Key Messages

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These three key messages are the main points to make with families:

• When kids stay healthy, that means they can focus on growing, learning, and thriving. We all know how fast kids grow! When we keep kids’ immunizations up-to-date, we keep them from missing out on all the things they love to do and need to do to stay on track developmentally.
• Just like we make sure children start to learn their ABCs early on so they can read when they are ready, we need to make sure that children’s immune systems start to get familiar with this new virus.
• The vaccine helps your child’s immune system develop basic literacy, so it’s able to quickly read the situation if your child comes into contact with the COVID-19 virus. With that early literacy, your child’s immune system is equipped to respond and resist right away.

These three secondary messages can be helpful to address specific concerns. (Don’t offer them proactively. Use them only to respond to questions or comments from families.)

• (Concern: Previous case) I believe it’s a good idea to have your child immunized even if they have already had a case of COVID-19. It’s a little like keeping anti-virus software on a computer up to date. Just because you handled a virus previously doesn’t mean you can’t get it again. Vaccinations help your child’s immune system stay up to date, so that they keep their focus on growing, learning, and thriving.
  
• (Concern: mild side effects) I believe it’s a good idea to have your child immunized even though they may have a sore arm or feel a little tired or unwell the next day. Those are signs that your child’s immune system is learning to read and recognize this new virus. They will soon be up and ready to get back to all the things kids love and need to do as they grow and learn.
  
• (Concern: Time/inconvenience) My advice is to make it a priority to have your child immunized against COVID-19. It’s a little like keeping anti-virus software on a computer up to date. It only takes a few minutes to install the software when things are running well. But once a virus gets into a system, it takes a lot more time to deal with the problem. Plus, any time anyone gets the virus, there’s a risk it can spread throughout the whole network. I’m happy to help you check this one off the list!

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