Infants, children and adolescents aged 6 months to <18 years without a medical risk condition are not routinely recommended to receive COVID-19 vaccine

COVID-19 vaccine is not routinely recommended for infants, children and adolescents aged 6 months to <18 years who do not have medical conditions that increase their risk of severe disease. This is because the risk of severe disease in this age group was very low both during and since the COVID-19 pandemic. The benefits of vaccination may not outweigh the risk of potentially extremely rare but serious adverse events such as myocarditis/pericarditis.^1-3

In this cohort, an annual dose of COVID-19 vaccine can be considered when there is a strong preference for vaccination and following an individual risk-benefit assessment.

For infants, children and adolescents aged 6 months to <18 years with a medical risk condition – see Infants, children and adolescents aged 6 months to <18 years with a medical risk condition (including severe immunocompromise) can consider COVID-19 vaccine every year.

For infants <6 months of age, see Pregnant women can consider a dose of COVID-19 vaccine in each pregnancy.

NCIRS (National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance) publishes GRADE evidence assessments that support COVID-19 vaccination recommendations in Australia. View the COVID-19 vaccine GRADE assessments on the NCIRS website.