Children ages 5-11 are the latest group to become eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster shot, following approval from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on May 19. Kids within the age group are eligible for the booster vaccination five months following the completion of their primary two-shot series. Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is the only approved vaccine in the U.S. for 5-to-11-year-olds.

UW School of Medicine professor of pediatrics Dr. Beth Ebel encourages families to take advantage of the extra boost of protection.

“While COVID is mild in most children, it is not mild in every child,” said Ebel. “What we've seen with this new variant is an increasing percentage of kids being hospitalized relative to adults. So, it's impacting kids, and some of those kids do get sick enough to require hospital care.”

Book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment through UW Medicine or call 844-520-8700 for more information.

Statistics from the Washington State Department of Health show 36.6% of children in the 5-11 age group have received their initial COVID-19 vaccine, while 32.4% have received their second shot to complete the primary series as of May 20. Ebel says this is an ideal time for families of kids who have not yet received any COVID-19 vaccinations to start.

“You could get that primary series in now, and then your child will be eligible for a booster shot as the virus season really kicks in hard at the end of the year,” said Ebel.

Download broadcast-ready video and audio assets on the benefits of booster COVID-19 vaccinations for eligible children.