Key takeaways:
COVID-19 vaccines for kids are available at many locations. Pharmacies, the pediatrician’s office, and local health clinics are a few examples. Pharmacies can typically administer COVID vaccines to kids ages 3 and older, but the minimum age may vary by state.
If you prefer a specific COVID vaccine, check the manufacturer’s website. Moderna, Pfizer, and Novavax each offer online tools to help you find nearby locations with their vaccines.
Having your kids wear loose fitting clothing and get a good night’s sleep are a couple of ways to prepare your kids for a COVID vaccine appointment. It’s not a bad idea to have a distraction on hand, such as a game, either.
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Between school, work, and extracurricular activities, it can feel like a challenge to squeeze COVID-19 vaccines into your family’s schedule. But, when possible, it's worth the consideration.
Staying up to date on COVID vaccines helps provide ongoing protection against illness. COVID vaccines are effective at protecting your kids from getting severely sick from COVID. Another plus is that they’re safe to receive. Your healthcare team (prescriber or pharmacist) can help you navigate the different vaccine options and decide what's best for your family.
Below, we’ve provided a guide to finding COVID vaccine locations for kids. We’ll also introduce tips to help you and your child prepare for the appointment.
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Where can you schedule a COVID vaccination appointment for your kid?
You can find COVID vaccines for your child at many locations throughout the U.S. The pediatrician’s office, pharmacies, and local health clinics are all good options. Convenience, personal preference, and your health insurance status may factor into your decision as to which one you choose (if any).
For instance, your child may have an upcoming visit scheduled at the pediatrician’s office. This could be a good time to make sure they’re up to date on the latest COVID vaccine. Or, if you already need to make a trip to your local pharmacy, your pharmacy can possibly complete the vaccination at that time.
Finding COVID vaccines for kids near me
Kids ages 6 months and older are eligible to get an updated 2025-2026 COVID vaccine. Kids as young as 6 months old can get Moderna's Spikevax vaccine. Kids as young as 5 years old can choose between Spikevax and Pfizer's Comirnaty vaccine. Kids ages 12 and older have Spikevax, Comirnaty, mNEXSPIKE, and Nuvaxovid as COVID vaccine options. mNEXSPIKE is made by Moderna, and Nuvaxovid is made by Novavax.
If you prefer a specific vaccine, you can search for nearby availability directly on the manufacturer’s website. Moderna, Pfizer, and Novavax each have online search tools that let you find nearby locations offering their COVID vaccines. You can search by ZIP code and filter by vaccine type or age group. These tools typically include links to schedule an appointment or check availability before you go.
Do all pharmacies administer vaccines to children?
Yes, many pharmacies administer vaccines to kids. But this will depend on your child’s age.
Pharmacists, pharmacist interns, and select pharmacy technicians can administer COVID vaccines to kids ages 3 years and older. But the minimum age cutoff may be higher depending on the state you live in or the specific pharmacy you go to. Different states and pharmacies have their own policies.
You can search manufacturer websites for pharmacies that give COVID vaccines to kids, but it may be easier to visit your preferred pharmacy’s website directly. Below is a list of popular pharmacy chains that offer COVID vaccines for kids and how to book an appointment.
Independent pharmacies in your area are another option for COVID vaccines. Reach out to your local pharmacy for the best way to set up an appointment for your child.
For kids under 3 years old, the pediatrician’s office and clinics such as MinuteClinic are better destinations. A pediatrician’s office should vaccinate all children ages 6 months and older, while MinuteClinics provide COVID vaccines to kids ages 18 months and older.
Vaccination after COVID-19: It’s important to get vaccinated even if you’ve had COVID. Learn more about how long you should wait to get a COVID vaccine after recovering from an infection.
A nagging sore throat: Sore throat is a common COVID symptom. Hear from four people about their experiences with a COVID sore throat.
Long COVID in kids: While rare, COVID can cause long-term health problems in kids. Here’s what you should know about long COVID symptoms in kids and how to manage them.
Where can your kid get a free COVID vaccine if you don’t have insurance?
Even if you don’t have health insurance, there are ways for your child to get a free COVID vaccine. Your prescriber or pharmacist can help guide you through the process of finding one. Locations enrolled in the CDC’s Vaccine for Children (VFC) program that administer free COVID vaccines to people ages 18 or younger include:
Pediatrician’s offices
Hospitals
Schools
Local health departments
Health clinics
Federally Qualified Health Centers, also known as FQHCs
Rural health clinics
Reach out to your local health department to find a VFC program near you.
How to prepare your child for their COVID vaccination
It’s natural for your child to be nervous before getting a vaccine. Needles can seem scary, and the stigma behind injections can be intimidating.
There are many tips to help your child prepare for their appointment. Some of these tips include:
Help them get a good night’s sleep.
Dress them in loose-fitting clothing that doesn’t cover their arms or thighs (infants and toddlers).
Be transparent and talk with your kids about what to expect. Consider introducing them to some calming breathing exercises, too.
Apply a numbing cream to the expected vaccination site about 30 minutes before their appointment.
Try to keep your kids calm with distractions, such as a game, book, or tablet.
Hold your child during the vaccine for added reassurance.
Parents and other caregivers can also prepare in other ways to make the vaccination process go smoothly. Complete your child’s vaccine form prior to the appointment. Also, make sure to pack your health insurance card.
Good to know: It’s best to avoid giving your kids any pain medications — such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) — before their COVID vaccine. Research suggests taking pain medications in advance may lower their immune response to the vaccine. It’s better to wait and give pain relievers, if needed, after the vaccine is over with.
How many COVID vaccines do kids need right now?
The number of COVID vaccine doses your child needs depends on their age, how many vaccines they’ve received in the past, and their medical background.
Young children ages 6 to 23 months who haven’t had a COVID vaccine usually need 2 doses, given about a month apart. If they’ve already received 1 Spikevax dose, they can get another dose after a month. Kids who’ve had 2 or more COVID vaccine doses in the past only need 1 additional dose this year.
After a child turns 2, they usually need just 1 dose, no matter their vaccination history.
Kids who are considered moderately or severely immunocompromised may need to receive additional COVID vaccine doses. Talk to your child’s pediatrician for further guidance.
Are COVID vaccinations mandatory for school?
Not typically. There aren’t currently any statewide COVID vaccine requirements for public school. If your child attends private school, reach out to check about their vaccine requirements.
What are the side effects of COVID vaccination in children?
Vaccine side effects may be on your mind as a downside. COVID vaccine side effects are typically mild and include:
Injection site pain, swelling, and redness
Fatigue
Fever
Muscle pain
Headache
Chills
The benefits of COVID vaccines generally outweigh these risks. The above side effects typically go away within a couple of days. While rare, there have been reports of myocarditis (heart muscle inflammation) and pericarditis (heart lining inflammation). But kids are more likely to experience myocarditis or pericarditis from a COVID infection than a COVID vaccine.
The bottom line
Searching for COVID-19 vaccines for kids near you can be done conveniently through your computer or phone. Pharmacies, the pediatrician’s office, and health clinics are a few examples of common locations that offer COVID vaccines for kids. While it can be stressful, helping your child get a good night’s sleep and keeping them calm and occupied with a game or tablet are a couple of strategies to help the appointment go more smoothly.
Why trust our experts?
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). 6 things to know about COVID-19 vaccination for children.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Vaccines for children program (VFC): Information for parents.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). CDC immunization schedule adopts individual-based decision-making for COVID-19 and standalone vaccination for chickenpox in toddlers.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Vaccines for moderately to severely immunocompromised people.
MinuteClinic. (n.d.). How can MinuteClinic support children’s health? CVS.
Moderna. (2025). Spikevax [package insert]. DailyMed.
National Academy for State Health Policy. (2025). States address school vaccine mandates.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023). Eleventh amendment to declaration under the public readiness and emergency preparedness act for medical countermeasures against COVID-19. Federal Register.
