In December 2022, the FDA extended this authorization to children between 6 months and 4 years old. They can now get a booster after the Moderna primary series, or as part of the Pfizer primary series. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are now available for children as young as 6 months old. Here is what you need to know about why and when children should be vaccinated.
When Can My Child Get Vaccinated?
If your child is at least 6 months old, they can—and should—be vaccinated as soon as possible, according to both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are available under emergency use authorizations (EUA) for kids ages 6 months and older. (If your teen is at least 18 years old, they also may be eligible for the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, however, due to safety and efficacy concerns with the J&J shot, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are preferred.) Early clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines did not include children. But on October 7, 2021, Pfizer submitted a request to the FDA that its vaccine be authorized for use in kids ages 5 to 11. It cited findings from follow-up clinical trials that showed the vaccine to be safe and well-tolerated in this age group. Kids given a smaller dose of the two-shot vaccine also had a strong antibody response during trials, a sign that the vaccine effectively stimulated their immune system to defend itself against the virus. Both Pfizer and Moderna began studying their vaccines in children as young as 6 months old as well. Johnson & Johnson also began conducting trials in kids ages 12 to 17, however, the J&J vaccine is not available for children and is no longer recommended for adults except in limited circumstances, such as for those with allergies to an ingredient in the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
How Might the COVID-19 Vaccine Affect Kids?
Children tend to respond very well to the COVID-19 vaccines. According to Pfizer’s data, in clinical trial participants ages 5 to 11, “the COVID-19 vaccine was well tolerated, with side effects generally comparable to those observed in participants 16 to 25 years of age.” It is important to remember that all vaccines have known side effects, and these are usually very mild. “The side effects that are being seen with the adult vaccines include injection site pain, swelling, and redness, along with possible fever,” says Robert Hamilton, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician at Pacific Ocean Pediatrics in Santa Monica, California. “Because children have robust immune systems, these normally encountered side effects may be exaggerated in children, but this simply means that the vaccine is ’taking.’” “Each vaccine comes with a package insert that lists the data about side effects, and this information is available online as well,” says Cara Natterson, MD, pediatrician and author of Decoding Boys: New Science Behind the Subtle Art of Raising Sons. “Because the coronavirus vaccines currently under development are so new, there is only data reporting short-term side effects measurable over the past couple of months on study populations ranging in size from 30,000 to 40,000 people.”
Keeping Your Children Safe From COVID-19
Whereas kids were far less likely to get COVID-19 earlier in the pandemic, rates have risen since the Delta variant started circulating in 2021. Since the pandemic began, children have represented 16.8% of total cases in the U.S., but during the week ending on November 11, 2021, children accounted for 27% of reported weekly COVID-19 cases. Young children appear to be less likely to die from COVID-19 infection than adults, but studies have found that they have a higher risk of developing a condition called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). This is an inflammatory disease that can affect multiple organ systems throughout the body, including the brain, heart, and lungs. Between May 2020 and the end of October 2021, 48 children died from MIS-C, according to CDC data. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the cause of MIS-C remains unknown, but many children with the disease also had the virus that causes COVID-19 or had been around someone who was infected with COVID-19. The CDC also recommends unvaccinated children ages 2 and older wear masks in all public indoor settings and crowded outdoor settings. Babies and toddlers who can’t wear a mask should limit visits with people who are not vaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown. Additionally, unvaccinated people, especially, should socialize outdoors whenever possible and avoid crowded, indoor activities that make it hard to stay 6 feet away from others, according to the CDC. “Remember that it can be very difficult for kids to maintain distance from one another, so it’s up to parents to not put their kids in those situations when they are avoidable,” says Dr. Natterson. The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page.
