Coronavirus (COVID-19)
In the Delaware Valley: Masking is now optional for patients and families in inpatient and outpatient clinical settings.
Those who personally wish to continue wearing a mask are welcome to do so. Masks will continue to be provided.
Learn more on the Visitor Restrictions tab.
We know how important it is for kids to stay on track with well-child visits and treatment for illnesses, injuries and chronic conditions. We’re ready to safely provide the care your child needs, either in our offices or through a telehealth visit.
Learn more about what to expect at your child’s next visit.
If your child is showing symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, loss of taste or smell), call your Nemours provider or have a video visit on the Nemours app for care and testing instructions.
Visit our Testing page for more information and a list of community testing resources.
MIS-C: A reason to call your pediatrician immediately. Learn More
Primary Care | Urgent Care | Specialty Care
Nemours is scheduling in-person appointments for primary care and specialty care. For in-person care without an appointment in Central Florida, visit a Nemours Children's urgent care location. In Pennsylvania, we encourage patients to visit our preferred urgent care provider, PM Pediatrics
Primary Care | Urgent Care | Specialty Care
Our video visit options include scheduled primary care and specialty care appointments, as well as no-appointment, urgent care visits. Create a Nemours app account to get started.
Elective and emergency surgeries are being performed as scheduled. Talk to your child’s Nemours provider if you have questions about presurgery requirements and the steps we are taking to keep your child safe.
At Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware in Wilmington, Del. and Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida in Orlando, we’re continuing to provide exceptional inpatient care. We’ve taken the necessary steps to ensure our hospitals are safe, clean and welcoming.
If your child has a serious illness or injury, we have taken necessary steps to ensure that they can be seen safely in our emergency room.
Please Note: If your child has cold or flu symptoms, or they have been exposed to COVID-19, call your child’s primary care doctor first for care instructions. Do not come to the ER for COVID-19 testing. Wait times are long, and kids there might have very contagious illnesses.
Help us study the impact of COVID-19 on children’s health.
We have a wealth of online resources to help you and your child learn about COVID-19 and how to stay safe during the pandemic at KidsHealth® from Nemours®. Check out our articles and videos for parents, kids and teens . We’re adding new information about COVID-19 and other health topics all the time, so check back often.
Nemours leaders have been asked to provide expertise and advice throughout the pandemic.
See what they're sharing.
If you are experiencing financial hardship or you’ve lost health insurance coverage due to COVID-19, we can help you. Because it’s so important to keep your child on track with routine care and immunizations, we offer financial assistance and other resources to lend a hand.
Get tips (PDF) on helping your child get used to wearing a mask and discover two stories about masking written for kids.
We created the Nemours app to help you easily manage your child’s health care. It also lets you communicate with your care team, track appointments and symptoms, access your child’s medical records, and launch video health visits on demand.
Learn MoreDue to supply and staffing limitations, Nemours Children’s does NOT offer community testing or testing for patients without symptoms at any of our locations.
If your child needs a COVID-19 test for school, travel, or other activities, please visit a community testing site. DO NOT come to the Nemours Children’s Hospital emergency room unless your child is having a true medical emergency.
If your child is exposed to COVID-19 or begins showing symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, loss of taste or smell), call your Nemours provider or have a video visit on the Nemours app for care and testing instructions.
Experts from Nemours® KidsHealth® explain the different types of COVID-19 tests to help you determine which one might be right for your child.
We created the Nemours app to help you easily manage your child’s asthma, as well manage other aspects of your child’s health care. The app is interactive, so it quickly assesses how your child’s asthma is doing, and tells you what steps you should take. It also lets you communicate with your care team, track appointments and symptoms, access your child’s medical records, and launch video doctor visits on demand.
Learn MoreWe are providing the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to all Nemours Children's Health patients under 5 years old and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to patients ages 5-21. Self-scheduling is available in the Nemours app or you can call your Nemours primary care provider for an appointment.
NOTE: For children under 5, we cannot guarantee which vaccine, Pfizer or Moderna, will be available at a given clinic or location.
In addition, the Delaware Division of Public Health is hosting Pfizer vaccine walk-in hours at five public clinics. Learn More
All Florida residents age 6 months and older are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. We encourage parents to schedule your child's COVID-19 vaccination at any Florida community clinic or retail site offering the vaccine. All individuals under the age of 18 receiving a vaccine must be accompanied by a guardian and complete a consent form.
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are currently authorized for children ages 6 months and up. Both vaccines have been shown to be safe for those age groups.
We are currently offering the vaccine to patients age 5 and older in the Delaware Valley. We encourage Florida families to schedule your eligible child's COVID-19 vaccination at any Florida community clinic or retail site offering the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine.
Currently, we are vaccinating only children ages 6 months and up.
Yes. It is safe to get a COVID-19 vaccine along with any other routine vaccine, including the flu vaccine. All kids 6 months of age and older should get the flu vaccine as soon as it is available in their communities. All kids ages 5 years and older should get a COVID-19 vaccine. Getting both vaccines now can mean fewer trips to the doctor and feeling any vaccine-related side effects only once.
The experts have answered: the COVID-19 vaccine dose is based ONLY on a person’s age and NOT on their weight or height. The vaccine dosing is based upon the child’s age and is due to differences in immune response seen in younger children. Even with a lower dose, the vaccine was shown to produce a strong immune response in young children similar to that seen in older adolescents who received the higher dose. The lower does is also less likely to cause side effects for your child.
Yes, the vaccine is recommended for people who have had COVID-19 because natural immunity does not last long and your child can get COVID-19 again, putting themselves and others at risk.
Yes, you should still follow guidance from the CDC and local public health authorities and continue to wear a mask, socially distance and follow safety precautions when community transmission risk is elevated in your area. There are a few reasons for this:
People can still get COVID-19 after vaccination. However, these infections are typically mild.
Yes, even young and healthy people should get the vaccine to avoid serious illness and health problems.
There is currently no evidence that the vaccine causes any problems with fertility (being able to have children) in women or men, but there is evidence that COVID-19 illness can impact fertility. The CDC, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians have all stated that the vaccines should not be avoided by people who are seeking pregnancy both now, as well as in the future.
The COVID-19 vaccine does not cause dangerous or permanent menstrual cycle changes.
Available evidence suggests the COVID-19 vaccine is safe for most pregnant and breastfeeding women and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists strongly recommends the vaccine for pregnant and breastfeeding individuals. Please consult with your personal physician to determine if the vaccine is safe for you.
Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are known as messenger RNA, or mRNA, vaccines. Unlike traditional vaccines that contain either weakened viruses or purified signature proteins of the virus, an mRNA vaccine contains a snippet of genetic instruction that directs your cells to make harmless copies of the viral protein in your body. These proteins then act like a “Wanted” poster, warning your immune system, “Hey, if you see something that looks just like this, it’s a big threat, so shut it down.” Your immune system responds by producing antibodies that can neutralize the real virus if you are ever infected.
The vaccine is given by injecting it into a muscle, usually in an arm or thigh.
For the Pfizer vaccine primary series in children 5 years and older, two doses are required, given 21 days apart. For children 6 months to 4 years three doses are required with the first two doses given 21 days apart and at least 2 months recommended between doses 2 and 3. For the Moderna vaccine 2 doses are required 28 days apart for children of all ages.
Most people report no or mild side effects from dose 1 and more noticeable side effects after dose 2. Of those who experienced side effects, the most common include fatigue, headache, soreness at the site of injection or muscle/joint aches. Less than 2% of participants experienced a fever. Most people who experienced side effects said they went away after 48 hours.
If your child experiences a severe allergic reaction such as anaphylaxis after receiving the vaccine you should seek medical care immediately or call 911. A severe allergic reaction can cause a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat or a generalized rash or hives. These types of reactions are rare.
No. Having uncontrolled, widespread community spread of COVID-19 would put your family and the entire community at serious risk. The health care system would be overwhelmed to the point that it could not take care of people with COVID-19 or those with any other health needs. Importantly, the risk of getting COVID-19 far outweighs any risk of the vaccine. Unfortunately, “natural immunity” does not last long; there are many cases of people who have already had COVID-19 twice. The best way to stop the pandemic is to follow safety guidelines and get the vaccine when it is your turn.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommend COVID-19 booster shots for everyone age 5 and older when five months have passed since they first received the COVID-19 vaccine. For most kids and teens that means they should get a booster shot five months after their second vaccine dose.
Some people with weak immune systems needed three primary doses when they first received the vaccine. For them, a booster shot is recommended when three months have passed since they received the primary three-shot series (three months after their third vaccine dose).
Kids ages 6 months through 5 years are eligible if they received:
Older kids who are vaccinated can get a bivalent booster shot at least two months after being fully vaccinated or after having received an original booster (which only protected against one strain of the virus that causes COVID-19).
Yes, a second booster shot is recommended for patients 12 and over with weak immune systems four months after the first booster. These would be the same kids who received a three-shot primary series, so this would be a fifth shot for them.
Parents take note: The CDC also says that people 50 years and older can get a second booster shot
If your child has a medical condition that required three COVID-19 shots and more than four months have passed since their first booster shot, please call to schedule a second booster shot. If you aren't sure if your child qualifies, please call their pediatrician to find out. If you are over 50 years old, please schedule your second booster shot with your doctor or pharmacy.
Help protect your family from COVID-19. Everyone who can get a COVID-19 vaccine should do so. The vaccines are safe and effective. Learn more from our experts at Nemours® KidsHealth®.
Learn more about COVID-19 and the vacccine.
Allergy Concerns
If your child is avoiding COVID-19 vaccination due to a reaction to a medication or vaccine in the past, our Allergy Team can help. Please discuss a referral with your child's primary care provider.
Delaware Valley: Masking is optional for patients and families.
Orlando, Jacksonville and Pensacola: Masking is optional for patients and families.
Those who personally wish to continue wearing a mask are welcome to do so. Mask will continue to be provided.
NOTE: The Nemours Children's Visitor Policy applies only at our locations. Policies at our affiliated hospitals may be different.
At Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware
At Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida:
Please note that these guidelines are subject to change. Nemours Children’s continues to monitor the situation daily. We appreciate your help in protecting our patients, visitors and associates.
Get tips (PDF) on helping your child get used to wearing a mask and discover two stories about masking written for kids.
The resources you need to protect your family from COVID-19 — all in one place.
Learn about the virus, ways to minimize the spread and how to protect yourself, your children and your community.
We have a wealth of online resources to help you and your child learn about COVID-19 and how to stay safe during the pandemic at KidsHealth® from Nemours® . Check out our articles and videos for parents, kids and teens . We’re adding new information about COVID-19 and other health topics all the time, so check back often.
Nemours leaders have been asked to provide expertise and advice throughout the pandemic.
See what they're sharing.
Nemour has partnered with ChristianaCare's Institute for Research on Equity and Community Health and the University of Delaware's Partnership for Healthy Communities to create educational materials for youth and families to learn about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Featuring local Delaware youth, families and health care providers of diverse backgrounds, these resources provide insight to help make an educated decision about the vaccine.
Have a Nemours Ambassador come talk to families about the COVID-19 vaccine at your vaccine clinic or event.
Reach out to External Affairs at communityengagement@nemours.org to schedule a provider for your next event.
Download Our Flyer (PDF)How do we feel now that we’re vaccinated?
How can I trust that the vaccine is safe?
Families Talk: Why we got the COVID-19 vaccine
Families Talk: How do we feel now that we got the COVID-19 vaccine?
Families Talk: What was getting the COVID-19 vaccine like?
Families Talk: How do we talk to friends and family who are unsure about the COVID-19 vaccine?
Families Talk: How has the pandemic affected our family?
Teens Ask: How can I trust that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe?
Teens Talk: Why I got the COVID-19 vaccine?
Teens Ask: Do I need the COVID-19 vaccine if I’m young and healthy?
Teens Ask: How do I talk to friends and family who are unsure about the COVID-19 vaccine?
Teens Ask: What other things can I do to stay safe during the pandemic?
Teens Talk: How has the pandemic affected teens?
Teens Ask: Do I really need a booster?
Get tips (PDF) on helping your child get used to wearing a mask and discover two stories about masking written for kids.
Check out these helpful resources for more on COVID-19, and how to keep you and your family safe during this time.
COVID-19 FAQ
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