COVID-19 vaccines are now recommended for children 6 months through 4 years following action by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This marks another important milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic, extending the life-saving protection of COVID-19 vaccines to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. This is also another crucial step toward strengthening protection against the most severe outcomes of COVID-19 for all Ohioans.
- Moderna: A new, lower dose pediatric formulation is available for children age 6 months through 5 years (two-dose primary series, with a third primary series dose for immunocompromised children).
- The FDA amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) for Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to include use of the vaccine in individuals 6 months through 17 years of age. The vaccine had previously been authorized for use in adults 18 years of age and older and has received full FDA approval for adults.
- The CDC recommended use of the lower-dose vaccine in children age 6 months to 5 years and provided clinical recommendations.
- The CDC’s Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) is scheduled to meet Wednesday-Thursday, June 22-23, to consider Moderna vaccine for children age 6-17 years.
- Pfizer: A new lower dose pediatric formulation is available for children age 6 months through 4 years (three-dose primary series).
- The FDA amended the EUA for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to include use of the vaccine in individuals 6 months through 4 years of age. The vaccine had previously been authorized for use in individuals 5 years of age and older.
- The CDC recommended use of the vaccine in children age 6 months through 4 years and provided clinical recommendations.
Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine products are age-specific with specific doses for different ages. Vaccines for older children should not be used to vaccinate these younger age groups. COVID-19 vaccines are not interchangeable.
Ohio vaccine providers who pre-ordered the new vaccines for children younger than age 5 should expect deliveries of the new vaccines beginning June 20 and may plan to administer vaccines as soon as practical.
Providers who would like to place orders for these two new products or any COVID-19 vaccine product can do so through the ImpactSIIS Vaccine Ordering Management System (VOMS). VOMS is open for orders 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Providers are encouraged to order only one of the two vaccine options initially to avoid administration and/or storage errors, as each vaccine has different and unique criteria for storage and handling.
Due to national demand, placing an order through VOMS in this instance does not guarantee delivery of these new vaccine products for young children. Orders will be processed in the order received. The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has the discretion to adjust orders to ensure equitable distribution of this supply.
- The minimum order quantity will be 100 doses. Providers may choose either the Pfizer or the Moderna vaccines for young children.
- Orders can be placed using the existing COVID-19 – Pfizer and COVID-19 Moderna order sets. The new formulation of each vaccine will be one of the product options available within the order set. Providers must enter the total quantity requested in the “Doses Requested” field in multiples of 100.
- A “soft-cap” maximum of 1,000 doses will be placed on each order at this time to help with the equitable distribution of the vaccine. Please order only what you plan to use in the near future. If you have a special request for a local vaccination effort that would require more than 1,000 doses, please call the ODH Provider Call Center at 1.844.9ODHVAX (1.844.963.4829) and we will work with you.
ODH has prepared Provider Guidance for COVID-19 Vaccines for Children. The guidance includes information about ordering, storage, handling, and administration, as well as messaging and education. This guidance document will be updated following additional federal regulatory action and clinical considerations that will be published by the CDC.
ODH will continue to share updates and resources as we learn more about these COVID-19 vaccine products for children. Thank you for your continued partnership in vaccinating Ohioans.
The ODH COVID-19 Provider website is a hub for a variety of resources for vaccine providers. Vaccine providers with questions may call the ODH Provider Call Center at 1.844.9ODHVAX (1.844.963.4829) between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or email COVIDVACCINE@odh.ohio.gov.