Just like adults, children and teens can:

• Get very sick from COVID-19
• Have both short- and long-term health problems
• Spread COVID-19 to others, including at home and school

There is no way to tell in advance how children or teens will be affected by COVID-19. However, those with underlying medical conditions or who have a weakened immune system are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19. Some examples of conditions that can make children more likely to get severe COVID-19 include: asthma or chronic lung disease, diabetes, obesity, and sickle cell disease. 

Those without underlying medical conditions can also experience severe illness. In fact, almost half of children younger than 18 years old hospitalized with COVID-19 have no underlying conditions.

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)

Children and teens who get COVID-19 can develop serious complications like multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). MIS-C is a condition where different body parts become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, thousands of cases of MIS-C have been reported. Children ages 5 through 11 years are most frequently affected by MIS-C, with almost half of all reported cases occurring in children in this age group. In addition, Hispanic or Latino and non-Hispanic Black children are disproportionately affected by MIS-C. 

Learn more about MIS-C.

Ongoing Health Problems after COVID-19

After getting COVID-19, children and teens can also experience a wide range of new, returning, or ongoing health problems. These include physical and mental health complications that may occur four or more weeks after initial infection. These complications can appear after mild or severe COVID-19, or after MIS-C.

Learn more about post-COVID conditions.

COVID-19 Vaccines for Infants, Children, and Teens

COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for everyone 6 months and older. 

Emerging evidence indicates that people can get added protection by getting vaccinated after having been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. So even if a child has had COVID-19, they should still get vaccinated.

Getting eligible children and teens vaccinated against COVID-19 can help keep them:

• From getting really sick if they do get COVID-19
• In school or daycare
• Safely participating in sports, playdates, and other group activities

Everyone is protected best from severe COVID-19 illness when they stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. You are up to date when you have received the most recent COVID-19 vaccine recommended for you. Learn more about staying up to date.

COVID-19 vaccines are safe. Before recommending COVID-19 vaccination, scientists conducted clinical trials with thousands of children and teens to make sure the vaccine is safe and effective. COVID-19 vaccines are being monitored with the most comprehensive and intense vaccine safety monitoring program in U.S. history. Learn more about vaccine safety.

What Parents and Caregivers Can Do 

As we continue to learn more about how COVID-19 affects children, it is important to not let our guards down.

Families can continue to take layered preventions steps to avoid getting and spreading COVID-19. 

• Ensure everyone in your household is up to date on COVID-19 vaccines. 
• Follow the guidance for staying home when you are sick with symptoms of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses, and take other steps to prevent spreading viruses
• Practice good respiratory and hand hygiene:
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with the inside of your elbow or a tissue.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces every day.

Learn more Healthy Habits to Help Protect Against Respiratory Viruses.

Social, Emotional, and Mental Health

Helping our children have healthy bodies and minds is more important than ever. Parents can support their children’s physical and emotional well-being by giving them opportunities to:

• Handle stress well through physical activity and healthy thinking.
• Relate to others by encouraging social interactions and emotional awareness.
• Make healthy choices about how they eat and play.

Additional Resources

More Resources

Slow the Spread of COVID-19

Healthy Habits to Help Protect Against Respiratory Viruses.

Guidance for Parents of School-aged Children

CDC

COVID-19

Schools and Childcare Programs

COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant or Breastfeeding

VDH

COVID-19 Information