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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

 COVID-19 Vaccination Information for Children Under 5 

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is approved for children 6 months - 17 years old. Before being authorized for children, scientists and medical experts completed their review of safety and effectiveness data from clinical trials of thousands of children. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine requires two doses 21 days apart for full protection and is the first and only vaccine currently available for this age group. The dose for children ages 6 months - 5 years is one-third of the dosage of the vaccine for older adolescents and adults. 

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If you have a regular doctor that your child sees for their other vaccines, we recommend calling their office to schedule an appointment. If you don't' have a regular doctor for your child, there will be opportunities at local pharmacies and other community clinics.

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COVID-19 vaccines for children 6 months and older will be offered at each Walk-In Wednesday Clinic at Sunnyview Expo Center. 

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You can find a list of all local vaccine clinics HERE or visit www.vaccine.gov. Not all clinics will offer vaccination options for children; please call the location directly or reach out to our COVID-19 Hotline staff at 920-232-3026

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Additional Resources:

Frequently Asked Questions:

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  • Q: Why should children get the COVID-19 vaccine?

    • Medical and public health experts, including the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend that children age 6 months and older and adolescents older get a COVID-19 vaccine to help protect them from contracting and spreading the virus.

    • The vaccine is the best way to protect children from becoming severely ill or having long-lasting health impacts due to COVID-19. COVID-19 has become one of the top 10 causes of pediatric death, and tens of thousands of children and teens have been hospitalized with COVID-19. While children and adolescents are typically at lower risk than adults of becoming severely ill or hospitalized from COVID-19, it is still possible.

    • Another important reason for children to get the COVID-19 vaccine is to protect their friends, family, and the broader community from the spread of the virus. As vaccination rates increase, the lower the chances that the coronavirus will mutate into dangerous variants. 

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  • Q: Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe for children?

    • Yes. Keeping children safe and healthy is top of mind for parents, and scientists have worked to ensure the vaccine is safe for children ages 6 months - 17 years old. Before being authorized for children, scientists and medical experts completed their review of safety and effectiveness data from clinical trials of thousands of children. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was rigorously tested and reviewed, and more than 11 million adolescents ages 12-17 have already received the COVID-19 vaccine. As of November 2, the Pfizer vaccine is also authorized for children ages 5-11.

    • Data from trials will continue to be collected for two years after each vaccine is first administered to ensure that they are safe for the long term. As with all vaccines, there will be ongoing monitoring among people who are vaccinated.​

  • Q: Will children experience any side effects from the vaccine? I’ve heard about myocarditis.

    • Side effects to the COVID-19 vaccines are typically mild and subside in one to two days — like soreness in the arm, fatigue, headaches, or a slight fever.

    • The risk of a child having a serious adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine is very low. One rare complication that has been linked to the COVID-19 vaccine is myocarditis (inflammation of the heart), and data demonstrate a higher risk for such inflammation among younger males. However, reports of these complications are rare. The risk of developing myocarditis after a COVID-19 infection is about 0.000054% or approximately 54 cases in one million.

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  • Q:  Is parental consent required for individuals under the age of 18 to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Wisconsin?​​

    • A: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state laws establish vaccination requirements for school-aged children. In Wisconsin, the age of majority is 18 years of age, unless legally considered an adult by the courts (emancipated). Therefore all individuals under 18 years of age not legally considered an adult by the courts (unemancipated) require parent or guardian consent to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

    • In Wisconsin, vaccinators are able to accept written or verbal (i.e., via telephone) consent to administer the COVID-19 vaccine from the minor’s legal parent or guardian who cannot be present at the time of vaccination. Vaccinators are not required to accept written or verbal consent but are permitted to accept these forms of consent should they choose to do so. WI DHS does not have a sample written consent form for vaccinators to use. Vaccinators are encouraged to work with their own legal counsel regarding methods of consent for vaccinating minors in their clinic.

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  • Tips:

    • How to be there for your child during vaccination: Many parents put off check-ups because they dread how their children might act when they need a shot. If your child, or you, are afraid of pain from getting a vaccine, you are not alone. At least two-thirds of children and one-fourth of adults have a fear of needles. There are simple ways to help make it a positive, calm and even pain-free poke. In fact, you can follow some easy steps, and immunizations may not bother your child at all. 

    • According to the CDC and DHS guidance, adults and adolescents who are fully vaccinated do not need to quarantine after close contact with a  confirmed case of COVID-19. That means that parents and guardians do not need to worry about their fully vaccinated children having to miss out on in-person events.

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Additional Resources:

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