On June 18, 2022, the CDC expanded their COVID-19 vaccine recommendation to include children ages 6 months through 5 years.  

 As we’ve previously shared, employees may use up to four hours of administrative leave to accompany a family member to receive any authorized COVID-19 dose (including a booster for those that are eligible or an additional dose for immunocompromised individuals). Employees may use this leave flexibility to accompany their children ages 6 months through 5 years who are getting a COVID-19 vaccine. 

When is a Child a Qualifying Family Member? 

You may receive administrative leave in connection with the vaccination of a child if that child is your qualifying family member under 5 CFR 630.201.  

Specifically, a child must fall into one of the four categories below:  

1. a biological, adopted, step or foster child of the employee
2. a legal ward of the employee
3. a person for whom the employee stands in loco parentis
4. a child of the employee’s spouse or domestic partner under the terms described in conditions (1)-(3). 

Using and Coding Administrative Leave 

• Leave-eligible employees are provided with up to four hours of administrative leave per vaccine dose—for example, up to a total of twelve hours of leave for a family member receiving three doses—for each family member the employee accompanies.  
• If you spend less time accompanying a family member receiving the vaccine, only the needed amount of administrative leave will be granted. 
• You should obtain advance approval from your supervisor before using administrative leave for COVID-19 vaccination purposes.  
• You should record the leave as administrative leave, pay code 060, and your timecard must include payroll remarks “COVID Related Activities.”  
• You may not be credited with administrative leave or overtime work for time spent outside your tour of duty helping a family member get vaccinated.  

Additional Vaccine Related Administrative Leave: 

Administrative leave will continue to be granted for 

• Receiving COVID-19 vaccination doses 
• Receiving booster vaccinations 
• Post vaccine recovery 
• Accompanying a family member to get vaccinated 

Information is available on IBCnet describing leave flexibilities for COVID-19 vaccinations. Information and guidance on booster shots is available on the CDC website.