Important Safety Information AND Authorized Use
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (2024-2025 Formula)
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
- Your child should NOT get Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine if they had a severe allergic reaction after a previous dose of any Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or to any ingredients in these vaccines
- There is a remote chance that the vaccine could cause a severe allergic reaction. A severe allergic reaction would usually occur within a few minutes to one hour after getting a dose of the vaccine. For this reason, the vaccination provider may ask you to stay at the place where you received the vaccine for monitoring after vaccination. If your child experiences a severe allergic reaction, call 9-1-1, or go to the nearest hospital. Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include:
- difficulty breathing, swelling of the face and throat, a fast heartbeat, a bad rash all over the body, or dizziness and weakness
- Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the lining outside the heart) have occurred in some people who have received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Myocarditis and pericarditis following Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines have occurred most commonly in adolescent males 12 through 17 years of age. In most of these individuals, symptoms began within a few days following vaccination. The chance of having this occur is very low. Seek medical attention right away if your child has any of the following symptoms after receiving the vaccine, particularly during the 2 weeks after receiving a dose of the vaccine:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Feelings of having a fast-beating, fluttering, or pounding heart
- Additional symptoms, particularly in children, may include:
- Fainting
- Unusual and persistent irritability
- Unusual and persistent poor feeding
- Unusual and persistent fatigue or lack of energy
- Persistent vomiting
- Persistent pain in the abdomen
- Unusual and persistent cool, pale skin
- Fainting can happen after getting injectable vaccines, including Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. For this reason, your vaccination provider may ask you to stay at the place where you received the vaccine for monitoring after vaccination
- People with weakened immune systems may have a reduced immune response to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
- Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine may not protect everyone
- Tell your vaccination provider about all of your child’s medical conditions, including if your child:
- has any allergies
- has had myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) or pericarditis (inflammation of the lining outside the heart)
- has a fever
- has a bleeding disorder or is on a blood thinner
- is immunocompromised or is on a medicine that affects the immune system
- is pregnant or is breastfeeding
- has received another COVID-19 vaccine
- has ever fainted in association with an injection
- Side effects that have been reported with Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines include:
- Severe allergic reactions
- Non-severe allergic reactions such as rash, itching, hives, or swelling of the face
- Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle)
- Pericarditis (inflammation of the lining outside the heart)
- Injection site pain/tenderness
- Tiredness
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Arm pain
- Fainting in association with injection of the vaccine
- Chills
- Joint pain
- Fever
- Injection site swelling
- Injection site redness
- Nausea
- Feeling unwell
- Swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy)
- Decreased appetite
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Irritability
- Febrile seizures (convulsions during a seizure)
These may not be all the possible side effects. Serious and unexpected side effects may occur. Call the vaccination provider or healthcare provider about bothersome side effects or side effects that do not go away.
Report vaccine side effects to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). The VAERS toll-free number is 1‐800‐822‐7967 or report online to www.vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html. Please include “Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (2024-2025 Formula) EUA” in the first line of box #18 of the report form.
In addition, individuals can report side effects to Pfizer Inc. at www.pfizersafetyreporting.com or by calling 1-800-438-1985.
Please click here for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID19 Vaccine Healthcare Providers Fact Sheet and Vaccine Recipient and Caregiver EUA Fact Sheet.
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (2024-2025 Formula)
Authorized Use
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (20242025 Formula)* is FDA authorized under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in individuals 6 months through 11 years of age.
*Hereafter referred to as Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.