COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Down to 6 Months of Age 

Maine Department of Health & Human Services sent this bulletin at 12/16/2022 12:54 PM EST
Commissioner Lambrew letterhead

To: Maine Immunization Program Providers 

From: Maine Immunization Program 

Subject: COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Down to 6 Months of Age 

Date: December 16, 2022 

 

Provider sites in Maine have received and are beginning to administer their first doses of the Moderna Bivalent Booster vaccine for children 6 months through 5 years and the Pfizer bivalent third dose vaccine for children 6 months through 4 years. We would like to take an opportunity to summarize the recommendations for each presentation, as well as provide important resources for you to reference as you roll-out the infant/toddler bivalent COVID-19 vaccines in your practice. 

Pfizer Bivalent:

  • May be given to those 6 months - 4 years that have received two doses of the (original) monovalent Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.  
    • Those who received three Pfizer monovalent doses will be considered as having completed their primary series and are not eligible to receive an additional bivalent dose. 
    • No booster dose indicated at this time. 
  • Storage & Handling:  
    • Ultra-cold freezer storage (-90°C to -60°C) until expiry  
    • NO FREEZER STORAGE (-25°C to -15°C)  
    • Refrigerate (2°C to 8°C) up to 10 weeks without puncturing  
    • Requires 2.2 mL diluent per vial (providers will NOT be able to opt out of receiving ancillary kits)    
    • Packaged in 10-dose vials in cartons of 10 vials each (100 doses total)  
    • Dose 3mcg/0.2mL  
    • Maroon cap identical to the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech product for this age group  
    • New label identifying the product as a bivalent vaccine (i.e., Original and Omicron BA.4/BA.5)  
    • Once punctured, each vial must be used within 12 hours  

Moderna Bivalent Booster: 

  • Those 6 months - 5 years of age who received the original (monovalent) Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, are eligible to receive a single bivalent booster two months after completion of their primary series or three doses for those who are immunocompromised.  

Storage & Handling: 

  • NO ULTRA-COLD FREEZER STORAGE (-90°C to -60°C)  
  • Freezer storage (-50°C to -15°C) until expiry  
  • Refrigerate (2°C to 8°C) up to 30 days without puncturing    
  • Does not require diluent (providers may opt out of receiving ancillary kits)  
  • Packaged in 2-dose vials in cartons of 10 vials each (20 doses total) 
  • Dose 10mcg/0.2mL  
  • Vial with dark pink cap and yellow border on the label 
  • Once punctured, each vial must be used within 8 hours (Note: This is different than the 12-hour time limit for other Moderna products).  

Please note that for those 6 months through 4 years, mixing brands is not authorized.  

Monovalent Pfizer Vaccine: 

  • The monovalent Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is no longer authorized for use as the third dose of the three-dose primary series in children 6 months - 4 years of age. 
  • It remains authorized for administration to individuals:  
    • 6 months through 4 years of age, as the first two doses of the three-dose primary series  
    • 5 years of age and older, as a two-dose primary series  
    • 5 years of age and older who are immunocompromised, as a third primary series dose  

If you have any questions, please contact the Maine Immunization Program at (207) 287-3746 or email ImmunizeME.DHHS@maine.gov.  

Thank you for your continued efforts to ensure all Mainers have access to COVID-19 vaccination.