FAQs for health professionals (children aged 5-11)

The following questions and answers have been developed by the National Immunisation Office.

Which COVID-19 vaccines are available in Ireland for children aged 5-11?

There are currently two COVID-19 vaccines available in Ireland for vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 years

Comirnaty® Omicron XBB.1.5 10 micrograms / dose concentrate for dispersion for injection (Orange cap). This vaccine requires dilution and
Comirnaty® Omicron X BB.1.5 10 micrograms/ dose dispersion for injection (Blue cap). This vaccine is ready to use and does notrequire dilution

Why is the COVID-19 vaccine recommended for children aged 5-11?

A primary course of Comirnaty® X BB.1.5. COVID-19 vaccination is recommended by the NIAC for children aged 5 to 11 years who:

live with underlying conditions
living with a younger child with complex medical needs
living with a person who is immunocompromised

COVID-19 vaccination should be offered to all other children aged 5-11 years because of the favourable risk benefit profile of the vaccine, to protect them from severe disease and the consequences that can follow infection e.g., multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), long COVID, psychosocial and developmental impacts.

What is the dose volume of Comirnaty®Omicron XBB.1.5 10 micrograms (orange cap) for children aged 5-11 years.

This vaccine requires dilution. The dose volume of vaccine is 0.2ml intramuscularly (IM)

What is the dose volume of Comirnaty® Omicron XBB.1.5 10 micrograms (blue cap) for children aged 5-11 years?

This vaccine is ready to use and does not require dilution. The dose volume of vaccine is 0.3 ml intramuscularly (IM)

What is the recommendedprimary immunisation schedule for children aged 5-11 years ?

The vaccination course consists of one dose for all immunocompetent children.

When is an extended primary vaccination series recommended for children with immunocompromise aged 5-11?

NIAC have recommended that children aged 5 to 11 years with immunocompromise associated with a suboptimal response to vaccination at the time of vaccination should receive

Two doses of Comirnaty® mRNA COVID-19 vaccine with a four weeks interval between doses one and two.
A third dose may be administered following instruction from a relevant specialist physician. An eight weeks interval between doses two and three is recommended if three doses are required.

Is a booster dose recommended for children aged 5-11?

In 2024 a spring COVID-19 vaccine booster dose is recommended for those aged 5-11 years:

with immunocompromise associated with a suboptimal response to vaccination

Which Comirnaty® OmicronXBB.1.5 vaccine dose should a child with immunocompromise receive if they are 11 years of age, but will turn 12 years old before they can receive a second dose?

The dose of Comirnaty® Omicron XBB.1.5 10 micrograms vaccine depends on the age of the child at the time of vaccination. An 11-year-old child who receives the first dose of Comirnaty® Omicron XBB.1.5 10 micrograms vaccine for those aged 5-11 years, and who then becomes 12 years of age, should receive a dose of the Comirnaty® Omicron XBB.1.5 30 micrograms (0.3 mls) vaccine for those aged 12 years and older, as their second dose of the primary course.

Can other vaccines be co‐administered with Comirnaty® Original/Omicron XXB.1.5 10 micrograms vaccine in children aged 5-11 years?

Yes. NIAC now recommend that Comirnaty® Omicron XBB.1.5 10 micrograms (0.3 mls) vaccine may be given to children aged 5-11 at the same time or at any interval as other vaccines (live and non-live) including influenza vaccine. Co-administered vaccines should be given in different arms. The only exception to this is children who have received pox (formerly known as monkey pox) vaccine. In this instance, there should be at least a 4-week interval between pox vaccine and a subsequent COVID-19 vaccine.

This is different to the advice for children aged 6 months to 4 years, where it is currently advised not to co-administer the Comirnaty® 3mcg/dose with any other vaccine – please see the FAQs for children aged 6 months to 4 years for more details.

Should unvaccinated children aged 5-11 who have had COVID‐19 infection be offered the COVID‐19 vaccine?

Vaccination should be deferred until clinical recovery from COVID-19 infection and for at least four weeks after diagnosis or onset of symptoms, or four weeks from the first PCR positive specimen in those who are asymptomatic.

Those with persistent symptoms post COVID-19 may be vaccinated unless there is evidence of recent clinical deterioration.

Serological testing prior to vaccination is not recommended.

What if a child aged 5-11 with immunocompromse is diagnosed with COVID‐19 infection after a first dose of vaccine?

Vaccination with the second dose should be deferred until clinical recovery from COVID‐19 and at least 8 weeks after diagnosis or onset of symptoms, or 8 weeks from the first PCR positive specimen in those who are asymptomatic.

What if a child with immunocompromise aged 5-11 is diagnosed with breakthrough COVID‐19 infection after their second dose of vaccine?

If a child aged 5-11 years who is immunocompromised has SARS-CoV-2 infection more than seven days after their second vaccine dose, if recommended by their specialist a third dose of the primary series is not required. For those with infection within seven days of their second dose they should complete the 3rd dose if recommended after an interval of 4-8 weeks.

What if a child with immunocompromise aged 5-11 is diagnosed with COVID‐19 infection after completing their primary course? ?

Those who have had SARS-CoV-2 infection after completing their primary schedule they should proceed to booster vaccination as recommended in Table 5a.1 i.e. after an interval of 6 months.

How can you ensure the right formulation of Comirnaty® Omicron XBB.1.5 vaccine is given to the appropriate age group?

The following checks are routinely recommended before COVID-19 vaccination:

Is this a primary course, an second or third dose for a person who is immunocompromised or a booster dose?
What is the age of the person?
What is the recommended vaccine for this age-group?
Does the vaccine require dilution?
What is the recommended dose of this vaccine?
What is the recommended interval since the last dose?
Has the person had COVID-19 infection? What is the recommended interval since laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection?

In addition, NIAC recommends consideration should be given to establishing separate child friendly vaccination clinics for children aged 5 - 11 years. This would minimise distress in young children and reduce likelihood of vaccine error by avoiding having the adult and paediatric formulations of Comirnaty® Omicron XBB.1.5 vaccine at the same venue.

Visit the COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions for Health Professionals webpage for more information