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The CDC has now made teenagers eligible for booster shots of their COVID-19 vaccine. Previously, boosters were available only for adults 18 and older. Children with compromised immune systems can also receive a third primary dose, even if they are not yet old enough for a booster.
The timeline for teenagers differs from that of the general public. While most people should receive their booster six months after completing their initial vaccine series, children aged 12 to 17 should receive theirs five months after their second dose.
Currently, only Pfizer vaccines are being discussed for this age group. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are not authorized for children in this age range. (For a handy reference, there’s a chart here showing which vaccines are authorized for each age group, just in case you forget, as I sometimes do.)
Here are the recommendations for children aged 5 and older:
First dose of Pfizer
At least three weeks later, a second dose of Pfizer
If the child is 12 or older, five months after the second dose, they can receive a Pfizer booster.
The CDC also suggests a third primary dose for children over 5 who are considered “moderately to severely” immunocompromised. This is not classified as a booster; instead, they follow a three-dose primary series rather than two. This aligns with the recommendation for immunocompromised adults. Here’s what a vaccination schedule would look like for an immunocompromised child:
First dose of Pfizer
At least three weeks later, a second dose of Pfizer
At least four weeks after the second dose, a third Pfizer dose
If the child is at least 12 years old, then five months after the third dose, they can receive a Pfizer booster.
These schedules mirror those for adults, except for the timing of boosters. For 12-to-17-year-olds, the booster comes five months after the final primary dose, whereas for adults, it’s six months after the final shot.
