Kids and the COVID-19 Vaccine

We recommend the COVID-19 Vaccine for children starting at age 6 months

With the CDC’s recent recommendation that beginning at 6 months old, all children should receive the COIVD-19 vaccine, our pediatric providers are preparing to vaccinate your littlest ones. If your child has a well visit scheduled, talk with your pediatric provider about including the COVID-19 vaccine in their immunization schedule.

If you don’t currently have an appointment on the books, know that we’re working hard to be ready to vaccinate our younger patients in the coming weeks. We will continue communicating our timeline with patients and the communities we serve. We will be holding vaccine clinics based on vaccine availability and staffing in our pediatric clinics.   

For the sake of consistency, at this time Trinity Health IHA Medical Group pediatric offices will be offering 3-dose Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for kids 6 months and older, however the CDC does not have a preference for one COVID-19 vaccine over another. Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Pediatrics has been vaccinating children ages 12 and up since May of 2021, and we have confidence that the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for our patients.  We will consider carrying Moderna in the future. If you choose to get Moderna 2 dose series, we recommend calling your local health department.

Pfizer COVID vaccine is a 3-dose series for patients 6 month - 4 years:

• Effectiveness: For 6 months to 2 years old after 3 doses it is 75% effective, for 2-4 year olds after 3 does it is 82% effective 
• Dosing: at least 3-8 weeks between doses 1 & 2, then another 8 weeks between doses 2 & 3.
  • 3-week dosing is recommended for those 6 months to 11 years for doses 1-2.

Since November 2021, we have been using the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11.It is a 2-dose series. Each dose is 1/3 the dosage of the adolescent/adult vaccine. this age group. 

Children Ages 5-11 Years:

As of June 22, 2022, the CDC recorded:

10.2 million US children ages 5-11 have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine

• Representing 36% of 5-11 year-olds

8.3 million US children ages 5-11 completed the 2-dose vaccination series

Vaccine appointments available for children

IHA Pediatrics is offering COVID-19 vaccines to current patients ages 6 months to 18 years.
At this time, appointments are available for children 5 years and older, and availability is limited. Our teams are working diligently to increase the number of appointments available for children at Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Pediatrics practice locations. Thank you for your patience. If you have trouble finding an appointment, we encourage you to search vaccines.gov and enter your zip code to easily find locations in your community where vaccines are available. You may also visit your local health department website for vaccination sites near you.

Top questions parents ask about the COVID-19 vaccine for children

COVID-19 Vaccine Booster & Third Dose - What you need to know

For booster and third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, you do not need to go back to the same IHA location where you received your first 2 doses. Appointment availability is limited. If you are having trouble finding an appointment, visit the CDC Vaccine Finder website:
Find your next dose at Vaccines.gov

There are questions about the need for additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Read below to learn more about the difference between a booster shot and a third dose and the eligibility for each.

COVID-19 Vaccine Booster - Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson

A COVID-19 booster shot is an additional dose of a vaccine given after the protection provided by the initial dose naturally begins to decrease over time. The booster is designed to help people maintain their level of immunity for longer.

Booster Eligibility

Everyone ages 5 years and older should get 1 booster after completing their COVID-19 vaccine primary series, if eligible.

COVID-19 Vaccine Third Dose - Pfizer & Moderna

IHA is offering third doses of COVID-19 vaccine to individuals who received either the Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty) or Moderna vaccines and have a qualifying medical condition, based on FDA and CDC guidance.

Third Dose Eligibility

Based on CDC recommendations, third vaccine doses are available now for people who are considered moderately or severely immunosuppressed and those:

• Aged 5 years and older who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine

Any person who fits the above criteria can receive a third dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine as soon as 28 days after their second dose. If you are not sure whether you fit into any of these categories, please contact your medical provider.