Listen for Questions About COVID-19 Vaccines in Children

You'll hear more questions about COVID-19 vaccines for kids...now that Moderna's Spikevax is approved down to age 6.

Spikevax seems to work as well as Pfizer's Comirnaty at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in kids.

And side effects seem comparable to those in adolescents.

But expect Comirnaty to be favoured over Spikevax for children down to 5 years...due to a possible lower risk of heart inflammation.

Most kids receiving Comirnaty or Spikevax will get a 2-dose primary series...or a 3-dose series if they have a weakened immune system (cancer, etc).

Stay alert for errors. Both are IM vaccines...but doses vary among products, age groups, and type of dose (booster, etc).

For younger kids, double-check that you've drawn up 0.2 mL (10 mcg) of Comirnaty for age 5 to 11...or 0.25 mL (50 mcg) of Spikevax for those age 6 to 11.

For children age 12 and over, draw up 0.3 mL (30 mcg) of Comirnaty for the primary series or booster...or 0.5 mL (100 mcg) of Spikevax for the primary series or 0.25 mL (50 mcg) for the booster.

Keep an eye out for the new GREY-capped vial of Comirnaty for age 12 and up...it doesn't require reconstitution.

See our resource, Vaccine Administration Strategies, for advice on calming fears, IM injection technique, minimizing pain, and more.

Stay on top of the fast-moving changes with COVID-19 vaccines. Bookmark our resources, COVID-19 Vaccines and Communicating About COVID-19 Vaccination, for the latest updates.

• Checklist: Vaccine Administration Strategies
• FAQ: Communicating About COVID-19 Vaccination
• Chart: COVID-19 Vaccines