COVID-19 Vaccinations for Children CDC recommends everyone ages 5 years and older get a COVID-19 vaccine to help protect against COVID-19. Vaccinating children can help protect family members, including siblings who are not eligible for vaccination and family members who may be at increased risk of getting very sick if they are infected. COVID-19 can make children very sick and cause children to be hospitalized. In some situations, the complications from infection can lead to death. Children with COVID-19 can also develop serious problems like multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C)—a condition where different body parts become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs. Children with underlying medical conditions, like asthma or diabetes, are more at risk for severe illness from COVID-19 compared with children without underlying medical conditions. Vaccination can also help keep children from getting seriously sick even if they do get COVID-19. Vaccinating children ages 5 years and older can help keep kids in school and help them safely participate in sports, playdates, and other group activities. And if your teens ages 12 to 17 years old have already been vaccinated, they may now be eligible for a booster. Help protect your whole family by getting yourself and your children ages 5 years and older vaccinated against COVID-19 today.