COVID-19 Vaccines for Children & Teens

Children 6 months and older can get the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Children 6 months through 11 years old will receive a separate vaccine formulation denoted with an orange cap of the vaccine that has one-third the dose given to adolescents and adults, and will receive the vaccine with a smaller needle. An overview of the description of the differences in the adult/adolescent formulation and pediatric formulation is available.

Adolescents ages 12 years and older receive the same dosage of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine as adults.
The Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine for children ages 6 months through 11 years has the same active ingredients as the vaccine given to adults and adolescents. However, children ages 6 months through 11 years cannot get the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine given to adults and adolescents. In addition, children ages 6 months through 11 years receive an age-appropriate dose that is one-third of the adult dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Smaller needles, designed specifically for children, are also used for children ages 6 months through 11 years.
Unlike many medications, COVID-19 vaccine dosage does not vary by patient weight but by age on the day of vaccination.
Your child will need a second vaccine of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine three weeks after their first vaccine.

The CDC recommends everyone ages 6 months and older get a COVID-19 vaccine to help prevent against COVID-19.

Authorized For	Pfizer-BioNTech	Moderna	J&J/Janssen
5 Months and Under	No	No	No
6 Months – 11 Years Old	Yes	Yes	No
12 – 17 Years Old	Yes	Yes	No
18 Years and Older	Yes	Yes	Yes

If you are looking for a non-medical immunization waiver for the COVID-19 vaccine or any other vaccination, you can find that here.

Find a COVID-19 Vaccine for Children 5 Years and Older