COVID may feel over, but the vaccine questions haven’t gone away. Get the facts every parent deserves to know about mRNA shots and their safety for kids.

Smart moms ask questions about mRNA

Asking questions about mRNA vaccines isn’t radical — it’s responsible.

COVID may feel like it’s behind us, but many parents are only now starting to ask the mRNA questions they never got answers to.

Maybe you were in the doctor’s office, trying to speak up — but it felt rushed, uncomfortable, or like there wasn’t room to ask “what if?” Maybe your questions were brushed aside, or you were told, “It’s safe — don’t worry.”

This page is here for parents who still have questions — or who wish they’d had the chance to ask them sooner. Below are the key questions every smart mom (and dad) should be asking before trusting mRNA shots for kids or during pregnancy. Have you had any of these questions? What about friends and family? Chances are you aren’t alone.

As the questions and answers in this post will show, the data on mRNA injections speaks volumes — and these are just a few of the facts that parents deserve to know:

Without real answers, there can be no real informed consent. And when so much was left unsaid, how could any parent have made a fully informed choice?

mRNA Vaccine Safety for Children

mRNA Vaccines During Pregnancy

General Questions About mRNA Vaccines

Have a question that’s not yet on our list? Ask us! Use the form below to suggest a topic you’d like our medical experts to consider for inclusion in our FAQ resource center.

Please note: Questions will not receive individual replies. This form does not provide medical advice or treatment.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Opt In

mRNA Vaccine Safety for Children

Q: Is COVID a serious risk for healthy children?

A: Healthy children face virtually no risk from COVID-19.

  • A Johns Hopkins study of 48,000 children found zero deaths in kids without preexisting conditions.
  • Most already have natural immunity — which lasts longer than vaccine protection.
  • Pregnant women were also at low risk and were often excluded from safety studies altogether.

References:

  • Johns Hopkins University analysis led by Dr. Marty Makary, who now heads the FDA, that monitored 48,000 children diagnosed with COVID-19. The study showed a zero mortality rate in kids under 18 without comorbidities.
  • HHS Secretary RFK Jr. has said “Kids face almost no risk from COVID-19,” noting that only children with severe comorbidities might have minimal vulnerability. He questions the rationale of vaccinating millions of healthy children with a medical intervention linked to serious adverse effects.
  • References from IMA’s Childhood Immunization Guide:
Parents guide to immunizations

Q: Which is riskier for children: Long COVID or the COVID vaccine?

A: Serious risks from Long COVID in healthy children are extremely rare.

  • But vaccine side effects like myocarditis and heart damage have been documented at far higher rates, especially in boys.
  • Other reported issues include menstrual changes and reproductive concerns in teen girls and young women.

References:

  • The OpenSAFELY study (over 1 million children/adolescents) found myocarditis occurred only in vaccinated groups, not in those infected with COVID-19.
  • Studies from Hong Kong, Switzerland, and Thailand found 2.3% to 3% of vaccinated adolescents had signs of heart inflammation (troponin elevation), many without obvious symptoms.
  • Nordic cohort of 23 million people showed the lowest rate of myocarditis in unvaccinated youth, with rates increasing with each additional vaccine dose.
  • COVID vaccine myocarditis may be more severe than previously reported, with risks of heart scarring and long-term damage. Cardiovascular Research & Innovation (2025)

Q: If children get the COVID vaccine, will it actually protect them?

A: COVID vaccines do not stop infection or transmission.

  • In fact, after a few months, vaccinated children may be more likely to catch COVID again than unvaccinated ones.
  • Studies show little or no protection for kids. Plus, the newest boosters weren’t even tested on children before being recommended.

References:

  • COVID-19 vaccines do not prevent transmission: In 2021, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky publicly acknowledged that the vaccines “can’t prevent transmission”, especially after new variants emerged.
  • According to their own data, Pfizer and Moderna’s pediatric trials measured antibody levels, not real-world illness prevention. No reduction in hospitalization or severe outcomes was demonstrated — and the trials weren’t even set up to detect it.
  • The newest COVID booster shots were authorized based on data from 10 mice, not actual human children.

Q: Is the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine safe for children?

A: Thousands of children have experienced serious side effects from COVID shots, including heart inflammation, seizures, and neurological symptoms.

  • Myocarditis rates have increased by as much as 1,000% among vaccinated teenaged boys.
  • No other vaccine has ever been linked to this many injuries in such a short time.

References:

  • Heart inflammation (myocarditis) is significantly more common in young males after mRNA vaccination, especially after dose two, as noted by the CDC in 2021.
  • Public health officials have insisted the benefits outweighed the risks, despite a reported increase of over 1,000% in myocarditis among vaccinated teenage boys compared to historical baseline rates.
  • VAERS reports show more adverse events in children from COVID vaccines in one year than from all other vaccines combined over the last 30 years.
Adverse vaccine events in children

Q: Are teens and young adults at higher risk of serious side effects with the mRNA COVID injections?

A: Yes, especially young men. Risk of heart inflammation is far higher after the second dose.

  • Studies show significant increases in strokes, arrhythmias, and multi-organ inflammation.
  • 1 in 50 adolescent boys may experience subclinical heart damage.
  • Girls report menstrual changes and signs of reproductive stress.

References:

  • Milhoan et al. (2025) – Vaccine-Induced Myocarditis Severity: This study compared myocarditis cases following SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination. The findings indicated that vaccine-induced myocarditis is more common and more severe than myocarditis resulting from infection.
  • Hulscher et al. (2023) – Autopsy Findings Post-Vaccination: In a systematic review of 325 autopsy cases, the study found that 73.9% of deaths were causally linked to COVID-19 vaccination. The leading causes of death included sudden cardiac events, thromboembolic complications, myocarditis, and immune-mediated conditions such as vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT)
  • Raheleh et al. (2024) – Cardiovascular Events Post-Vaccination: This study examined the incidence of cardiovascular events following COVID-19 vaccination and found:
    • A 286% increase in heart attacks after the second dose.
    • A 240% increase in strokes after the first dose.
    • A 244% increase in coronary artery disease after the second dose.
    • A 199% increase in cardiac arrhythmia after the first dose.

Q: Did you know most European countries no longer recommend COVID shots for healthy kids?

A: Countries like Sweden, Germany, and Denmark reviewed the data — and decided the risks outweigh the benefits.

References:

  • In September 2022, Sweden’s Public Health Agency announced it would no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged 12 to 17, citing the “very low risk” for this group.
  • As of July 2022, Denmark ceased offering COVID-19 vaccinations to individuals under 18, except for those at particularly high risk. The Danish Health Authority noted that children and adolescents rarely become severely ill from COVID-19.
  • In November 2022, Finland’s Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) updated its recommendations, stating that COVID-19 vaccinations are no longer recommended for healthy children aged 5 to 11 due to their very low risk of severe disease. Finland even restricted healthy kids from taking the injections in their initial roll-out.
  • Several more European countries including France, Germany, and the UK have restricted or banned children from the COVID-19 mRNA shots.
list of mRNA restrictions by country - chart 1
list of mRNA restrictions by country - chart 2

mRNA Vaccines During Pregnancy

Q: Are COVID mRNA vaccines safe for pregnancy?

A: No. Several important safety signals have been documented.

  • Pfizer’s post-market analysis reported an 81% miscarriage rate in tracked cases.
  • Stillbirth and neonatal death rates were significantly higher than expected.
  • Reports showed increased rates of birth defects, growth restrictions, and early developmental delays.

References:

  • A study published in Human Reproduction found that the global relative risk of miscarriage following COVID-19 vaccination was significantly higher compared to influenza vaccination.
  • An analysis of Pfizer’s post-marketing data indicated a miscarriage rate of 81% among a subset of tracked cases. The same Pfizer report noted a five-fold increase in stillbirths and an eight-fold increase in neonatal deaths among vaccinated individuals.
  • Data from The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) shows that miscarriage rates skyrocketed during the peak COVID “vaccination” periods.
  • As of May 2025, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) still recommends all people above the age of 6 months to get the COVID injection.

Q: Why are pregnant moms warned about eating sushi, but not about what’s in the COVID shot?

A: Maternity doctors typically advocate for limited interventions during pregnancy. The COVID vaccines changed that.

  • Pregnant moms are told to avoid sushi, deli meat, and even cat litter — all to protect their baby.
  • But when it came to the COVID shot — a brand-new, experimental injection — there was usually no warning at all.

References:

  • Pregnant women are commonly advised to avoid certain foods and exposures — such as raw fish (sushi), unpasteurized cheeses, deli meats, and cat litter — due to potential risks to the fetus, including infections like listeriosis and toxoplasmosis.
  • Vaccines were recommended even though initial clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines did not include pregnant individuals, leading to limited data on safety during pregnancy at the time of emergency use authorization .

General Questions About mRNA Vaccines

Q: Do pediatricians get compensated for giving the COVID-19 vaccine?

A: Yes. In the U.S., pediatricians receive payments for every COVID shot they administer. They even get paid for COVID vaccine counseling.

References:

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield pays doctors bonuses based on the number of patients vaccinated and other metrics.
  • Under a new policy in 2021, the cost of COVID-19 counseling visits for children who have Medicaid would be covered by 100% federal funding in America.
  • Outside the U.S., in Ontario, Canada, physicians can bill specific fee codes for each hour spent providing COVID-19 vaccination services with rates such as $170 per hour for regular hours and $220 per hour for after-hours or weekends.

Q: Did you know vaccine makers can’t be sued if their products cause harm?

A: Under U.S. law, COVID vaccine manufacturers are shielded from liability — no matter what happens.

  • If a child is injured, parents can’t take the company to court.
  • Instead, there’s a secretive government payout system most families never even hear about.

References:

  • Legal Immunity Under the PREP Act: The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act grants COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers immunity from lawsuits related to vaccine injuries, unless there is evidence of willful misconduct.
  • Injured individuals must seek compensation through the CICP, a program that is less transparent and offers limited compensation compared to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP).
  • The CICP has been criticized for its lack of transparency and limited compensation. For instance, as of May 1, 2025, only 34 COVID-19 vaccine injury claims had been compensated, despite thousands of claims filed.

Q: Was natural immunity considered before recommending the COVID mRNA injections to kids?

A: No. Children who already had COVID were still told to get vaccinated even though natural immunity offers strong, lasting protection.

  • No effort was made to test kids for antibodies first.

References:

  • By 2022, over 75% of U.S. children had already had COVID-19, according to CDC seroprevalence data.
  • Studies show natural immunity in children is robust and long-lasting, often stronger than vaccine-induced protection — especially against reinfection.
  • Despite this, the CDC continues to recommend the full vaccine series for all children 6 months and older, without screening for prior infection or immunity.

A: Informed consent means understanding the risks, benefits, and alternatives before making a medical decision.

  • For COVID shots, most parents were given a one-sided message, not a full picture.
  • No long-term safety data, no risk disclosure, and no true choice.

References:

  • Informed consent refers to “permission granted in the knowledge of the possible consequences.” It requires a disclosure of risks, benefits, and alternatives.
  • Parents were rarely told that:
    • The vaccine was still under emergency authorization
    • Long-term effects were unknown
    • Heart and reproductive side effects were being investigated
    • COVID posed little to no risk to healthy kids
  • There have been reported cases where minors received COVID-19 vaccinations without parental knowledge or consent. For example, a lawsuit filed in DC alleges that two teenagers were vaccinated without their mother’s consent during a routine medical visit.

Q: Were these shots tested for long-term effects?

A: No. There was no way to test long-term effects because the shots were rushed out in under a year.

  • Children were added to trials late, with limited follow-up, and no testing for future risks like fertility or autoimmune disorders.
  • The truth? We still don’t know what might show up years from now.

References:

  • mRNA COVID vaccines received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) within 11 months of SARS-CoV-2’s emergence — and the pediatric versions were approved based on short-term data only.
  • Pfizer’s pediatric trial included fewer than 3,000 children per age group and tracked participants for only two months before seeking authorization.
  • Pfizer asked a court to seal its vaccine trial documents for 75 years, including safety data — and only released them under court order.

Q: How are mRNA vaccines different from the vaccines we grew up with?

A: mRNA technology is a new and untested method of vaccination.

  • mRNA “vaccines” work by injecting genetic instructions into the body.
  • Traditional vaccines usually work by injecting parts of a virus to stimulate immunity.
  • The mRNA instructions have been detected up to two years after the final dose was given–there is no “off button”.

References:

  • mRNA vaccines deliver synthetic messenger RNA (mRNA) into the body, instructing cells to produce the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which then triggers an immune response. Unlike traditional vaccines, they do not contain live or inactivated virus components.
  • Traditional vaccines typically use weakened or inactivated viruses, or purified viral proteins, to stimulate the immune system. This approach has been used for decades in vaccines like those for measles, polio, and influenza.
  • In 2022, a study published in the journal Biomedicines detected vaccine-related mRNA in the bloodstream up to 15 days post-vaccination, suggesting that the mRNA may persist longer than initially anticipated.
  • In late 2024, research from Yale University found that in some individuals with post-vaccination syndrome, spike protein fragments were detectable in the blood up to 709 days after vaccination. This unexpected persistence raises questions about the long-term presence of vaccine-induced proteins.

Q: Does the COVID vaccine stay in the arm or travel through the whole body?

A: It doesn’t stay in the arm.

  • The spike protein has been found in the brain, ovaries, and heart — and a Yale study showed it can persist in the body more than 700 days after vaccination.
  • This is not how traditional vaccines behave, which are typically filtered out of the body rapidly.
  • Research links persistent spike protein in the body to various health risks.

References:

  • A study published in the Journal of Clinical Neuroscience detected spike protein in the cerebral arteries of vaccinated individuals up to 17 months post-vaccination.
  • Research has identified spike protein in the heart tissue of individuals who developed myocarditis after vaccination.
  • A Yale University study found that in some individuals with post-vaccination syndrome, spike protein was detectable in the bloodstream up to 709 days after vaccination.

Q: Why are COVID shots still under emergency use for kids if the emergency is over?

A: The COVID emergency is over — but the shots for kids are still authorized under “emergency use.”

  • That means they never had to pass full safety trials or long-term studies.
  • If the emergency ended, why didn’t the shortcuts end too?

References:

  • COVID-19 public health emergency in the U.S. officially ended on May 11, 2023.
  • Despite this, Pfizer and Moderna’s COVID vaccines for children under 12 remain under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) — not full FDA approval.
  • EUA products do not require full long-term safety data — they only need to meet the “may be effective” threshold.

More on: Childhood Vaccination Schedule | COVID and Pregnancy | mRNA | Smart Moms Ask