COVID-19 vaccine checklist for children age 5 and older

​​        The COVID-19 vaccine is now available to kids 5 years old and up. The COVID shot for children 5 years to 11 years old is a lower dose than the dose recommended for people 12 years and older. The only COVID-19 vaccine presently available for children older than 5 years in the U.S. is the Pfizer BioNTech mRNA vaccine.
        The American Academy of Pediatrics offers parents a checklist as they prepare for their children’s COVID-19 vaccination:
        • Call your child's pediatrician or primary care doctor’s office and tell them you're planning to have your child vaccinated. Ask them questions about any concerns you may have.
        • Schedule your child's COVID-19 vaccine appointment at your pediatrician's office, vaccination clinic, pharmacy, community vaccination site, church or school. Some sites may even have walk-in hours.
        • Your child can also receive routine shots at the same appointment for the COVID-19 shot. This includes getting an annual influenza shot. Ask if your child is caught up on all routine immunizations.
        • Talk with your child before the appointment. Many parents may have concerns about how their child might act when they need a shot. But there are simple ways to help make it a positive, calm experience.
        • After your child receives their first vaccine, schedule the second dose. Make sure that your pediatrician's office has a copy of the card in your child's medical record. Your child's school or college health office also may need a copy of the card.
        • Keep the paper vaccination card you will receive. Don't laminate the vaccination card, in case more information needs to be added. Take a photo of it or copy it and keep everything in a safe place. And to avoid identity theft risk, don't share a photo of the card on social media.
        The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all eligible children age 5 and older, and adults, should get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they can. Your child is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the second dose of the vaccine.  
        AAP urges parents to encourage their children to keep doing their part to protect others by wearing a face mask and following other steps to keep people with a high risk of infection safe.
        Find more information and health tips at healthychildren.org.