Updates on COVID-19 Vaccines for Young Children
On June 17, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) to allow for the use of two COVID-19 vaccines in young children (6 months through 5 years of age):
- Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in individuals 6 months through 4 years of age (3-dose primary series)
- Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in individuals 6 months through 5 years of age (2-dose primary series)
On June 18, 2022, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) unanimously recommended that children in that age range be vaccinated against COVID-19 with either of the two vaccines. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky has endorsed these recommendations. Providers may immediately begin administering either vaccine to children in this age group.
Both Pfizer and Moderna young children’s vaccines are a different product than those authorized for older ages. Please note these important points:
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Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is for young children 6 months through 4 years of age, supplied in a multiple dose vial with a maroon cap and a label with a maroon border. It requires dilution. It is a three-dose primary series with doses one and two given three weeks apart and the third dose given at least 8 weeks after the second. Each dose is 0.2 mL after dilution.
- The vial labels may state “Age 2y to < 5y” or “Age 6m to < 5y” and carton labels may state “For age 2 years to < 5 years” or “For age 6 months to < 5 years”.
- Vials with either printed age range can be used for any individuals 6 months through 4 years of age. Pfizer has issued a package discrepancy Dear Healthcare Provider Letter.
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Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is for young children 6 months through 5 years of age, supplied in a multiple dose vial with a dark blue cap and a label with a magenta border and does NOT require dilution. It is a 2-dose primary series (0.25 mL per dose) administered 1 month apart. The vaccine is also authorized to provide a third primary series dose (0.25 mL) to young children 6 months through 5 years of age who are immunocompromised to be administered at least 1 month following the second dose.
- No other COVID-19 vaccine is authorized, approved, or recommended for young children in this age group. The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, or the other presentations of Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, are not to be used for this age group.
Additional Resources:
‘Lil’ Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccines Clinical Considerations
Vaccine Dosage
- Children should receive the age-appropriate COVID-19 vaccine formulation and follow the schedule based on their age on the day of vaccination, regardless of their size or weight.
- If a person moves from a younger age group to an older age group during the COVID-19 vaccine primary series or between the primary series and receipt of the booster dose(s), they should receive the vaccine dosage for the older age group for all subsequent doses.
Interchangeability
- COVID-19 vaccines are not interchangeable.
- The same mRNA COVID-19 vaccine product should be used for all doses of the primary series.
- In exceptional situations in which the mRNA vaccine product administered for a previous dose(s) of the primary series cannot be determined or is not available, either age-appropriate available mRNA COVID-19 vaccine product may be administered at a minimum interval of 28 days between doses to complete the mRNA COVID-19 primary vaccination series.
Coadministration
- COVID-19 vaccines may be administered without regard to timing of other vaccines.
- Extensive experience with non-COVID 19 vaccines has demonstrated that immunogenicity and adverse event profiles are similar when vaccines are administered simultaneously as when they are administered alone.
- Data assessing the outcomes of simultaneous administration of COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines are limited currently.
Independence Day 2022 Holiday Ordering and Shipping Schedule
NO ORDERS WILL BE DELIVERED MONDAY, July 4, 2022- INDEPENDENCE DAY
Moderna and Janssen will not be delivering orders on July 5, 2022.
Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccines
- No COVID-19 vaccine deliveries will occur from Saturday, July 2, through Monday, July 4, 2022.
- Pfizer will be closed for the holiday weekend, and no orders will be processed July 4-5, 2022.
- Orders placed on Friday, July 1, will be delivered on Tuesday, July 5, 2022.
Moderna and J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccines
- No COVID-19 vaccine deliveries will occur Saturday, July 2, through Tuesday, July 5, 2022.
- McKesson will be closed for the holiday weekend. No orders will be processed July 4 or 5, 2022.
- Orders placed by 11:00 a.m. CST on Friday, July 1, will be delivered on Wednesday, July 6, 2022.
The table below summarizes information on the days that vaccine will (or will not) be delivered over the Independence Day Holiday.
 *McKesson Specialty: Moderna & Janssen
If you have questions regarding COVID-19 vaccine deliveries, please contact the VacShipments Team at (833) 832-7068 (Option 2) or email COVID19VacShipments@dshs.Texas.gov
Reminder: Monitor Vaccine Storage & Check Expiration Dates
It is important to maintain your COVID-19 vaccine inventory by assuring proper storage and handling requirements, documenting storage unit temperatures, and regularly monitoring expiration dates. Providers should regularly check inventory for expired COVID-19 vaccine and immediately remove expired inventory. If you are not sure, quarantine COVID-19 your vaccine to ensure that it has been verified.
To obtain the current expiration status of your COVID-19 vaccines, please utilize the appropriate manufacturer Vaccine Expiration Date Lookup Tool as expiration reports in VAOS may not reflect current expiration.
J&J Expiration Date Lookup Tool
Expiry Information for Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccines
Expiry Information for Moderna
Expert Tip! Encourage Sign-up for V-safe
V-safe provides personalized and confidential health check-ins through text messages and web surveys so individuals can quickly and easily share how they, or their dependent(s), feel after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to register their children in v-safe to share how their child is feeling after vaccination to help CDC monitor COVID-19 vaccine safety in near real time.
Enrolling for v-safe is fast and easy. Sign-up is available at any time after a COVID-19 vaccine has been administered. People can add a dependent to v-safe and complete health check-ins on their behalf. V-safe offers information in multiple languages (English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese).
To increase the number of children enrolled in v-safe, providers are encouraged to hang v-safe posters and give families information on v-safe at the time of vaccination. Print materials and a brief video that shows how to record information is available.
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