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Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccination FAQs

Should I vaccinate my child?

Yes, everyone age 6 months and older should get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible. Although fewer children have been infected with COVID-19 compared to adults, children can:

  • Be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19
  • Get very sick from COVID-19
  • Experience both short and long-term health complications from COVID-19
  • Spread COVID-19 to others

Did you know?

  • COVID-19 vaccines have been tested under the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history
  • Your child cannot catch COVID-19 from approved COVID-19 vaccines
  • Children with underlying medical conditions are more at risk for severe illness from COVID-19
  • Children diagnosed with COVID-19 can also develop serious complications such as multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C)
Get the Facts

Booster Doses

Many available vaccines require boosters. Boosters help increase your immune response, which may decline over time. Everyone age 6 months and older can get a COVID-19 booster.

  • Children ages 6 months through 5 years who previously completed a Moderna primary vaccine series are eligible to receive a Moderna bivalent booster 2 months after their final primary series dose.
  • Children ages 6 months through 4 years who are currently completing a Pfizer primary vaccine series will receive a Pfizer bivalent vaccine as their third primary dose.
  • Learn more about booster shot eligibility.
 

Vaccination Scheduling Options:

Please review our vaccination appointment guide before you arrive.


Yes, vaccination is safe for children 6 months and older. The benefits outweigh any potential risks. Get your children vaccinated as soon as they are eligible. Vaccination will help protect your child from severe illness and hospitalization due to COVID-19 infection. Vaccination will also help prevent your child from transmitting the virus to others.

View the vaccine fact sheets:

Learn more about the process of developing, authorizing and approving COVID-19 vaccines.

Like many vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines may cause mild side effects, like a sore arm, body aches, headache, a fever, or tiredness for a day or two. These are signs that your child’s immune system is responding to the vaccine and building immunity to the virus.

  • Use the V-safe health checker to tell the CDC about any symptoms your child had after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. 
Yes, your child may get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines, including the flu vaccine, at the same time. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) supports kids getting routine immunizations at the same time as, or close to when they, get a COVID-19 vaccine. This is especially important if kids missed getting some vaccines during the pandemic.
Yes, kids and young adults can and should get a vaccine even if they have had COVID-19. After they are fully recovered from illness due to COVID-19, vaccination can help protect kids and young adults from getting sick again.

There are no known risks to getting the vaccine after being infected with coronavirus. And, it is thought that people get better protection by being fully vaccinated compared with just having had COVID-19.

Kids and teens are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after completion of their primary vaccine series. However, MaineHealth doctors strongly recommend that kids continue to stay up-to-date with all recommended booster doses.

It is also important to continue practices that help limit the spread of COVID-19. Learn more about what you and your child or teen can do after being fully-vaccinated.

The vaccines are the same but the dosages are lower for children under 12 years old.

Pfizer Age 5 years to under 12 years

  • The Pfizer primary vaccine series for this age groups is two doses at one third the strength of adult doses.

Pfizer Age 6 months to under 5 years

  • The Pfizer primary vaccine series for this age group is three doses at one tenth the strength of adult doses.

Moderna Age 6 months to under 6 years

  • The Moderna primary vaccine series for this age group is two doses at one quarter the strength of adult doses.                                            

View the vaccine fact sheets:

Nathan Bennett holds son Zachary Bennett on his lap during an appointment at MMP Westbrook Pediatrics

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