Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Today, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved a third (booster) dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 through 11 years. This announcement came after CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to recommend a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine in this younger population. FDA authorized the use of a single booster dose for children 5 through 11 years on Tuesday, May 17. COVID-19 vaccine providers can now begin administering third doses of Pfizer vaccine to children aged 5 through 11 years. A full list of vaccine providers can be found at covid19.colorado.gov/vaccinefinder or by calling 1-877-CO VAX CO (1-877-268-2926).

This authorized third dose will help protect children aged 5 through 11 years as COVID-19 transmission in Colorado continues on a slight upward trend due to the omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1. Some immunocompromised children may need four doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Find out how many follow-up doses your child will need for the highest level of protection with our COVID-19 vaccine follow-up dose calculator. 

Colorado children aged 5 through 11 years should get their third dose at least five months after their second dose. If possible, children should receive a third dose prior to summer camp, vacation plans, and other activities. It takes two weeks after getting a third dose to build maximum protection. Children who are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations may be able to avoid quarantining after exposure to COVID-19. Colorado’s Healthy Families and Workplaces Act entitles people to paid time off from work to take their child to a vaccine appointment or care for them if they experience side effects after vaccination.

In addition, CDC strengthened its recommendation that people 50 and older and people 12 and older who are immunocompromised should receive a fourth dose (second booster) at least four months after their first. This update to their previous recommendation comes due to the fact that, while they have the highest coverage of any age group of third doses, most older Americans received their last dose many months ago and this leaves them potentially more vulnerable to the worst outcomes.

Vaccines are the safest, most effective way to slow the spread of COVID-19 and help avoid the worst outcomes — severe illness, hospitalization, and death — among those who do become infected. The authorization makes everyone in the United States aged 5 and older eligible for a third dose of the lifesaving vaccine. Currently, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is the only vaccine authorized or approved for children ages 5 through 17 years.

Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.