COVID-19 Vaccines for Infants and Children 6 Months to 5 Years are now Authorized. On December 9, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) signed off on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization for bivalent vaccines in children ages 6 months through 5 years old in certain circumstances. Please see below for detailed information on this authorization and all youth vaccines.

Currently, Pfizer-BioNTech’s and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines are available for youth ages 6 months and older. Novavax’s vaccine is available for ages 12 years and older. Johnson & Johnson’s vaccines are not yet authorized for children under age 18.

View the CDC’s information on:

What You Need to Know

DPH recommends parents contact their child’s pediatrician or family doctor/health care provider to find out if they are administering COVID-19 vaccines to infants and children ages 6 months through 5 years.

While some providers are already administering vaccines, others may not be ready. Be sure to contact the facility directly for any timing and scheduling requirements. Unless otherwise indicated below, call ahead to your provider or the listed facility to learn more about their timing for vaccinating patients and any scheduling requirements!

While most providers are only vaccinating patients, we have included a list of those that have agreed to vaccinate non-patients.Additionally, many pharmacies will offer vaccines for infants and children, though not all will vaccinate those under age 3. Visit vaccines.gov to find pharmacies offering these pediatric vaccines (pharmacies will be able to list the lowest age that they will vaccinate).

 

Facilities Vaccinating Patients and Non-Patients 6 Months through 5 Years

Other Providers

Atlantic Apothecary
Kent County: Smyrna location only
302-653-9355

Beacon Pediatrics
Sussex County
Phone: 302-645-8212

Khan Pediatrics
New Castle County
Phone: 302-449-5791

Rainbow Pediatrics
Sussex County
Phone: 302-856-6967

Westside Family Healthcare
4th St. Wilmington, NE Wilmington, Newark, Bear, Dover
Vaccine Clinic Info.: westsidehealth.org

DPH Clinics

Adams Public Health Clinic
Sussex County (Georgetown)
Phone: 302-515-3174
Walk-ins accepted

Hudson Public Health Clinic
New Castle County (Newark)
302-283-7500
Walk-ins accepted

Milford Public Health Clinic
Sussex County
Phone: 302-424-7130
Walk-ins accepted

Porter Public Health Clinic
New Castle County (Wilmington)
Phone: 302-777-2800
Walk-ins accepted

Pyle Public Health Clinic
Sussex County (Laurel)
Phone: 302-732-1742
Walk-ins accepted

Shipley Public Health Clinic
Sussex County (Seaford)
Phone: 302-628-6772
Walk-ins accepted

Williams Public Health Clinic
Kent County (Dover)
302-857-5100
Walk-ins accepted

  • There are specific vaccination guidelines depending on the brand of vaccine for infants and toddlers 6 months through 5 years of age. See the section on Ages 6 mos. to 5 years for full details.
  • Children 5+ and teens with weakened immune systems typically require additional 3 doses (plus a booster for those eligible.) Consult a physician for full details.
  • The FDA and CDC have indicated COVID-19 vaccines are safe for children and teens
  • Serious side effects are rare
  • No long-term side effects have been identified
  • There is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines cause fertility problems
  • The risk of developing heart complications (myocarditis, pericarditis) is higher after having COVID-19 than after getting the vaccine

 

Infants and Children Ages 6 months to 5 years

Infants and children ages 6 months to 5 years receive an age-appropriate dose of the vaccine:

  • Pfizer recommends a three-dose primary series for ages 6 months through 4 years.
    • If a child has received the original (monovalent) primary series for all three doses already, they are not eligible to receive the updated (bivalent) vaccine as a booster dose at this time.
    • If a child has received less than three doses of the primary series thus far, they may receive the updated (bivalent) vaccine as the third dose in the series
  • Moderna recommends a two-dose primary series for ages 6 months through 5 years.
    • The primary series will consist of the original (monovalent) vaccine for both doses.
    • Two months after completion of the primary series, the child is eligible for the updated (bivalent) booster.

Children Ages 5 – 11

 

Children ages 5 – 11 receive an age-appropriate dose of the vaccine:

  • Pediatric dose of Pfizer-BioNTech for ages 5-11 (10 mcg) is 1/3 the adult dose (30 mcg). Pediatric dose of Moderna for ages 6-11 (50 mcg) is ½ the adult dose (100 mcg).
  • Reducing potential side effects was one reason the dosage was lowered for those 5-11in this age group.
  • At least two months after completion of the primary series or two months since the original (monovalent booster), children are eligible for the updated (bivalent) booster.
GO VAX Delaware! The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and proven to protect against serious illness. Need more reasons? Talk to your pediatrician today.

 

Children ages 12 – 17

  • Teens 12 and older receive the same dose of Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax as adults do
  • Teens 12 and older who are relatively healthy can wait up to 8 weeks for their second dose of the vaccine
  • Teens who received the last dose in their primary series or the original (monovalent) booster at least two months ago should receive the updated (bivalent)a booster of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Young boy pointing his finger upward to a stylized thought bubble with lines that reads: Know ALL the facts about the COVID-19 Vaccine.

 

Resources:


Report Vaccination Violations

Submit complaints about a vaccination provider by using this form, if you think they are violating any of these requirements.

Get More COVID Data

For more data on Delaware COVID cases, testing and outcomes, including demographic breakdowns, go to My Healthy Community


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