


While three different doses of the monovalent version of this vaccine were available, only two doses of the bivalent version are available. Likewise, the original monovalent Moderna vaccine is no longer authorized for use in the U.S.

Pfizer mRNA bivalent vaccine – This vaccine contains mRNA to protect against two spike proteins from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19: the ancestral, or original strain, and one that protects against a more recent omicron strain, referred to as BA.4/BA.5.has four approved COVID-19 vaccines as of the spring of 2023 however, the two that are most often used based on the current vaccine recommendations are those described as “mRNA vaccines.” Find out more about each vaccine: Last updated: ApWhat COVID-19 vaccines are currently available in the U.S.? You can also check out these videos of clinicians, polio survivors, and families affected by influenza, another disease often thought to be “not too bad.” Millions of vaccines have been administered safely to children at this point.įor a more detailed look at the considerations related to COVID-19 vaccination of children and a series of resources, check out the March 2023 issue of Parents PACK and this April 2023 article penned by Dr.Like adults, some children who have had COVID-19, even mild cases, have experienced lingering symptoms, commonly referred to as “long COVID.” In younger children it may be difficult for them to express what they are feeling or experiencing, which can make this condition even more difficult to identify and address.

Importantly, it appears that newer variants are less likely to cause MIS-C. Some of those children were hospitalized with severe disease or developed a condition called multi-inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), which can damage organs and on rare occasions be deadly. Millions of children have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.While this is a small number compared with the more than 1 million deaths in the U.S., for those families, their world will never be the same. As of mid-April 2023, almost 1,800 children 18 years of age or younger have died from COVID-19.Most healthcare providers agree that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks for our youngest family members: As parents weigh the relative risk and benefits of getting their youngest children vaccinated against COVID-19, some wonder about the need for their child to get a relatively new vaccine when the disease doesn’t seem too bad in most children.
