COVID-19

Is your child over the COVID-19 pandemic and feeling a bit sad and down sometimes? A New Zealand psychologist has created a booklet for kids - to help them if they are over COVID-19 - 'The RONA'. 

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. 

If your child or someone in your house has COVID-19 symptoms, they need a rapid antigen test (RAT). Anyone can get a free pack of RATs from a range of locations, including testing sites, marae and pharmacies.  

Some Auckland children have made comics about what life was like for them during the COVID-19 pandemic. The comics show how children have been worried and sad at times, the challenges they faced and how they helped their families during a difficult time. 

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.

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.

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. 

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

DELTA got everyone worried. Check a booklet by Mel Churton, New Zealand psychologist. It was created to offer support for children who were returning to school in 2021. There are 2 versions - for children up to year 8 and for years 9+.