| COVID-19 vaccine information for children under five years of age | 4054.00000000000 | COVID-19 vaccine information for children under five years of age | COVID-19 vaccine information for children under five years of age | C | English | Infectious Diseases | Baby (1-12 months);Preschooler (2-4 years) | NA | NA | Drug treatment | Adult (19+)
Caregivers | NA | | 2022-10-03T04:00:00Z | | | | | | | | | | Flat Content | Health A-Z | <p>Learn about the status of the COVID-19 vaccine for children under five years of age and the benefits of getting the vaccine for this age group.</p> | <h2>Which COVID-19 vaccines are available for children under five years of age?</h2><p>On July 14, 2022, Health Canada approved Moderna 25 mcg for use as a two-dose primary series in children six months to five years of age, and a three-dose primary vaccine series in those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised.</p><p>On September 9, 2022, Health Canada approved Pfizer 3 mcg for use as a three-dose primary vaccine series for children six months to under five years of age.</p><p>“Primary vaccine series” refers to the initial number of doses of a particular vaccine that a person needs. It does not include booster dose(s).</p> | | <p>Looking for general information on COVID-19 vaccines. Visit the page on
<a href="https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=3937&language=English&hub=COVID-19">COVID-19 vaccines general information</a>.</p><p>Looking for information specific to children aged five to 11? Visit the page on
<a href="https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=4001&language=English&hub=COVID-19">COVID-19 vaccine information for children (ages five to 11)</a>.</p><p>Looking for information specific to youth age 12+? Visit the page on
<a href="https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=4000&language=English&hub=COVID-19">COVID-19 vaccine information for youth (ages 12+)</a>.</p><h2>Key points</h2><ul><li>The Moderna 25 mcg vaccine was approved for use as a two-dose primary vaccine series in children six months to five years of age. The Pfizer 3 mcg vaccine was approved for use as a three-dose primary vaccine series in children six months to under five years of age.</li>
<li>Neonates are more at risk of hospital admission because they have an immature immune system that has difficulty combatting disease.</li><li>Infants under six months of age can receive protection through immunization of the parent during pregnancy and subsequently through breastfeeding (more information for this age group is available later in the article).</li></ul> | <h2>Which vaccine should I get for my child? Moderna or Pfizer?</h2><p>Both vaccines were shown to be safe and effective against COVID-19. The first vaccine that becomes available to your child is the best option to provide them with protection as soon as possible.</p><h2>What do we know about vaccine safety for this age group?</h2><p>Clinical trial findings show that Moderna 25 mcg (half the dose given to the age six to 11 group), produces an immune response in children under five equal to the immune response seen in young adults 18 to 25 years of age who receive the 100-microgram dose primary series. It is expected, therefore, that this will protect the under five age group similarly against hospitalization and severe disease. Preliminary efficacy of the vaccine in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 when Omicron is the dominant variant is estimated at 50.6 per cent in children six to 23 months of age and 36.8 per cent in children two to five years of age starting 14 days after the second dose.</p><h2>What is the recommended interval between doses?</h2><p>An interval of eight weeks between the first and second dose is recommended for the Moderna primary vaccine series. Children who are moderately to severely immunocompromised may be immunized with a primary series of three doses of the Moderna vaccine using an interval of four to eight weeks between each dose.</p><p>An interval of eight weeks is recommended between the first, second and third dose of the Pfizer vaccine for the primary series in children six months to five years of age.</p><h2>My child had COVID-19. How long should I wait before getting my child vaccinated?</h2><p>If the infection occurs prior to the completion or start of the primary series, the suggested interval between having COVID-19 and vaccination is eight weeks (56 days) after symptom onset or positive test date (if asymptomatic).</p><p>For children who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, the suggested interval between having COVID-19 and vaccination is four to eight weeks (28 to 56 days) after symptom onset or positive test date (if asymptomatic).</p><p>This is based on current <a href="https://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/coronavirus/docs/vaccine/COVID-19_vaccine_administration.pdf">Ministry of Health guidelines</a>.</p><h2>What are the side effects of the vaccine?</h2><p>In the Moderna and Pfizer clinical trials side effects were comparable to other vaccines received at this age. The most common side effects were minor and included pain, tenderness and redness at the injection site, sleepiness or fatigue, and loss of appetite. Side effects generally last a day or two.</p><h2>Should I be concerned about myocarditis side effects in this age group?</h2><p>In the Moderna vaccine trial for children under 6 years of age and the Pfizer trial for children under five years of age there were no reported incidents of myocarditis. Cases of myocarditis and pericarditis have been seen extremely rarely in children aged five to 11 years of age, and thus the risk for younger children is anticipated to be very low. There are multiple surveillance mechanisms in place in order to monitor any potential post-vaccination risk of these conditions over time in younger children.</p><h2>What is the risk to children under five years old from COVID-19?</h2><p>With the spread of the Omicron variant, there have been more cases of children under age five in hospital with COVID-19 than earlier in the pandemic.</p><p>Children who have had COVID-19 are at risk of experiencing multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), a rare but serious complication that usually requires hospitalization. Although children with an underlying medical condition are at higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19, this can still occur in children who were previously healthy. Severe disease and MIS-C can occur in any child, whether they have an underlying condition or not.</p><p>Having COVID-19 may also lead to post-COVID conditions or long COVID, even in children. While evidence is still emerging in children under five years of age, adult studies show that some individuals experience prolonged COVID-19 symptoms beyond 12 weeks. Long COVID has been seen even after mild infections.</p><p>COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be protective against these risks as outlined.</p><p>Further, all individuals can help protect vulnerable members of their family, including children and youth, by ensuring that they and everyone around them are vaccinated against COVID-19.</p><h2>My child has already had COVID-19, do they still need to be vaccinated against it?</h2><p>Yes. Many people, including children, are getting COVID-19 more than once now. Studies in adults, which bode well for children, show that vaccination following infection provides stronger and longer-lasting protection from COVID-19 than infection alone. Being fully vaccinated, whether having had COVID-19 or not, does provide protection against re-infection with the virus that causes COVID-19.</p><h2>If my child is five years old, should they get the Moderna vaccine approved for ages six months to five years, or the Pfizer vaccine approved for ages five to 11 years?</h2><p>For children aged five years and above, prior to receiving any COVID-19 doses, it’s recommended that they receive the Pfizer vaccine approved for the five to 11 age group.</p><h2>If my four-year-old child turns five in between dose one and dose two of their COVID-19 primary series, which dose will they receive as their second dose?</h2><p>Your child, having received Moderna 25 mcg as their first dose (when still four years old), will receive the same as their second dose, even if they turn five before the dose is given. It is still safe and effective.</p><p>It is recommended that your child continues with the same vaccine to complete their series. For example, if your child recieved Moderna for their first dose, it is recommended that your child complete the series with Moderna. This is due to the different number of doses to complete each series, where Moderna 25 mcg is a two-dose series and Pfizer 3 mcg is a three-dose series.</p><h2>Can my child receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as another vaccine?</h2><p>Vaccinating children against a multitude of diseases is an important way to keep them healthy; however, for now, NACI recommends vaccination against COVID-19 either 14 days before or after a different vaccine for children under five years of age. Please ensure your child remains
<a href="https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=1986&language=English">up to date with all their vaccinations</a>.</p><h2>As a breastfeeding person, if I’ve recently had a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, is it safe for my baby to be vaccinated now?</h2><p>Yes. The antibodies from breast milk do not interfere with the immunity acquired from the vaccine, which will provide additional protection. Breastfeeding is not a contra-indication to receiving vaccines in infants who can receive them. There is no need to delay or time the vaccination differently.</p><h2>Infants less than 6 months of age</h2><h3>Is there a vaccine for infants under six months of age?</h3><p>No. A vaccine for this age group would require clinical studies to determine the safety and benefits of vaccination. However, babies can receive protection through immunization of the parent during pregnancy and subsequently through breastfeeding.</p><h3>How can I protect my unborn baby from COVID-19?</h3><p>Neonates are more at risk of hospital admission because they have an
<a href="https://www.cheo.on.ca/en/news/pregnant-individuals-urged-to-get-vaccinated-amid-hospitalization-of-infants-with-covid-19.aspx">immature immune system that has difficulty combatting disease</a>. If you are pregnant, vaccination is the best way to protect your baby from COVID-19. Vaccination enables you to pass on immunity to your baby while also protecting yourself.</p><h3>Does this immunity offer protection after the baby is born?</h3><p>Yes, it is well-recognized in other infectious diseases, such as flu and whooping cough (pertussis), that antibodies resulting from vaccination in a pregnant person provide protection for the first six months of an infant’s life. Multiple studies, including this
<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7107e3.htm">from the U.S. CDC</a>, have also shown that infants born to those who are vaccinated have more antibodies against COVID-19 and are less likely to be admitted to the hospital with COVID-19. If the pregnant person has not been vaccinated or infected, the baby does not have the protection of antibodies transferred from the parent during the third trimester of pregnancy.</p><h3>Are there any risks or benefits to being vaccinated if I am breastfeeding?</h3><p>Being fully vaccinated and remaining up-to-date on COVID-19 boosters is very beneficial as a breastfeeding person. This provides protection against contracting COVID-19 and against severe disease and hospitalization due to COVID-19. <a href="https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ijgo.14008">Studies have shown</a> that the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines in breastfeeding persons are the same as for non-breastfeeding persons. Studies have also shown that vaccinated individuals who are breastfeeding pass along antibodies (but not the mRNA) in their breast milk, which may confer additional protection against COVID-19 to their child.</p><h2>If I have additional questions, who can I speak with to get the answers?</h2><p>Make an appointment with the
<a href="https://www.sickkids.ca/en/care-services/support-services/covid-19-vaccine-consult">SickKids COVID-19 Vaccine Consult Service</a> to have a one-on-one phone appointment with a SickKids expert.</p> | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/iStock-1155773108.jpg | | | | | | | COVID-19 vaccine information for children under five years of age | | False | | | | | | | | |
