COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations by Age
COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and older, regardless of previous vaccination history. 1
General Age-Based Recommendations
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) have established clear guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination across all age groups:
- Ages 6 months and older: All individuals in this age range should receive the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine 2, 1
- Previously unvaccinated children: Should receive either:
- 2 doses of Moderna vaccine, 4-8 weeks apart, or
- 3 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (3-8 weeks between doses 1-2, ≥8 weeks between doses 2-3) 1
- Previously vaccinated individuals: Should receive 1 dose of 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine at least 8 weeks after their last dose 2, 1
Age-Specific Vaccination Schedules
Children (6 months-11 years)
- Ages 6 months-4 years: Require an initial multidose vaccination series including at least 1 dose of 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine 1
- Ages 5-11 years: Previously vaccinated children should receive 1 dose of 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine at least 8 weeks after their last dose 1
- Effectiveness data: For children aged 5-11 years, vaccine effectiveness against Omicron infection was 31% (95% CI = 9%-48%) 14-82 days after dose 2 3
Adolescents and Adults (12 years and older)
- Previously unvaccinated individuals ≥12 years: Should receive either:
- Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech: 1 dose, or
- Novavax: 2 doses, 3-8 weeks apart 1
- Previously vaccinated individuals ≥12 years: Should receive 1 dose of 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, or Novavax) at least 8 weeks after their last dose 2, 1
- Effectiveness data: For adolescents aged 12-15 years, vaccine effectiveness was 59% (95% CI = 22%-79%) against Omicron infection 3 and 93% (95% CI = 83%-97%) against COVID-19 hospitalization 4
Special Considerations
Immunocompromised Individuals
- Persons who are moderately or severely immunocompromised who have completed an initial series and received at least 1 dose of a 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine may receive 1 additional age-appropriate dose at least 2 months after the last recommended dose 2, 1
- Further additional doses may be administered based on clinical judgment and personal circumstances, with at least 2 months between doses 2
Safety Considerations
- Common reactions include injection site pain, fatigue, headache, and muscle pain 1
- Serious adverse events are rare 1, 5
- Adverse events should be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) 2
Clinical Benefits
- COVID-19 vaccination significantly reduces risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death across all age groups 1, 4
- Fully vaccinated individuals with breakthrough infections typically experience milder symptoms and shorter illness duration (approximately one half day less sick in bed) compared to unvaccinated individuals 3
- The 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines have demonstrated:
- 33% effectiveness against COVID-19-associated emergency department/urgent care visits among adults ≥18 years
- 45-46% effectiveness against COVID-19-associated hospitalization among immunocompetent adults ≥65 years
- 40% effectiveness against COVID-19-associated hospitalization among immunocompromised adults ≥65 years 1
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Delaying vaccination: All eligible individuals should remain up to date with recommended COVID-19 vaccinations 3
- Incorrect dosing intervals: Follow the recommended intervals between doses based on vaccine type and previous vaccination history 2, 1
- Overlooking special populations: Immunocompromised individuals may require additional doses 2, 1
- Ignoring previous vaccination history: Dosing schedules differ based on previous COVID-19 vaccination status 2, 1
COVID-19 vaccination recommendations continue to evolve as new evidence emerges and as SARS-CoV-2 variants change. The current recommendations reflect the most recent guidance from the CDC and ACIP as of 2024-2025.