The COVID vaccine for babies, toddlers, and children

Do babies and children need the COVID vaccine?

Yes, doctors and other experts encourage parents of babies and kids (ages 6 months and up) to have their children vaccinated. Organizations that recommend vaccination for babies and kids include the American Academy of PediatricsOpens a new window (AAP), the Centers for Disease Control and PreventionOpens a new window (CDC), and the U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationOpens a new window (FDA).

Vaccines help protect children from getting COVID and from becoming seriously ill from a COVID infection, which reduces their risk of being hospitalized or dying.

"COVID infection can be very dangerous for children and lead to long-term health consequences and death," says Chandani DeZure, M.D., a neonatal and pediatric hospitalist at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital/Stanford UniversityOpens a new window in Palo Alto, California and member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board. "To me, there's no acceptable number of preventable deaths in children."

Getting your baby or older child vaccinated against COVID-19 can:

• Reduce your child's risk of getting seriously ill. Although COVID usually isn't severe in children, some kids do get very sick. More than 9,500 children infected with COVID have developed a dangerous condition called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), according the CDC. This condition causes inflammation of organs including the heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain. Seventy nine children have died of MIS-C since the pandemic began. Getting your child vaccinated helps to lower the risk of MIS-C and the risk of being hospitalized due to MIS-C.
• Help prevent the spread of COVID. Even if your child doesn't get very sick from a COVID-19 infection, they can still spread the virus to others who are at risk, such as the elderly and immunocompromised. Getting your child vaccinated against COVID can reduce this risk.
• Slow the growing number of child COVID cases. More than 15.5 million children are reported to have tested positive for COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic, and the actual number of infections is likely much higher because so many cases go unreported, according to the AAP. Cases in children under age 18 make up about 18 percent of all reported COVID infections.
• Help reduce the emergence of variants. Cutting the amount of circulating virus reduces the chance that COVID will mutate into new, possibly more dangerous and contagious variants.

Is the COVID vaccine safe for babies and kids?

Yes, the COVID vaccine is safe for children 6 months and up. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. The mRNA vaccines do not carry any live or dead parts of the COVID-19 virus. Instead, mRNA vaccines use mRNA created in a lab.

The mRNAs contain a set of instructions that tell immune cells to make pieces of protein. The immune system recognizes that these protein pieces aren't supposed to be there, so it makes antibodies to them. These antibodies help protect you against COVID in the future. Once the protein pieces are made, cells break down the mRNAs, which leave your body as waste.

The children's vaccine was tested in clinical trials on thousands of children from four countries and 90 vaccination sites. The data was reviewed by the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), and the vaccine was authorized by the FDA, reviewed by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and recommended by the director of the CDC. The CDC and FDA continue to closely monitor the vaccine after distribution.

Read about the vaccine testing and approval processOpens a new window on the CDC's website.

When does my child need a COVID shot?

Your child's COVID vaccine schedule will depend on their age, whether they've received any COVID shots yet, and whether they're immunocompromised.

It's highly likely that COVID vaccines will be needed every year, similar to the flu vaccine, says Dr. Dezure. (Each year, flu vaccines are updated to target the most relevant strains in circulation.)

"COVID is still a fairly new virus, so we have to remain open to being flexible and adapting as the landscape changes," says Dr. DeZure.

Talk with your child's healthcare provider about the appropriate vaccination schedule for your child.

Here's the CDC schedule for children who aren't immunocompromised:

If your child is 6 months to 4 years old and hasn't yet been vaccinated for COVID-19:

• Moderna: Dose 1 followed by dose 2 (4 to 8 weeks later)
• Pfizer: Dose 1 followed by dose 2 (3 to 8 weeks later), followed by dose 3 (8 weeks or more after dose 2)

If your child is 6 months to 4 years and has previously been vaccinated for COVID-19:

• Moderna: If your child previously received 1 dose of a Moderna vaccine, they should now receive dose 2 (4 to 8 weeks after dose 1). If your child previously received 2 or more doses of a Moderna vaccine, they should now receive 1 dose (28 weeks after the last dose).
• Pfizer: If your child previously received 1 dose of a Pfizer vaccine, they should now receive dose 2 (3 to 8 weeks after dose 1) and dose 3 (28 weeks after dose 2). If your child previously received 2 or more doses of a Pfizer vaccine, they should receive 1 dose (28 weeks after the last dose).

If your child is 5 to 11 years and is previously unvaccinated for COVID:

Moderna or Pfizer: 1 dose

If your child is 5 to 11 years and is previously vaccinated for COVID:

Moderna or Pfizer: 1 dose (28 weeks after last dose)

If your child is 12 years and older and is previously unvaccinated:

Moderna or Pfizer: 1 dose

If your child is 12 years and older and is previously vaccinated with one or more doses for COVID:

Moderna or Pfizer: 1 dose (28 weeks after last dose)

If your child is immunocompromised, their healthcare provider will outline a schedule with added doses for more protection.

Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are safe and effective, and there's no right or wrong choice when it comes to choosing a vaccine for your child. Experts recommend getting whatever vaccine is available to you.

Can my child get their COVID vaccine at the same time as another routine vaccine?

Yes, COVID-19 vaccines can be administered on the same day as other vaccines, including the flu shot.

You can certainly get your child vaccinated against COVID during a routine well check, such as their 12-month checkup or 3-year checkup. If your child is scheduled to have their routine vaccines during an appointment, they can also get their COVID-19 shot if your child's pediatrician has it. However, you can also schedule a separate appointment at your child's doctor's office, a pharmacy, or other vaccine site.

COVID vaccines for babies and kids are free and widely available. If you're having trouble finding a place for your child to get vaccinated, the Vaccines.govOpens a new window website can help you find an appointment somewhere nearby.

If you're worried about the vaccines being painful for your child, check out these tips on how to make the vaccination process more comfortable.

COVID vaccine side effects in children

Serious side effects from vaccines, including COVID vaccines, are very rare. The COVID-19 virus poses a much greater threat to your child than the vaccines.

Some children do experience mild to moderate side effects from the COVID vaccine, which can include:

• Soreness at the injection site
• Fatigue
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Fever
• Nausea

Children are more likely to have a fever post-vaccination than adults are, but that's similar to other routine childhood vaccines. Also, a fever post-vaccination means your child's immune system is responding appropriately to the vaccine. All of these side effects usually go away on their own, but check with your child's doctor if you have concerns.

Severe allergic reactions are extremely rare, but they can happen with COVID-19 and other vaccines. Seek immediate medical attention or dial 911 if your child has any of the following symptoms after receiving a vaccine:

• Trouble breathing
• Swelling of the tongue or throat
• A rash or hives
• Dizziness or loss of consciousness

Learn more about when to call 911 or take your child to the ER.

In very rare cases, people who've received a COVID-19 vaccine have developed inflammatory heart conditions called myocarditis and pericarditis. Most of these cases have occurred in teen and young adult males and have been treated with no long-term consequences or fatalities. Keep in mind that kids are more likely to develop these conditions from getting COVID-19 than from being vaccinated against it.

Learn how to tell if your child is having a bad reaction to a vaccine.

If you have questions or concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine for your baby or older child, their doctor can help.

Learn more:

• Guide to kids' fever, cough, and cold medicine
• When to call the pediatrician for your baby
• The COVID vaccine and pregnancy
• How to take your child's temperature