How is this vaccine given?
Read all vaccine information sheets provided to you.
The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is given as an injection (shot) into a muscle, in a series of 2 shots given 3 weeks apart.
The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is fully approved for people at least 16 years old. The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for emergency use in people who are 5 years to 15 years old.
The Pfizer vaccine is also authorized for emergency use in a series of 3 shots for people 5 years and older who have received an organ transplant or have certain types of immunosuppression. The first 2 shots are given 3 weeks apart and the third shot is given at least 28 days after the second shot.
The first booster dose of Pfizer vaccine given at least 5 months after the second shot is also authorized for emergency use in people who are 12 years and older.
The first booster dose is given at least 5 months after you received all required doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. If you are 18 years and older, you can receive Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for your booster dose. If you are 12 through 17 years old, you should only receive Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster dose.
The second booster dose of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is given to people 50 years and older at least 4 months after the first booster dose was given.
A second booster dose of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine can also be given at least 4 months after the first booster dose to people 12 years and older who have received an organ transplant or have certain types of immunosuppression.
The doctor or vaccination provider will determine whether your child needs a booster dose.
You will receive a reminder card showing the date and type of each injection. Take this card with you each time your child receives a COVID-19 vaccine.
Your child will be "fully vaccinated" if it has been at least 2 weeks since he or she has received the last dose of this vaccine. Your child may become infected with COVID-19 if the vaccine has not had enough time to provide protection.
Even after your child is fully vaccinated, keep using infection control methods when you are in public or around others who may not have been vaccinated. This includes social distancing, hand-washing, using protective face covering, disinfecting surfaces you touch a lot, and not sharing personal items with others.
Receiving a COVID-19 vaccine will not cause your child to test positive on a coronavirus test. However, once your child's body develops immunity to COVID-19, he or she could test positive on an antibody test (a test to detect immunity in your body from previous exposure to coronavirus).
It is not known how long this vaccine will protect your child from infection with COVID-19. It also is not known how long immunity will last in a person who's been infected with and recovered from COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccine is still being studied and all of its risks are not yet known. Updated federal public health recommendations may be found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html