# COVID-19

> The content on this page is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. If you have health concerns, consult a qualified healthcare professional. Medova is not a medical service provider.

Source: https://medova.health/en/knowledge/vaccines/covid-19 · Language: en

## Vaccine Information

- Type: mRNA
- Administration: Injection
- WHO Code: COVID
- Travel Recommended: No

**Pregnancy: Recommended (WHO, ACIP).**

COVID-19 mRNA vaccines (Comirnaty, Spikevax) are **safe and recommended during pregnancy**.


- Pregnant women are at increased risk of severe COVID-19, ICU admission, preterm delivery, and maternal death.

- Vaccination during pregnancy provides passive antibody transfer to the neonate.

- Can be administered at any gestational age. No evidence of teratogenicity or adverse pregnancy outcomes in large observational studies (V-safe, VAERS, global registries).

- WHO SAGE and CDC/ACIP both recommend COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant individuals.

**Breastfeeding: Safe and recommended.**

COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are safe during breastfeeding. mRNA does not enter breast milk in functional form. Antibodies generated by maternal vaccination are detected in breast milk and may provide passive protection to the breastfed infant.

**Pediatric use:**


- **Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech):** approved from **6 months** of age. Age-adjusted doses:
  - 6 months–4 years: 3 µg (0.2 mL), 3-dose primary series.
  - 5–11 years: 10 µg (0.2 mL).
  - ≥12 years: 30 µg (0.3 mL) — adult dose.

- **Spikevax (Moderna):** approved from **6 months** of age. Age-adjusted doses:
  - 6 months–5 years: 25 µg (0.25 mL), 2-dose series.
  - 6–11 years: 50 µg (0.5 mL).
  - ≥12 years: 50–100 µg — adult dose.

- Annual updated booster formulations target circulating variants.

- Myocarditis risk is lower in children <12 years than in adolescent/young adult males.

**Geriatric use: Priority group for vaccination.**


- Adults ≥65 years are at highest risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes and are a **priority group** for vaccination and boosters.

- Immune response may be lower (immunosenescence), hence the recommendation for regular booster doses.

- High-dose and adjuvanted formulations are not available for mRNA vaccines, but additional booster doses compensate.

- Adverse event profile is generally milder in older adults compared to younger recipients (less reactogenicity).

- Annual updated boosters strongly recommended for all adults ≥65 years.

## Side Effects

- Abdominal pain (Common)
- Anaphylaxis (Very rare) — Serious
- Angioedema (Rare) — Serious
- Arthralgia (Very common)
- Bell's palsy (Rare) — Serious
- Chills (Very common)
- Diarrhea (Common)
- Dizziness (Common)
- Drowsiness (Common)
- Excessive crying (Common)
- Facial edema (Rare)
- Fatigue (Very common)
- Febrile seizure (Rare) — Serious
- Fever (Very common)
- Generalized rash (Uncommon)
- Guillain-Barré syndrome (Very rare) — Serious
- Headache (Very common)
- Hypoesthesia (Rare)
- Injection site induration (Common)
- Injection site itching (Common)
- Injection site pain (Very common)
- Injection site redness (Very common)
- Injection site swelling (Very common)
- Injection site warmth (Common)
- Insomnia (Common)
- Irritability (Common)
- Loss of appetite (Common)
- Lymphadenopathy (Common)
- Malaise (Very common)
- Myalgia (Very common)
- Myocarditis (Uncommon) — Serious
- Nausea (Common)
- Night sweats (Common)
- Paresthesia (Uncommon)
- Pericarditis (Uncommon) — Serious
- Pruritus (Uncommon)
- Reduced arm mobility (Common)
- Syncope (Uncommon)
- Urticaria (Uncommon)
- Vomiting (Common)

## Contraindications

- Acute febrile illness (Precaution)
- Age below minimum recommended (Absolute)
- Anaphylaxis after previous dose (Absolute)
- Allergy to vaccine component (Absolute)
- Bleeding disorder (Precaution)
- History of Guillain-Barré syndrome (Precaution)
- Moderate immunosuppression (Precaution)
- Recent immunoglobulin administration (Precaution)
- Thrombocytopenia (Precaution)

## Vaccination Schedule

| Dose | Brand | Days from previous | Age range |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Dose 1 | Comirnaty | — | 12 years+ |
| Dose 1 | Comirnaty | 365d | 12 years+ |
| Dose 1 | Spikevax | — | 12 years+ |
| Dose 1 | Spikevax | 365d | 12 years+ |
| Dose 2 | Comirnaty | 21d | — |
| Dose 2 | Spikevax | 28d | — |

## FAQ

**How many doses of COVID-19 are needed?**

The COVID-19 vaccination schedule consists of 6 dose(s).

**What are the side effects of COVID-19?**

Common side effects include: Abdominal pain, Anaphylaxis, Angioedema, Arthralgia, Bell's palsy.

**Who should not get COVID-19?**

Contraindications include: Acute febrile illness, Age below minimum recommended, Anaphylaxis after previous dose, Allergy to vaccine component, Bleeding disorder.

## Prevents

- [COVID-19](https://medova.health/en/knowledge/diseases/covid-19)

## Indications

- [Finland](https://medova.health/en/knowledge/countries/finland): Recommended
- [Myanmar](https://medova.health/en/knowledge/countries/myanmar): Recommended
- [Saudi Arabia](https://medova.health/en/knowledge/countries/saudi-arabia): Recommended
- [South Sudan](https://medova.health/en/knowledge/countries/south-sudan): Recommended
- [Malaysia](https://medova.health/en/knowledge/countries/malaysia): Recommended
- [Qatar](https://medova.health/en/knowledge/countries/qatar): Recommended
- [Nicaragua](https://medova.health/en/knowledge/countries/nicaragua): Recommended
- [Saint Vincent and the Grenadines](https://medova.health/en/knowledge/countries/saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines): Recommended
- [Colombia](https://medova.health/en/knowledge/countries/colombia): Recommended
- [Sweden](https://medova.health/en/knowledge/countries/sweden): Recommended

## Sources & content verification

- Data sources: WHO Position Papers 2024 + CDC Pink Book 2024 + EMA SmPC
- [www.who.int](https://www.who.int/teams/immunization-vaccines-and-biologicals/policies/position-papers)

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The content on this page is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. If you have health concerns, consult a qualified healthcare professional. Medova is not a medical service provider.

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