Where to Get COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids Near Me - GoodRx (2024)

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 effort. The CDC recommends that kids ages 6 months and older stay updated with their COVID vaccines.

Staying up to date on COVID vaccines is important for 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.

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.

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.

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

A great and easy place to start your search is at Vaccines.gov. Consider this a one-stop shop for finding COVID vaccines locally. After entering your zip code and selecting your child’s age group and vaccine preference, a list of locations is quickly summarized. Pharmacies typically make up most of the search results, which we’ll talk about next. This site will also tell you if an appointment is required.

If you don’t have reliable access to the internet or find the website hard to navigate, you can also call 1-800-232-0233 for help finding a COVID vaccine.

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 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.

While you can search for pharmacies that administer COVID vaccines to kids on Vaccines.gov, you may prefer to go directly to your preferred pharmacy’s website. Check out the list below for some of the most popular examples of chain pharmacies offering COVID vaccines for kids — and how to schedule an appointment.

• Walgreens

• CVS

• Walmart

• Publix

• Kroger

• Costco

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.

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 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.

Kids ages 6 months and older are eligible to get an updated 2023-2024 COVID vaccine. Kids ages 6 months to 11 years old can get Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Kids ages 12 and older have Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax as COVID vaccine options.

Below, we’ll break down how many COVID vaccine doses kids need by age group. But keep in mind that these recommendations may slightly change after the 2024-2025 COVID vaccines become available in Fall 2024.

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. Also, keep in mind that COVID vaccine recommendations tend to change over time. Check in with your healthcare provider for the latest advice.

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.

Good to know: While not required, the CDC does recommend COVID vaccines as part of the back-to-school checklist for kids.

What are the downsides to vaccinating my kid?

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

Thankfully, the benefits of COVID vaccines 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.