COVID-19 Bivalent Vaccines are now Authorized for All Ages 6 months plus. On April 19, 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 all individuals ages 6 months plus. 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 administering vaccines, others may not be. 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 and teens with weakened immune systems may require additional doses. 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 now eligible to receive the updated (bivalent) vaccine as a booster dose two months after completion of the primary series.
    • If a child has received less than three doses of the primary series thus far, they may receive the updated (bivalent) vaccine as the remaining dose(s) in the series.
    • If a child received the updated (bivalent) vaccine as the third dose in the primary series, no booster is needed at this time.
    • If a child has not yet received any doses of the vaccine, they will receive the bivalent vaccine for all three doses.
  • Moderna recommends a two-dose primary series for ages 6 months through 5 years.
    • The primary series will consist of the bivalent vaccine for both doses as of April 18, 2023.
    • Two months after completion of the primary series of monovalent doses (in other words the child already received vaccination prior to April 18, 2023), the child is eligible for the updated (bivalent) booster.

Children Ages 5 – 11 (Pfizer) and 6-11 (Moderna)

 

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.
  • If a child has not yet been vaccinated, they may receive one dose of the bivalent vaccine (5+ Pfizer, 6+ Moderna).
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 who received the last dose in their primary series or the original (monovalent) booster at least two months ago should receive the updated (bivalent) booster of the COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Teens who have not yet received a vaccine may receive one dose of the bivalent 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.

 

 


Stats on COVID-19

For more data on Delaware COVID-19 cases including demographic breakdowns, go to My Healthy Community


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