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Kids and the Updated 2023-2024 COVID Vaccine

Updated Oct. 25, 2023

Henry Ford Health now offers the updated 2023-2024 COVID vaccine in our primary care centers. Parents/legal guardians can schedule COVID-19 vaccination appointments for their children using MyChart or by calling their doctor's office.

Getting your child vaccinated for COVID

COVID vaccine timing and doses for children

Details about the COVID vaccines, safety and effectiveness

Vaccine side effects

Vaccination after COVID

Doubts about vaccination

Children with allergies, ADHD and disabilities

Vaccines and preservatives

Getting your child vaccinated for COVID

Can my child receive the updated 2023-2024 COVID vaccine?

Children ages 6 months and older can be vaccinated against COVID-19. Parents can make appointments for children to receive the Pfizer vaccine at one of our primary care or pediatric centers. Schedule an appointment using MyChart. If you do not have MyChart, sign up today. 

Do I need to wait for an appointment with my child’s doctor to get the vaccine?

No, you can schedule a vaccine appointment with a nurse at any Henry Ford Primary Care location for your child. Your child must be a Henry Ford Health patient. To schedule an appointment, log into MyChart, choose the option “COVID-19 vaccine,” answer a few questions, then pick the location and time that works for you. The appointment does not need to be at the location where your child usually receives care.

I have an appointment coming up for a checkup/other vaccines for my child – can they get the COVID vaccine then?

In most cases, yes, if your child already has an appointment scheduled for a check-up or to receive other vaccines, your child can receive a COVID vaccine at that appointment. You can come to your appointment and request it then.

What should I bring to my child’s vaccination appointment?

Any child under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Please bring your own ID and your child’s insurance card, if you have one. Vaccine cards are not needed.

I'm a patient at Henry Ford Health – can my child get vaccinated there?

As long as your child is also a patient, they can be vaccinated at one of our pediatric or family medicine centers. If you are a patient but your child is not, they cannot be vaccinated at Henry Ford Health.

Where can my child get vaccinated outside of Henry Ford Health?

Visit www.Michigan.gov/covidvaccine for non-Henry Ford Health vaccination options. Some pharmacies, Federally Qualified Health Centers, local health departments, clinics, and other locations also offer COVID-19 vaccines for children. Children under age 5 are usually vaccinated at their doctor’s office. Most retail pharmacies in Michigan can vaccinate children age 3 and older; CVS MinuteClinic locations can vaccinate children 18 months and older.

My child received a past dose at our local pharmacy/city/county vaccination site. Can we come to Henry Ford Health for the next dose?

Yes, you may schedule a next dose at a Henry Ford Health Pediatrics or Family Medicine center, even if your child did not receive the vaccine previously at Henry Ford Health. We will be able to access the record of your child’s vaccinations and advise on what they need at this time. Remember that your child must be a Henry Ford Health patient in order to receive the vaccine at Henry Ford Health.

Is there anything I should tell the vaccine provider before my child or teenager gets the COVID vaccine?

Please tell the provider about all of your child’s or teenager’s medical conditions, including if they:

  • have any allergies
  • ever had myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) or pericarditis (inflammation of the lining outside the heart)
  • have a fever
  • have a bleeding disorder or are on a blood thinner
  • are immunocompromised or on a medicine that affects their immune system
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
  • are breastfeeding
  • have received another COVID-19 vaccine in the past
  • have ever fainted in association with an injection

Do I need to ask my child's doctor if it's ok to receive the vaccine?

If your child does not have any specific health concerns, you may schedule an appointment without talking to your child’s doctor. If you have concerns or questions that are not answered in these FAQs, please call your pediatrician’s or family doctor’s office.

COVID vaccine timing and doses for children

What is the right COVID vaccine timing for my child?

If you aren’t sure when your child’s last COVID shot was and your child needs one now, do not worry. Our team will check your child’s medical record for any previous doses of COVID vaccine and their current age to determine the right timing and schedule. For the updated 2023-2024 Pfizer vaccine, it is based on age and doses of previous COVID vaccines, as shown below.

Children 5 and older

  • This age group receives 1 dose of the updated 2023-2024 COVID vaccine.
  • If your child never had a COVID vaccine in the past, it can be given any time.
  • If your child received a COVID vaccine in the past, the updated 2023-2024 vaccine can be given 8 weeks or longer after the last shot they received.

Children ages 6 months through 4 years

  • If your child never received a COVID vaccine in the past, they will receive:
    • Dose 1: At your first appointment
    • Dose 2: Three weeks after dose 1
    • Dose 3: About 8 weeks after dose 2
  • If your child received one dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine before fall 2023, they will receive:
    • Dose 1: Three weeks or more after receiving their last shot
    • Dose 2: About 8 weeks after dose 1
  • If your child received 2 to 4 doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine before fall 2023, they will receive:
    • One dose, given 8 weeks or longer after their last shot

My child is moderately/severely immunocompromised. What are the recommendations for them?

For the updated 2023-2024 Pfizer vaccine, moderately/severely immunocompromised children should follow the schedule below, based on age and previous doses of vaccine (before the updated fall 2023-2024 vaccine). If you are unsure of the timing for the updated vaccine for your immunocompromised child, talk to your child’s doctor for guidance.

Youth 12+ years old who are immunocompromised and never received a COVID vaccine:

  • Dose 1: At your first appointment
  • Dose 2: Three weeks after the first dose
  • Dose 3: Four weeks after the second dose
  • Follow recommendations from your child’s doctor for any additional doses

Youth 12+ years old who are immunocompromised and received one dose of a COVID vaccine in the past:

  • Dose 1: Three weeks after the last dose
  • Dose 2: Four weeks after the last dose
  • Follow recommendations from your child’s doctor for any additional doses

Youth 12+ years old who are immunocompromised and received two doses of a COVID vaccine in the past:

  • Dose 1: Three weeks after the last dose
  • Follow recommendations from your child’s doctor for any additional doses

Youth 12+ years old who are immunocompromised and received three or more doses of a COVID vaccine in the past:

  • Dose 1: At least 8 weeks after the last dose
  • Follow recommendations from your child’s doctor for any additional doses

Children 5 to 11 years old who are immunocompromised and never received a COVID vaccine:

  • Dose 1: At your first appointment
  • Dose 2: Three weeks after the last dose
  • Dose 3: Four weeks after the last dose
  • Follow recommendations from your child’s doctor for any additional doses

Children 5 to 11 years old who are immunocompromised and received one dose of a COVID vaccine in the past:

  • Dose 1: Three weeks after the last dose
  • Dose 2: About 4 weeks after last dose
  • Follow recommendations from your child’s doctor for any additional doses

Children 5 to 11 years old who are immunocompromised and received two doses of a COVID vaccine in the past:

  • Dose 1: Four weeks after the last dose
  • Follow recommendations from your child’s doctor for any additional doses

Children 5 to 11 years old who are immunocompromised and received three or more doses of a COVID vaccine in the past:

  • Dose 1: At least eight weeks after the last dose
  • Follow recommendations from your child’s doctor for any additional doses

Children ages 6 months through 4 years who are immunocompromised:

  • If your child never received a COVID vaccine in the past, they will receive:
    • Dose 1: At your first appointment
    • Dose 2: Three weeks after last dose
    • Dose 3: At least 8 weeks after the last dose
  • If your child received one dose of Pfizer vaccine in the past, they will receive:
    • Dose 1: Three weeks or more after receiving their last shot
    • Dose 2: At least 8 weeks after the last dose
  • If your child received 2 doses of Pfizer vaccine before fall 2023, they will receive:
    • One dose, given at least 8 weeks after the last dose
  • If your child received 3 or more doses of Pfizer vaccine before fall 2023, they will receive:
    • One additional dose at least 8 weeks after the last dose
    • Follow recommendations from your child’s doctor for any additional doses

Does my child need more than one dose of the updated 2023-2024 COVID vaccine?

Children ages 5 and older who are not immunocompromised need only one dose. Children ages 6 months to 4 years who are not immunocompromised may need 1, 2, or 3 doses, depending on whether they received a COVID vaccine in the past. The care team at Henry Ford Health will look at your child’s age and medical record to determine how many doses they need and the timing.

Is the child's Pfizer vaccine the same as the adult vaccine?

For children ages 12 years and older, the Pfizer vaccine is the same as the adult vaccine. For children ages 11 and under, the dose is half the size of the adult dose. The dose was carefully adjusted to be effective with the smallest dose and least amount of side effects. For younger children, smaller needles specially designed for children are also used.

Is the dose based on a child’s age or weight?

The dose of the vaccine is based on the age of the child on the day of vaccination. It is not based on weight.

How important is the third dose for children 6 months through 4 years old?

The third dose is very important and key to protecting your little one. The effectiveness of COVID vaccines in children rises significantly after dose 3.

My child needs 2 or 3 doses. What if we are not able to come in when we need to get the second or third dose?

The timing for dose 2 and dose 3 can be moved up to four days earlier or later. Please talk to the care team when your child receives dose 1 or 2 about scheduling the next dose.

If my child needs two doses, and is 11 years old for their first dose and 12 years old when they are due for the second dose, which size dose should they get?

Your child should get the dose that is recommended for their age on the day of vaccination. If your child is 11 on the date they receive the first dose, they will receive the dose formulated for children ages 5 – 11. If they are 12 when they return for dose 2, they can receive the adult dose.

Will my child need more COVID shots in the future?

The updated 2023-2024 COVID vaccine was designed to target the types of COVID going around this fall and winter, just like the flu shot is designed to protect against the type of flu that will be going around. We expect COVID and flu shots to be treated much the same way into the future: Every fall, it’s time for your COVID and flu shot to protect yourself and your child for the coming fall and winter.

Can I make an appointment for my child if they have not turned 6 months old yet?

You must wait until your child has reached 6 months of age before you can schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment at Henry Ford Health.

Will the vaccine be available for children younger than 6 months of age in the future?

At this time, we don’t expect the COVID-19 vaccines will be available for children younger than 6 months. Pregnant mothers who are vaccinated will transfer protective antibodies to their babies before they are born. This protection will last about 6 months.

Details about the COVID vaccines, safety and effectiveness

Which brand of vaccines are authorized for children?

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are authorized for children ages 6 months and older. Novavax is authorized for people ages 12 and older. Henry Ford Health offers only the Pfizer vaccine.

Why does Henry Ford Health only offer Pfizer?

While all the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, they have different storage and dosing requirements. Having the same brand of COVID vaccine at our many primary care and pediatric centers, which also offer all other routine vaccines, is more efficient and safer at every step – from ordering to storage, transport and delivery to our patients.

Does it matter what brand of the vaccine my child receives?

If your child needs more than 1 dose of the updated 2023-2024 vaccine, they should receive the same brand for all doses. Your child does not need to receive the same brand of vaccine they received in the past, before fall 2023.

How do we know the Pfizer vaccine is safe for kids?

COVID-19 vaccines have undergone—and will continue to undergo—the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. The safety profile is similar to placebo, which means that there was very little difference in allergic reactions and side effects between children who received the vaccine and children who did not. Before the FDA can authorize any vaccine for emergency use, the vaccine must go through a rigorous vetting process.

In June 2023, Kaiser Permanente and the CDC conducted a review of the medical records of 245,000 young children who received mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna) COVID vaccines. No serious side effects were discovered.

To date, the Pfizer vaccine has been given to hundreds of millions of people around the world safely and effectively. The mRNA technology used to manufacture the vaccine has been used for decades in other treatments.

How effective are the COVID vaccines for children?

Study results are clear: COVID vaccines are safe and effective for all age groups, including children. These studies with past vaccine formulas were reviewed by the FDA:

  • A study with children ages 6 months–4 years old showed the vaccine was 73% effective at preventing COVID.
  • A study with children ages 5–11 years suggested that the COVID vaccines were 91% effective in preventing COVID-19.
  • A study of children ages 12–15 years showed that the vaccines were highly effective, with none of the teens in the group who received the COVID vaccine getting COVID.
  • A study of youth ages 12–18 years found the vaccine 93% effective at preventing COVID.

Vaccine side effects

What are the side effects for children from the Pfizer vaccine?

For children, commonly reported side effects are pain and swelling at the injection site, headache, chills, muscle pain, joint pain, fever, irritability, tiredness, and feeling unwell. These are not all the side effects, but many of the common ones. Side effects are usually mild to moderate and occur within two days after vaccination, and most go away within one to two days. The vaccine did not cause more side effects in children than in adults. If your child experiences side effects after vaccination, you can give them Tylenol. But don’t give it to them before vaccination—only after, and only if they experience pain—as it could blunt the immune response. If you have concerns about your child’s wellness after receiving the vaccine, contact your doctor or health provider.

Will my child have long-term side effects from the vaccine?

No vaccine, including the COVID vaccines, has caused side effects beginning more than two months after receiving the vaccine. All vaccines are made to disintegrate safely in the body. COVID-19 vaccines will continue to be monitored more intensively than any other vaccine in U.S. history.

Will the vaccine cause myocarditis in children?

Myocarditis, a rare heart condition that a small amount of people have experienced after vaccination, is a very rare side effect. The risk of heart inflammation after contracting a COVID-19 infection is much higher than it is after vaccination. When reported after vaccination, it usually affects teenagers and young adult men.

Vaccination after COVID

Is vaccination needed if my child already had COVID-19?

Yes, if your child had COVID-19 in the past, they should be vaccinated. The vaccine will provide a much higher level of protection that is longer lasting than natural immunity. Vaccination may also prevent your child from getting COVID-19 again. If they do get COVID-19, their symptoms will most likely be milder. If your child was recently sick with COVID-19, you should wait until they no longer have symptoms and are feeling better to get the vaccine.

Doubts about vaccination

COVID doesn’t affect children like it does adults. Why should my child get vaccinated?

While young children tend to have milder symptoms, they do become sick and can even die from COVID-19. In children, COVID-19 has been linked to other health concerns. One is multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), a rare but serious condition in which different body parts become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs. It can occur 2-6 weeks after having COVID. In addition, COVID-19 infection has been linked to myocarditis, inflammation of the heart. Other complications include long-haul symptoms that can linger for months.

Vaccinated children are less likely to get sick from the virus and can maintain their normal routines – going to school or daycare, socializing, and taking part in favorite activities. In addition, a child who is vaccinated is less likely get sick and pass COVID-19 to vulnerable people, such as grandparents, other relatives, teachers and child care providers. When more people are vaccinated, is prevents new variants that are resistant to our current vaccines from developing.

I’m unsure about getting the vaccine for my child. What should I do?

We encourage you to talk to your pediatrician or family physician. We understand that some parents feel hesitant. Your child’s doctor will partner with you to answer your questions, go over your concerns, and help you make a decision for your child.

Children with allergies, ADHD and disabilities

My child has allergies. Can they get the vaccine?

At this time, we don’t expect the COVID-19 vaccines will be available for children younger than 6 months. Pregnant mothers who are vaccinated will transfer protective antibodies to their babies before they are born. This protection will last about 6 months.

What is an “allergic reaction?”

An allergic reaction happens within minutes to hours of taking a medication. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, wheezing, itching, a rash, hives, and swelling of the face/lips.

Are the COVID-19 vaccines safe for children who have ADHD?

If your child has ADHD, it is safe for them to get vaccinated.

Should kids with developmental disabilities get vaccinated?

Kids with developmental disabilities are more susceptible to COVID-19 and may have greater challenges when it comes to washing their hands, avoiding touching their eyes, nose or mouth, and social distancing. For these reasons, they may be at a higher risk for getting and spreading the virus. For their protection and the protection of others, it is important to vaccinate children with developmental disabilities.

Vaccines and preservatives

Are there preservatives in the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children?

No, there are no preservatives in the vaccine. In fact, once a vial is opened, it is discarded after 12 hours even if all the doses are not given.

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