COVID-19

COVID-19 is a disease that can affect your lungs, airways and other organs. Find out the best ways to help your children, family/whānau and yourself in this pandemic. You can also check the section COVID-19 immunisation in children.

Boy with a virus blowing his nose into a tissue

Image purchased from https://www.123rf.com/
Image ID: 54118616
Copyright: Jean-Paul Chassenet

Children playing soccer

Back To Activity & Sport After COVID-19

Guidance for children and teens returning to normal activity and sport after having COVID. 

Boy lying down with thermometer in mouth

COVID-19 - Caring For A Child With COVID-19

Most children with COVID-19 will have a mild illness. Find out about how to care for your child at home and when to see a doctor.

A man helps a boy put on a face mask

COVID-19 - Masks & Ventilation

COVID-19 is airborne and can spread easily from one person to another. Wearing masks and ventilating spaces are key ways to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other airborne illnesses. 

Boy with a virus blowing his nose into a tissue

COVID-19 - What You Need To Know

COVID-19 is a disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. It can affect your lungs, airways and other organs. If your child or you have cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms, stay at home. Call your GP or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice. 

COVID-19 Testing - Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs)

Use a RAT test if your child has COVID-19 symptoms, or any cold or flu symptoms. Free rapid antigen tests (RATs) are widely available.

mother wearing mask breastfeeding baby

COVID-19 Positive & Caring For A Newborn

If you are COVID-19 positive and caring for a newborn pēpi, there are some things you can do to protect them. Find out what you can do to keep them safe, what you can expect from your maternity carer and what to do if you become quite unwell. 

Girl talking to doctor

COVID-19 & Genome Sequencing - An Animation For Tamariki

Heard talk about genome sequencing and COVID-19 and want to know more? Check out this short animation for tamariki from Māui Studios with support from the University of Otago and the Institute of Environmental Science and Research. It features Koro, a scientist and his granddaughter, Ruia, who is intrigued by science and technology but tired of kōrero about COVID-19.

Family - mother and 5 children sitting on steps

Parenting Support For Your Child's Emotions & Behaviour

Children and teenagers' emotional wellbeing is better when whānau can get the right support. Kiwi families have access to parenting support to improve emotional wellbeing for our tamariki.

pregnant woman holding stomach

COVID-19 Vaccine & Pregnancy

If you're pregnant/hapū, or planning a pregnancy, it is important to have the COVID-19 vaccine. Studies have shown this is safe and better for you and your baby. If you get COVID-19 while you’re pregnant you can become very sick. You can get a COVID-19 vaccine at any stage of your pregnancy. 

animation of proud family after getting vaccinated

COVID-19 Video Answering Common Questions About The Vaccine (English)

Watch a short video in English answering the most common questions about the COVID-19 vaccine.

screenshot image of animated vaccine

COVID-19 Video Answering Common Questions About The Vaccine (Samoan)

Watch a short video in Samoan answering the most common questions about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Graphic with text 'How does the Pfizer vaccine work' and vaccine

COVID-19 Video Answering Common Questions About The Vaccine (Te Reo Māori)

Watch a short video in te Reo Māori answering the most common questions about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Photo of baby breastfeeding

COVID-19 Immunisation & Breastfeeding

If you're breastfeeding and haven't had the COVID-19 vaccine already, you can make a booking now. There are no safety concerns about getting the COVID-19 vaccine if you're breastfeeding.

Immunising Children During COVID-19

Immunisation remains a priority for whānau during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can  protect your child against serious diseases like whooping cough and measles. 

Supporting Your Child During COVID-19 Nasal Swab Testing

A Mayo Clinic (USA) video which prepares children for a COVID-19 PCR nasal swab test and helps ease some of their possible fear and anxiety. This video is suitable for children as young as 4 years old. Note the video shows a PCR test, not a RAT test. Check the information on rapid antigen tests (RATs) if that's what your child is having.

Resources To Help Explain COVID-19 To Children

Resources to help children make sense of the COVID-19 pandemic. From booklets, videos for kids to resources explaining the science behind COVID. Some of these resources are about things that have now finished - like returning to school after lockdowns. All the resources continue to be available on this page. 

Hands being washed under a tap

How To Protect Yourself & Others Against COVID-19

If your child or you have cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms, stay at home. Call your GP or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice.

Graphic of COVID-19 symptoms

COVID-19 - Symptoms Chart In 7 Languages

How to recognise possible symptoms of COVID-19. If you or your child have cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms, stay home and call your doctor or Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice about getting a free test.

Mother with newborn baby

COVID-19 & Pregnancy

COVID-19 is now established in New Zealand so there is always a chance of being exposed. If you are pregnant, find out what you can do to help keep you and your baby safe and what to expect from your maternity carers.

Baby breastfeeding

COVID-19 & Breastfeeding

If you have COVID-19, you can still breastfeed your baby. There is no evidence of mothers passing on COVID-19 to babies through breastfeeding or through breastmilk. A breastfeeding māmā who has a COVID infection needs to take hygiene precautions. This includes hand washing and mask-wearing while breastfeeding and caring for pēpi.

Recovering From COVID - Including Long COVID

Most children who get COVID-19 will have mild symptoms and get better quickly. But a small number of older children may have symptoms that last longer. This is sometimes called post-COVID-19 condition or long COVID. Find out what is known about long COVID and how to care for a child who is taking longer to get better. 

Sick child lying in hospital bed

COVID-19 - Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome In Children (MIS-C)

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a huge over-reaction in the infection-fighting system (immune system). The syndrome usually happens 2 to 6 weeks after a child has had COVID-19. MIS-C can cause severe inflammation in many parts of the body. 

Boy sitting at a desk looking at his work with a teacher looking on

COVID-19 - Advice For Childhood Cancer & Bone Marrow Transplant Patients

The Australian and NZ Children's Haematology and Oncology Group advises it is safe for all siblings and the vast majority of childhood cancer and bone marrow transplant patients to be at school when schools are open.

A section of the KidsHealth COVID-19 QR code poster

KidsHealth COVID-19 QR Code Poster

To give others easy access to all KidsHealth's COVID-19 content, you can share a QR code poster. Anyone can scan the QR code with their phone and go straight to the KidsHealth COVID-19 section.