Key things to know as children ages 6 months+ now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine

On June 18, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup voted to recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for ages 6 months and up. This is a much-anticipated step in our state’s efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect our youngest population. This authorization for the COVID-19 vaccine now includes:

  • A three-dose Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine primary series for children ages six months to four years
  • A two-dose Moderna vaccine primary series for children ages six months – five years

Initial federal COVID-19 vaccine supply for children was slightly delayed and will be limited as supply builds. Supply is expected to level off and reach a consistent cadence within a few weeks. Once providers have the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna pediatric COVID-19 vaccines in stock, they may begin administering them to children ages six months and up.

Here’s what providers should know:

  • Data showed that COVID-19 vaccines for ages six months and up are not only effective, but safe, and adverse events are rare. COVID-19 vaccines continue to undergo the most intensive safety monitoring in United States history.
  • Remember that COVID-19 can be a serious disease in kids. In addition to poor outcomes from the disease itself, children in this age group can get long COVID or MIS-C even from mild or asymptomatic disease. We can protect young Washingtonians from these serious outcomes by protecting them with COVID-19 vaccination.
  • Consider offering special clinic hours (like evenings or weekends) to make it easier for parents and guardians to come and get their child vaccinated.
  • Make it easy for the child to get their next dose on schedule. Schedule the child’s next dose appointment while they’re getting their initial scheduled dose.
  • Encourage parents and guardians to add their child on v-safe and answer the health check-ins. This information helps CDC monitor the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in almost real time.
  • Keep your clinic’s information up to date on Vaccine Locator. DOH will update Vaccine Locator’s filter option for all pediatric vaccines.
  • COVID-19 booster doses can be co-administered with other vaccines, such as the flu vaccine.
  • Ensure vaccine appointments are available to all who seek access in an equitable way. Please refer to our Equity Strategies and Resources toolkit guidance to assess, and improve, current practices for language access and accessibility for people with disabilities.

More information:

  • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the use of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for those ages 6 months and up on June 17. Read their news release here.
  • In authorizing this use, the FDA determined that the benefits of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine currently outweigh any known or potential risks posed by the vaccine itself.
  • Find more information about providing COVID-19 vaccine, including a guide to vaccinating youth, at doh.wa.gov/Covid19VaccineProvider.
  • Continue to check back on DOH’s webpages for updates and new materials:
  • The Pfizer pediatric vaccine for children six months to four years (maroon cap) has the same ingredients as the adolescent/adult version (purple or gray caps), but it is one-tenth of the dosage. This vaccine needs diluent and will have the same storage and handling considerations as the orange cap Pfizer vaccine. The maroon cap pediatric vaccine may have vial and carton labels with different information than the emergency use authorization; ALWAYS review the EUA fact sheets before preparing the vaccine.

We know vaccination is the best protection available and want to be sure all children in Washington state can be served. While we recognize not all parents or guardians may choose vaccination immediately, we’ll work with health care providers, community partners, schools, and other partners to support parents in their decision-making.

Research continues to show that vaccination against COVID-19 saves lives. Thank you for your work in keeping all eligible adults, adolescents, and now children 6 months and older up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines.

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