I was curious how vaccine recommendations vary from country to country. See below for what I found. Considerations for me are, should I vaccine S? The US is the only English-speaking country in the world that *recommends* vaccines for children under 5, though Canada offers the shot (and some provinces in Canada may recommend it, but their main health body does not.) Should I boost the girls? I was going to boost them this summer, but then they got Covid before I had a chance. Again, no other English-speaking country in the world recommends a booster for that age group, though Canada offers the shot, (and some provinces may recommend it, though their main health body does not.) And last, should Jonathan and I get a second booster? No other countries are currently recommending the bivalent booster, but I do think that will change. My current thought is that we should wait out our current immunity (from getting sick this summer) and then get the booster if and when another surge hits our local area, or 6 months after we got sick, whichever comes first. My hesitation to get the booster is really just because I got so sick after my second and third shots. I’d like to just do that once a year and to maximize the benefit from the shot.
- 6 months – 4 years: Basic vaccine recommended, no booster.
- 5-11: If you received a Pfizer vaccine, two doses (basic vaccine) plus booster recommended. Wait five months for booster.
- 5-11: If you received a Moderna vaccine, two doses (basic vaccine) recommended. No booster.
- 12-17: Two doses (basic vaccine) plus booster recommended. Wait two months for booster.
- 18+: Two doses (basic vaccine) plus booster recommended. Wait two months for booster.
- 12+: Should receive a “bivalent” booster regardless of shots previously received.
- Other boosters were previously recommended for various age groups, but all those recommendations have been replaced with the bivalent booster recommendation.
- Under 5: no vaccine recommended
- Ages 5 – 11: Two doses (basic vaccine) recommended, no booster
- Ages 12 – 49: Two doses plus one booster recommended. Two boosters recommended for those at high risk.
- Ages 50+: Two doses plus two boosters recommended.
- Wait at least four months after a previous booster / vaccine or having Covid to get a booster
- Under 5: no vaccine recommended
- 5-15: Two doses (basic vaccine) recommended. At least three doses recommended for those with “severely weakened immune system.”
- 16+: Two dose (basic vaccine) recommended.
- 75+ and people living in nursing homes or care homes: Spring booster was recommended
- 12+ with weakened immune system: Spring booster was recommended
- Fall booster recommendations pending?
- Ages 6 months to 4 years: Vaccine recommended if severely immunocompromised or with complex/multiple health conditions
- Ages 5 years to 11: Two dose (basic vaccine) recommended. No booster.
- “Booster doses are not currently recommended for anyone aged under 12 years. Severe COVID-19 in children is uncommon and the primary course of COVID-19 vaccines generates a strong immune response. The benefit from additional doses of vaccine is likely to be small. Current evidence does not suggest that booster doses are needed at this time.”
- Ages 12 – 15: Two dose (basic vaccine) recommended. Booster recommended if severely immunocompromised or complex/multiple health conditions.
- Ages 16-49: Two dose (basic vaccine) plus booster recommended. Second booster recommended if severely immunocompromised or complex/multiple health conditions.
- Ages 30-49: Second booster may be offered but but “benefits for people in this age group are less certain”
- Ages 50+: Two dose (basic vaccine) plus two boosters recommended.
- Under age 5: Vaccine not recommended
- Ages 5 -15: Two vaccine doses recommended. Boosters not recommended.
- Ages 16 – 17: Two vaccines + booster recommended. Wait 6 months before booster.
- Ages 18+: Two vaccines + booster recommended. Wait at least 3 months before booster.
- 50+: May receive a second booster.
- 65+ and others at high risk of severe illness: Second booster recommended.
- Wait 3 months after getting Covid to get another vaccine.
- 6 months – 4 years: A vaccine “may” be offered.
- Strong recommendation that the vaccine NOT be given on the same day as any other vaccine.
- 5 – 11: Two doses (basic vaccine) recommended. At least three doses for children “moderately to severely immunocompromised”
- 12 – 17: Two doses (basic vaccine) recommended. At least three doses for children “moderately to severely immunocompromised” Booster recommended for those at high risk from Covid.
- 18 and older: Two doses (basic vaccine recommended. Booster recommended.
- 70+: Second (spring) booster should be considered
- 80+ and nursing home / long-term care: Second (spring) booster strongly recommended
- Ages 65+: Fall booster “should” be offered
- Ages 12-64: Fall booster “may” be offered to all. Strongly recommended for those at high risk of severe illness.
- Ages 12-17: At least one booster strongly recommended. (ie if the teen hasn’t had a booster before, the fall booster is strongly recommended)
- Ages 5 – 11: A booster “may” be offered to healthy children. A booster “should” be offered to children at high risk of severe illness.
- Boosters should be given six months after previous booster or Covid infection
(I thought the CDC was bad, but Canada takes the cake for confusing recommendations.)