The Claim in Context 

To stoke fear about vaccine safety, anti-vaccine activists and federal officials have falsely claimed that mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines cause long-term health issues. These misleading claims distort research, often falsely suggesting that important data have been ignored, hidden or purposely covered up. Some also point to the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines as a reason to question their safety.  

Real world studies and clinical trials show that COVID-19 vaccines significantly lower children’s risk of severe illness and hospitalization from COVID-19. They have been extensively evaluated and are continuously monitored through vaccine safety surveillance systems. 

Key Facts

  • COVID-19 continues to cause hospitalization and death in children. Infants and children under 2 years are at high risk for severe disease, whether or not underlying conditions are present.
  • COVID-19 vaccines prevent emergency department and urgent care visits, hospitalization and critical illness in children. 
  • Rarely, cases of swelling around or in the heart (pericarditis and myocarditis) have been reported after COVID-19 vaccination. But getting sick from COVID carries a much higher risk of these conditions. The risk of myocarditis is six times higher after a COVID infection than it is after vaccination. 
    • Most post-vaccination cases of myocarditis or pericarditis have been observed in adolescent and young adult men. 
    • This risk has not been detected in children under age 5. 
    • 38 cases of myocarditis per million doses were documented after receiving the second booster shot of the vaccine in 2021-2022. During this time, the risk of getting myocarditis from COVID-19 infection was higher.
    • The number of cases has dropped over time, with two cases per million doses documented in 2024-2025, which is the rate that would be expected to occur in this age group without vaccines. 
    • Most people recover from vaccine-associated myocarditis within three months. 
  • Although mRNA vaccines use a type of genetic material to induce an immune response, they are not a form of gene therapy. mRNA vaccines cannot alter a person’s DNA.
  • mRNA vaccine components do not stay in the body for an extended period, nor have they been shown to cause any chronic or significant health issues. 
  • There is no credible evidence showing COVID-19 vaccines cause autoimmune diseases or cancer. In fact, a new study indicates COVID-19 vaccination may prolong survival of cancer patients receiving immunotherapy. 
  • Long COVID or post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) refers to a chronic condition caused by SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) infection. Long COVID is not a COVID-19 vaccine-related injury or syndrome. 
    • Long COVID can affect children, adolescents, and adults, and can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including fatigue, headaches, sleep difficulties, exercise intolerance and cognitive dysfunction. 
    • Children have also developed a rare, serious inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) following SARS-CoV-2 infection that causes fever and organ dysfunction and damage. COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to reduce children’s risk of developing MIS-C and long COVID. 

Evidence Snapshot

While the COVID-19 emergency is over, the virus is still around. Most children have mild symptoms, but severe cases and complications are still possible. Children under two and children of any age with certain underlying health conditions continue to have a higher chance of developing severe disease. In fact, COVID-19 hospitalization rates in these groups remain in line with hospitalization rates for many of the other diseases for which we vaccinate. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the COVID-19 vaccine for all kids age 6 months through 23 months. In 2025, AAP moved to a risk-based recommendation for children two or older: Children and teens with health conditions that would make a case of COVID risky should receive the vaccine. AAP also recommends that parents who wish to vaccinate their child against COVID should be able to do so without barriers or costs. 

Why It Matters

Medical advances and innovations naturally spark questions and curiosity. Experts and public officials should engage with questions and concerns honestly. Promoting misleading claims about mRNA and COVID-19 vaccines undermines public trust, creates unnecessary fear and ignores the many benefits of vaccines. Stoking fear of mRNA can reduce confidence in COVID-19 vaccines and make people skeptical of future mRNA vaccines or other medical interventions that may one day use this technology to treat cancer or other serious conditions. Unfounded, unscientific mischaracterizations of mRNA vaccines are already having a chilling effect on vaccine research and development in the U.S. 


Experts Say:

“The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends annual COVID-19 vaccination for young children and children with certain underlying medical conditions because these groups are at high risk of going to the hospital with severe symptoms. AAP also recommends that any family who wants their child vaccinated against COVID-19 should be able to easily access the vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine doesn’t prevent every infection, but it prepares children’s immune systems to respond effectively and keep symptoms mild. If you’ve heard things about the COVID-19 vaccine that concern you, talk with your pediatrician,”


— Roberta DeBiasi, MD, MS, FAAP, AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases

Resources for Further Information

Covid-19

Source: AAP’s HealthyChildren.org

AAP Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule

Source: AAP

COVID-19 Vaccine References

Source: AAP

Last Updated

04/09/2026

Source

American Academy of Pediatrics