NEW UPDATES
On Oct. 9, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expanded the use of updated bivalent pediatric COVID-19 booster vaccines for children ages 6 months through 5 years.
Children ages 6 months through 5 years who previously completed a Moderna primary series are eligible to receive a Moderna bivalent booster 2 months after their final primary series dose.
Children ages 6 months through 4 years who are completing a Pfizer primary series will receive a Pfizer bivalent vaccine as their third primary dose. Children in this age range who have already completed their primary series are not eligible for a Pfizer bivalent booster at this time.
Search Vaccinate.Virginia.gov or call your child’s healthcare provider to make your free vaccination appointment. Check this website for more information from VDH on when bivalent boosters will be available.
The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna primary series vaccines for children aged 6 months through 4/5 years are available in Virginia.
Vaccines for this age group may be available at local health departments and partnering healthcare providers, including pediatrician and family practice offices, hospitals, federally qualified health centers, and pharmacies (3 years of age and older). Parents should contact their healthcare provider to determine if they are offering vaccines and when appointments will be available for their child. Parents may also search Vaccinate.Virginia.gov for appointments at other venues.
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WHICH COVID-19 VACCINES ARE AVAILABLE IN VIRGINIA?
Primary Vaccine Series**
The initial vaccine schedule
Ages 6 months - 4 years
Two shots 3 weeks* apart, followed by a third shot at least 8 weeks after the second dose.
Ages 5 years +
Two shots, 3 weeks* apart
Booster Dose Recommended, based on age, after completing a primary series
Ages 6 months +
Bivalent booster: At least 2 months after Pfizer primary series or monovalent booster(s)
Option-
Ages 18 years +
Novavax Monovalent booster: At least 6 months after primary series***
If immunocompromised:
Ages 5 years +
Bivalent booster: At least 2 months after the additional primary series dose or monovalent booster(s)
Primary Vaccine Series**
The initial vaccine schedule
Ages 6 months +
Two shots 4 weeks* apart.
Booster Dose Recommended, based on age, after Moderna primary series or monovalent booster(s)
Ages 6 months +
Bivalent booster: At least 2 months after Moderna primary series or monovalent booster(s)
Option-
Ages 18 years +
Novavax Monovalent booster: At least 6 months after primary series***
If immunocompromised:
Ages 6 years +
Bivalent booster: At least 2 months after the additional primary series dose or monovalent booster(s)
Primary Vaccine Series**
The initial vaccine schedule
Ages 18 years +
One shot
Booster Dose Recommended, based on age, after completing a primary series
Ages 18 years +
Bivalent booster: At least 2 months after the J&J primary dose or monovalent booster(s)
Option-
Ages 18 years +
Novavax Monovalent booster: At least 6 months after primary series***
If immunocompromised:
Ages 18 years +
Bivalent booster: At least 2 months after the mRNA vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) additional dose or monovalent booster(s)
Primary Vaccine Series**
The initial vaccine schedule
Ages 12 years +
Two shots, 3 weeks* apart
Booster Dose Recommended, based on age, after completing a primary series
Ages 12 years +
Bivalent booster: At least 2 months after the Novavax primary series
Option-
Ages 18 years +
Novavax Monovalent booster: At least 6 months after primary series***
If immunocompromised:
Ages 12 years +
Bivalent booster: At least 2 months after the Novavax primary series
*Healthcare providers may recommend an extended interval of 3-8 weeks between doses of the Pfizer and Novavax vaccines and 4-8 weeks between doses of the Moderna vaccine, based on the individual's age and health conditions.
**People with weakened immune systems (immunocompromised) should get a third shot in their primary series about 4 weeks after their second shot of Pfizer (ages 5 years +) or Moderna (ages 6 months +), or 4 weeks after their first J&J shot.
***The Novavax booster is an option as a first booster only, for persons aged 18 years and older, for whom a bivalent booster is not accessible or medically appropriate, or for those who would not take a booster dose otherwise.
**** Right now, the Pfizer bivalent vaccine for ages 6 mos – 4 years is only to be used as a third and final dose in the series for. It is not approved as a booster at this time.
For the most updated recommendations about COVID-19 vaccine and boosters, visit the CDC website.
COVID-19 VACCINES FOR CHILDREN
The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective at preventing severe illness and death. CDC recommends everyone ages 6 months and older get vaccinated against COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic causes significant disruptions for families and children, and vaccination can help minimize disruptions and decrease the likelihood of spreading the virus.
Although children and adolescents may have a milder illness than adults, they are still at risk of becoming severely ill. Children with a COVID-19 infection have had serious illness, been hospitalized, or have even died.
Children infected may also develop complications or long-term illness, such as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) or Long COVID. MIS-C is a condition where different body parts become inflamed. Long COVID is when individuals develop symptoms such as fatigue, chest pain, headaches, or shortness of breath that last for weeks or months.
Children who have already had a COVID-19 infection still benefit from vaccination because it provides stronger and broader protection against the virus and its potential long-term effects.
You can keep your child protected by making sure they are up to date on COVID-19 vaccines. This means that after getting their primary series, they get booster doses as recommended by the CDC.
Talk to your child’s healthcare provider about the best timing of your child’s second dose, additional primary dose (if immunocompromised), or booster dose.
Everyone ages 5 years and older who completed the Moderna, Novavax, J&J, or Pfizer primary series, should receive an updated bivalent booster dose at least 2 months after the last dose in the primary series. For people who previously received a monovalent booster dose(s), the bivalent booster dose is administered at least 2 months after the last monovalent booster dose. The bivalent booster helps restore vaccine protection and targets recent Omicron variants that are more transmissible. Mix-and-match is allowed for the booster dose.
To find out when to get your next booster, use the CDC’s calculation tool.
Side effects in infants and toddlers are usually mild in severity and resolved within a few days. Commonly reported side effects in the youngest age groups are pain at the injection side, fatigue, irritability and drowsiness. Fevers are also reported.
Side effects seen in young children after vaccination against COVID-19 are similar to those in adolescents and young adults.
Side effects in children ages 4 through 17 years were more commonly reported after the second dose and included headache, arm pain, and tiredness. Fevers are also commonly reported.
Side effects reported after getting a booster shot are similar to those after the primary series shots.
There is no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 vaccines impact children's growth or development, including impacts on brain development, bone development, or future fertility.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Top Frequently Asked Questions about the COVID-19 vaccine
If your child is aged 3 years or older, you may take them to a pharmacy to receive the COVID vaccine, as long as the pharmacy carries the vaccine for your child’s age. Pharmacists are not able to vaccinate children less than 3 years of age. It is also up to the pharmacist on duty to decide what age they feel comfortable vaccinating. Not all pharmacists are willing to vaccinate down to 3 years old. It is recommended to call prior to your appointment to verify that the pharmacist will be able to vaccinate your child. For your child who is younger than 3 years, please check with your healthcare provider to see if they offer the vaccine.
No. All COVID-19 vaccines work well to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death. However, similar to the annual flu shot, COVID-19 booster shots are needed to restore waning protection since the previous vaccine dose. Bivalent boosters are a better match for the current forms of Omicron variants that are spreading. Therefore, CDC and VDH recommend staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations for maximum protection.
An additional primary series dose is a COVID-19 vaccine dose administered to someone with a moderately or severely weakened immune system because their initial immune response after completing the primary vaccine series may have been insufficient to provide them with strong protection.
A booster dose is a COVID-19 vaccine dose administered to someone who initially had good protection from the primary vaccine series, but this protection may have weakened over time.
No, they do not. There is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines cause fertility problems, in women or men. If you are trying to become pregnant now or want to get pregnant in the future, you can and should receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
Yes. COVID-19 vaccines are beneficial and safe for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all people 6 months and older, including people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future. There is no evidence of miscarriages, stillbirths, or preterm births linked to the vaccines.
Getting COVID-19 during pregnancy is associated with severe illness, death, or pregnancy complications. Pregnant people can lower the risk of these events by getting vaccinated. Getting vaccinated during pregnancy may also protect infants aged less than 6 months from getting very sick. This is important because COVID-19 vaccines are not currently planned for this age group.
Yes. Common side effects include mild symptoms that should go away in a few days. They include redness, pain, or swelling on the arm where you got the shot. They also include a mild fever, chills, headache, or feeling tired.
Severe allergic reactions after getting a COVID-19 vaccine are rare. Call 9-1-1 or seek immediate medical care if you have symptoms. Vaccination sites are ready to help people who have immediate allergic reactions. Stay at the vaccination site for at least 15 minutes after getting the vaccine.
Serious side effects that could cause a long-term health problem are extremely unlikely following any vaccination, including COVID-19 vaccination. If adverse effects occur, they generally happen within six weeks of receiving a vaccine dose. The benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the known and potential risks. To let CDC know about any side effects, you can sign up for a free, secure smartphone tool at v-safe after vaccination health checker [Español].
Yes. You can get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines on the same day, as well as co-administration within 14 days. This includes the Flu, Pneumococcal, Tdap, and Shingles vaccine.
Have more questions? Visit our Searchable FAQs [Español] to find your answer!
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE COVID-19 VACCINES
Every vaccine goes through the same steps to make sure it is safe and effective. The COVID-19 vaccines were developed more quickly than usual because the financial part of that process was sped up to help us fight this virus.
Scientists and researchers work on formulas that will become a vaccine. Before it’s ever given to people, it goes through extensive lab testing.
Clinical trials test safety, dosage, and effectiveness. Vaccines have to pass three phases before they can be offered to the general public.
- Phase 1: Study the safety and look for common reactions, using 20-100 volunteers.
- Phase 2: Study the effectiveness, by looking for how effective it is and by looking for the right dose using several hundred volunteers.
- Phase 3: Study safety and effectiveness, by comparing people who got the vaccines with people who did not, using thousands of volunteers.
- Phase 4: Even after vaccines have been offered to the public, continue to study safety and effectiveness including long-term benefits and side effects.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviews the data from the trials and decides whether to authorize or approve it.
- Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) [Español] is used by the FDA during a public health emergency. This means that the FDA has looked at the data about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine and, although it is NOT fully approved, allows it to be used while they continue to look at the data.
- A full FDA approval means that the vaccine can be used even when there is not a public health emergency. To get this approval, the manufacturer must provide more detailed data that is collected for a longer time.
- After the FDA authorizes or fully approves the vaccine, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) makes recommendations for how that vaccine should be used.
When bacteria or viruses enter our bodies, they attack and multiply. This invasion is called an infection. The immune system fights back to protect the body’s cells. To help train your immune system to protect you from disease, we use vaccines. Vaccines do this by:
- Imitating an infection
- Helping the body’s immune system
- Teaching the body to “remember” how to fight the bacteria or virus in the future
Every vaccine goes through the same steps to make sure it is safe and effective. The COVID-19 vaccines were developed more quickly than usual because the financial part of that process was sped up to help us fight this virus.
- Phase 1: Study the safety and look for common reactions, using 20-100 volunteers.
- Phase 2: Study the effectiveness, by looking for how effective it is and by looking for the right dose using several hundred volunteers.
- Phase 3: Study safety and effectiveness, by comparing people who got the vaccines with people who did not, using thousands of volunteers.
- Phase 4: Even after vaccines have been offered to the public, continue to study safety and effectiveness including long-term benefits and side effects.
- Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) [Español] is used by the FDA during a public health emergency. This means that the FDA has looked at the data about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine and, although it is NOT fully approved, allows it to be used while they continue to look at the data.
- A full FDA approval means that the vaccine can be used even when there is not a public health emergency. To get this approval, the manufacturer must provide more detailed data that is collected for a longer time.
- After the FDA authorizes or fully approves the vaccine, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) makes recommendations for how that vaccine should be used.
How vaccines work?
When bacteria or viruses enter our bodies, they attack and multiply. This invasion is called an infection. The immune system fights back to protect the body’s cells. To help train your immune system to protect you from disease, we use vaccines. Vaccines do this by:
- Imitating an infection
- Helping the body’s immune system
- Teaching the body to “remember” how to fight the bacteria or virus in the future
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