COVID-19 Vaccines at After Hour Pediatrics
- We stock Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for ages 6 months and up
- Schedule online with myturn.ca.gov. We have openings Monday to Thursday 10am to 1:30pm.
The Pfizer vaccine is a mRNA vaccine. It’s offered to patients 6 months and older. It is very effective at preventing symptomatic Covid-19 infection two weeks after the last dose and over 95% effective at preventing hospitalizations and deaths. Its side effects can be severe enough to require staying home the following day, especially after the second dose. Younger patients have more side effects than older patients. Very rarely it can cause a life-threatening illness (less than 1-3 in a million doses) such as anaphylaxis. Myocarditis and pericarditis following the vaccine, particularly the second dose, may rarely occur in young men and teen boys (estimates about 1 in 5,000 to 1 in 20,000 doses). Despite this possible severe condition, the CDC and ACIP continue to recommend vaccinating children 5 and above, and young men.
We do not stock the Moderna vaccine at this time.
Johnson & Johnson Janssen vaccine
We do not stock the J&J vaccine at this time.
Common Questions
Q: Should my child get the vaccine?
Yes! While severe symptoms from Covid-19 are rare in children and young adults, they do exist. We continue to discover some of the long term, often undetected problems from having even asymptomatic Covid-19 infections. One well known is Multi-system Inflammatory Syndrome in Children.
Researchers from Italy found that up to 50% of children with Covid-19 have one or more symptoms that last more than 4 months.
About 400 children in the US have died from Covid-19 during the pandemic, twice as many as die during a normal Influenza season. Due to all the precautions, only 1 child has died from Influenza during the Covid-19 pandemic, rather than the normal 100 to 200. As more children return to school and participate in regular activities, the cases and deaths from Covid-19 would be expected to increase in this age group.
Q: Which vaccine should I get?
Our Medical Director Dr. Connie Kniveton agrees with experts that you should get whatever vaccine is available. If you can choose, she suggests that those who are at higher risk of suffering severe complications, should get either the Moderna (age 18+) or Pfizer vaccine which have proven extremely effective. For young men and teen boys concerned about the myocarditis risk, she suggests the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
For those who are afraid of shots, can’t afford to miss a day of work or school from side effects, or who have a hard time returning to an appointment, she suggests the J & J Janssen “One and Done”. It’s an easy one dose, has minimal side effects and protects against severe Covid and death. Since there is a slight risk of a severe bleeding issue in women, she favors Pfizer or Moderna for women.
Yes, you should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19 when you finished your isolation and met the criteria. That’s because experts do not yet know how long you are protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. Even if you have already recovered from COVID-19, it is possible—although rare—that you could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 again. Learn more about why getting vaccinated is a safer way to build protection than getting infected.
If you were treated for COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure what treatments you received or if you have more questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Experts are still learning more about how long vaccines protect against COVID-19 in real-world conditions. CDC will keep the public informed as new evidence becomes available.
Q: Can I get vaccinated against COVID-19 if I am currently sick with COVID-19?
No. People with COVID-19 who have symptoms should wait to be vaccinated until they have recovered from their illness and have met the criteria for discontinuing isolation; those without symptoms should also wait until they meet the criteria before getting vaccinated. This guidance also applies to people who get COVID-19 before getting their second dose of vaccine.
Vaccine Safety & Side effects
Most of us know of someone in our family or community who died from Covid-19. Many of us lost family members and friends, both in the US and abroad. The statistics are very clear:
Covid-19 deaths in US: over 700,000 deaths with over 45 million cases.
While children with Covid often have mild symptoms and rarely die, they can die and many have months of symptoms after getting Covid-19.
Common Questions
Yes! All our doctors got their Covid vaccine as soon as they became available for healthcare workers. And we worked hard to get our elderly loved ones vaccinated quickly, too. There are serious and even deadly side effects, but they are rare. The risk of having severe complications from Covid-19 are much higher than getting a severe side effect from the vaccines. Recent evidence shows there is a small risk of Myocarditis and Pericarditis, particularly in young men and teen boys, especially after the second Pfizer dose. For this reason, AHP suggests no strenuous exercise the week after getting the Pfizer vaccine.
Q: What are the most common side effects after getting a COVID-19 vaccine?
After getting vaccinated, you may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. The most common side effects are pain and swelling in the arm where you received the shot. In addition, you may have fever, chills, tiredness, and headache. These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Learn more about what to expect after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Like all medication and vaccine, there is always a small chance of having a severe reaction. If you or your child have chest pain, trouble breathing or heart palpitations or rapid heart beat, please call our clinic or your regular doctor.
Q: Should I get the vaccine if I’m pregnant?
Yes. There is currently no evidence that antibodies formed from COVID-19 vaccination cause problems with pregnancy, including the development of the placenta. In fact, pregnant women who get vaccinated pass on the protective antibodies to their babies.
People who are trying to become pregnant now or who plan to try in the future may receive the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available to them. There is no evidence that fertility problems are a side effect of any vaccine, including COVID-19 vaccines. There is no routine recommendation for taking a pregnancy test before you get a COVID-19 vaccine.
If you have questions about getting vaccinated, talking with a healthcare provider may might help you make an informed decision. Learn more at vaccination considerations for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
What does the AAP say about the vaccine?
The AAP endorses the vaccine for all ages approved.
Common Questions
Currently we stock Pfizer vaccine for ages 5 years and older.
The COVID-19 vaccine is free. After Hour Pediatrics will bill your insurance for the administration and clinic fees. There should be no cost to you. Much of our billing is done automatically. If you receive an automatic bill from us, please call your insurance provider or the AHP Billing Team and they will be happy to help you.
Q: How do I schedule an appointment?
Please schedule at MyTurn. Appointments are not online until 3 days before the scheduled Vaccine Clinic.
Q: Do you have a waiting list?
Please send us an email if you want a call/text or email if we have extra doses after our scheduled vaccine clinics.
We are a family-friendly children’s urgent care and minor emergency center in downtown San Mateo
For over 20 years, we have provided pediatric urgent medical care to babies, children and young adults from San Mateo, Burlingame, Millbrae, San Bruno, San Carlos, Belmont, Redwood City, and Foster City. The clinic is staffed by Board Certified pediatricians, is easy to find, and has parking right outside the door.
Our clinic is open for Urgent Care after hours when your child’s doctor is unavailable. We recommend you make an appointment so we can prepare for your arrival, please fill out all the forms and upload your insurance information. We have a limited number of walk-in spots each night.