How to Find a COVID Vaccine for Your Young Child

COVID vaccines are finally allowed and recommended for children aged 6 months and older, and young children across the country can finally get vaccinated. But where exactly? Scheduling this round of shots is a little more difficult than what you might have done for yourself or your older children.

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What is the minimum age to get the COVID vaccine at the pharmacy?

Different pharmacies have different rules about how young children they can vaccinate. Here are some of the minimum ages in major chains:

CVS can make vaccines for children 5 years of age and older at the pharmacy, and for children 18 months of age and older at MinuteClinic .

Walgreens : Ages 3 and up .

Rite Aid : Ages 3 and up .

Costco : Ages 3 and up .

The Kroger Immunization Scheduler allows you to make appointments for children 1 year of age and older .

Walmart told news outlets that it would vaccinate children as young as 3 years old.

Even if your child meets the age requirements, not all pharmacies can vaccinate young children. Pharmacies say childhood vaccines are available at “select locations”, so if you can’t find an appointment near you, broaden your search to include more locations.

Pharmacies can also vary depending on which vaccine they have: the two-dose Moderna or the three-dose Pfizer.

Where else can young children get the COVID vaccine?

Vaccines for young children come in a different dosage than for older children and adults, so the place where these vaccines are stocked cannot administer the vaccine for younger children unless they have ordered and received that particular version.

Vaccines for this age group are distributed differently than for older children, with more going to doctors’ offices than to pharmacies. So, even if you went to the pharmacy for your older kids, you can get your younger kids vaccinated at your regular doctor’s office or other nearby clinic.

For kids too young to make a pharmacy appointment, you’re probably best off going to their regular pediatrician. If they don’t offer it themselves, they can recommend a local place that does. Your city, county, or state health department may also have information about temporary clinics and other places where you can get the vaccine. The CDC announced that batches of vaccines will be sent to “pediatric clinics, pharmacies, federally qualified medical centers, local health departments, clinics, and other locations.”

Switches have been added to theVaccines.gov website to search for places offering vaccines for children aged 6 months and older. Some search results list a minimum age (for example, Rite Aid came up in my results with a note that they can vaccinate children ages 3+), while others don’t list it, and you’re encouraged to call to find out.

The website notes that new places for young children are being added every day as clinics get their first batches of childhood vaccines, so if you can’t find a place near you right now, it’s worth checking back soon.

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