Geisinger offers COVID-19 boosters for children 6 months and older

DANVILLE, Pa. – Following recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, Geisinger is now offering booster doses of the updated (bivalent) Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for children 6 months and older. 

Data continues to show the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine, and the updated booster dose for kids will increase their protection. As the virus has changed and immunity from previous COVID-19 vaccination wanes, there is more benefit for individuals and public health to keep up to date on vaccinations.

The following outlines how children can receive the new booster:

• Children 6 months through 4 years old who have never had the vaccine would receive a three-dose series with the third dose including protection against newer variants.
• Children in progress of getting the series will receive the third dose covering new variants.
• Children who have completed the three-dose series can get a booster that covers the new variants at least two months after their third dose.

If you're unsure if your child qualifies for a booster or have any questions, contact your pediatrician. Geisinger pediatric clinics are accepting appointments for booster shots for those who are eligible. You can make an appointment at Geisinger through MyGeisinger, the MyChart mobile app, or by calling 570-284-3657.

Remember to bring your child's COVID-19 vaccine card or proof of having received their vaccine to their appointment. More information about the COVID-19 vaccine is available at geisinger.org/covidvax.

About Geisinger

Geisinger serves more than 1 million people in central and northeastern Pennsylvania. We’ve been nationally recognized for innovative practices in quality, delivery models such as ProvenCare® and the use of an award-winning electronic medical record, Epic®. Our physician-led system has about 24,000 employees, including nearly 1,700 physicians, 10 hospital campuses, two research centers and a health plan with more than half a million members, all of which boost our hometown economies by $8 billion annually.