Vaccination follows a schedule recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. See tables Recommended Immunization Schedule for Ages 0–6 Years Recommended Immunization Schedule for Ages 0–6 Years 
, Recommended Immunization Schedule for Ages 7–18 Years Recommended Immunization Schedule for Ages 7–18 Years , and Catch-up Immunization Schedule for Ages 4 Months–18 Years Catch-up Immunization Schedule for Ages 4 Months–18 Years .
Practitioners should also check the CDC's latest recommendations (also available as a free mobile app), consult the CDC's child–adolescent immunization schedules and catch-up immunization schedule, and consult the relevant Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) statements for detailed recommendations and updates. Vaccination status should be reassessed at every visit.
For adverse effects and details of administration of specific vaccines, see Overview of Immunization Overview of Immunization Immunity can be achieved Actively by using antigens (eg, vaccines, toxoids) Passively by using antibodies (eg, immune globulins, antitoxins) A toxoid is a bacterial toxin that has been modified... read more .
COVID-19 vaccination in children
In addition to the immunizations noted in the immunization schedules, children in the US in certain age groups are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccination COVID-19 Vaccine COVID-19 vaccines provide protection against COVID-19, the disease caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Vaccination is the most effective strategy to prevent severe illness and death... read more .
The BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine (mRNA) produced by Pfizer-BioNTech has Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for children 6 months to 15 years of age and is approved for use in people 16 years of age and older.
The mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine (mRNA) produced by Moderna has EUA for children 6 months to 17 years of age.
The NVX-CoV2373 COVID-19 vaccine (subunit) produced by Novavax has EUA for people 12 years of age and older.
For primary series dosage information for children, see here Dose and Administration COVID-19 vaccines provide protection against COVID-19, the disease caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Vaccination is the most effective strategy to prevent severe illness and death... read more . For primary series dosage information for children who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, see here Primary series guidance for people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised COVID-19 vaccines provide protection against COVID-19, the disease caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Vaccination is the most effective strategy to prevent severe illness and death... read more . (See also Guidance for COVID-19 vaccination for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.)
Booster shots Booster with updated bivalent vaccines COVID-19 vaccines provide protection against COVID-19, the disease caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Vaccination is the most effective strategy to prevent severe illness and death... read more are also available for children in certain age groups. For booster shot guidance for children who are not immunocompromised, see here Booster shot guidance for people who are not immunocompromised COVID-19 vaccines provide protection against COVID-19, the disease caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Vaccination is the most effective strategy to prevent severe illness and death... read more . For booster shot guidance for children who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, see here Booster shot guidance for people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised COVID-19 vaccines provide protection against COVID-19, the disease caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Vaccination is the most effective strategy to prevent severe illness and death... read more .
COVID-19 vaccine may be given at the same time as routine immunizations.
Contraindications to COVID-19 vaccines are (1 COVID-19 vaccination in children reference Vaccination follows a schedule recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American... read more )
Severe allergic reaction to a previous dose
Severe allergic reaction to a vaccine component
An immediate allergic reaction of any severity to a previous dose or known (diagnosed) allergy to a component of the vaccine
Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is used in mRNA vaccines and is the most commonly implicated allergen.
COVID-19 vaccination in children reference
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Interim clinical considerations for use of COVID-19 vaccines currently approved or authorized in the United States: Contraindications and precautions. Accessed 07/20/2022.
Malaria vaccination in children
On October 6, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended widespread use of the RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S) malaria vaccine among children in sub-Saharan Africa and in other regions with moderate to high Plasmodium falciparum malaria transmission. (See WHO recommends groundbreaking malaria vaccine for children at risk.)
More Information
The following are some English-language resources that may be useful. Please note that THE MANUAL is not responsible for the content of these resources.
World Health Organization (WHO): WHO recommends groundbreaking malaria vaccine for children at risk
