The COVID-19 vaccines for children have the same active ingredients as the primary vaccines given to adults. However, children receive a smaller, age-appropriate dose that is the right size for them. The smaller doses were rigorously tested and found to create the needed immune response for each age group. Your child should get the vaccine made for their age group.
For booster vaccination, CDC recommends eligible people 6 months and older receive an age-appropriate, updated Pfizer or Moderna vaccine that offers better protection against variants. For children age 6 months to 4 years who get the Pfizer primary series, the updated bivalent vaccine will be used as the third dose in the series, rather than as a separate booster. Learn more about the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.