Updated COVID-19 boosters available for children 6 months, older in NC

North Carolina is preparing to offer updated COVID-19 boosters for children six months and older.

Wake County plans to begin allowing parents to schedule their children’s booster appointments Friday morning.

“Our healthcare system is taking a hard hit with a surge in COVID-19, flu and RSV cases across our community,” said Wake County Public Health Director Rebecca Kaufman. “These updated boosters can help prevent your little one from getting seriously ill or hospitalized with COVID-19 and ensure our hospitals have pediatric beds available for those who need them.”

Children ages 6 months to 5 years old, who previously completed a Moderna two-dose primary series, are eligible to receive a Moderna bivalent booster two months after their first two shots.

The Pfizer vaccine for children 6 months to 4 years old is given in three separate doses. So those who have completed their three-shot series will not be eligible for an updated booster dose at this time. Children in that age group who have only received the first two doses can receive a Pfizer bivalent vaccine as their third primary dose.