What is the recommended frequency for COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) vaccination in children according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)?

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Last updated: May 20, 2025View editorial policy

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From the Guidelines

The CDC recommends that children aged 6 months and older receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the virus, with the frequency and number of doses depending on the child's age, previous vaccination history, and immune status. For initial vaccination, children 6 months through 4 years need multiple doses depending on the vaccine brand used, as outlined in the CDC's recommendations 1. The CDC provides detailed schedules and tables by age and vaccination history for those who are and are not moderately or severely immunocompromised.

  • For children aged 6 months–4 years who are not moderately or severely immunocompromised, the recommended COVID-19 vaccination schedule varies based on previous COVID-19 vaccination history, with options for Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines 1.
  • For ongoing protection, the CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get one dose of an updated COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of whether they've received previous COVID-19 vaccines, with some exceptions for those with weakened immune systems 1. The recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination is based on evidence that vaccines help prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19, even in children who typically experience milder symptoms than adults 1.

From the FDA Drug Label

The FDA drug label does not answer the question.

From the Research

Covid-19 Vaccination Frequency for Children

  • The provided studies do not directly address the frequency at which children should be vaccinated for Covid-19, as they primarily focus on vaccine efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity in adults or do not specify vaccination schedules for children 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
  • None of the studies mention the CDC's recommendations for Covid-19 vaccination frequency in children, suggesting that this information may not be available in the provided evidence.
  • The studies do discuss the efficacy and safety of various Covid-19 vaccines, including BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273, in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection and boosting immune responses in adults 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
  • However, without specific data on children, it is not possible to determine the recommended vaccination frequency for this population based on the provided studies.

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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