State orders updated COVID-19 vaccines for keiki as young as 6 months old

COVID-19 bivalent vaccines for children from 6 months to 5 years old old will soon be on their way to Hawai‘i following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s authorization Dec. 8 of their emergency use.

The Hawai‘i Department of Health has placed orders to supply participating health care providers with updated bivalent vaccines for young children. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Dec. 9 expanded the use of bivalent vaccines to include children ages 6 months through 5 years old.

Initial orders of updated keiki vaccines are expected to arrive early next week. The state’s health care providers can administer them as soon as they arrive.

“The authorization of these updated bivalent vaccines comes at a good time,” said state Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char. “Now, young children can get the same protection adults have as families gather for the holidays.”

Children from 6 months to 5 years old who completed the two dose primary series of Moderna vaccines are eligible for a Moderna bivalent booster two months after their final primary series dose. Those who received two of the three doses of Pfizer’s primary series will receive a Pfizer bivalent vaccine as their third primary dose.

Children who completed all three doses of Pfizer’s primary series are not yet eligible for a bivalent booster.

Parents can find information about providers and the services they offer at vaccines.gov or by visiting the vaccine finder map.

Additional eligibility information from the Food and Drug Administration is available here.