The Latest COVID-19 Vaccine Guide for Pregnant Women and Kids – What To Expect

As winterrespiratory illness season hits families at full force, COVID-19 continues to be one of the biggest public health challenges the world is facing today.Vaccines are a safe and effective way for babies ages 6 months and older, young children, and adults to fight against the virus.

In September, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that everyone ages 6 months and older get the updated vaccine for the 2023-2024 season.

Learn more about the latest guidelines on COVID-19 vaccines and how you and your family can stay informed and healthy.

Wondering whether you really need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 when youre pregnant? Read on to learn why its so crucial.

To protect your entire family from COVID-19, its important to follow all recommended vaccination guidelines. Heres an age-by-age breakdown:

Children 6 months to 4 years old. Children ages 6 months to 4 years should receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine. If this is their first time getting the vaccine, they should complete a multidose initial series (two doses of the Moderna or three doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine).

Everyone 5 years of age and older. Everyone ages 5 years and older should receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine.

While children with underlying medical conditions face a higher risk of severe illness due to COVID-19, it's important to note that many children hospitalized with COVID-19 dont have any underlying medical conditions. Getting an updated COVID-19 vaccine helps your body maintain a strong immune system and strengthens your response to infection, especially as the virus continues to change and new variants emerge.

Bystaying up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, you and your loved ones of all ages can reduce the risk of serious illness, hospitalization and death due to COVID-19. Talk with your health care provider if you have questions about COVID-19 or COVID-19 vaccines.

From the What to Expect editorial team andHeidi Murkoff,author ofWhat to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading ourmedical review and editorial policy.

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The Latest COVID-19 Vaccine Guide for Pregnant Women and Kids - What To Expect