Charlotte, December 15, 2025
A recent study by the CDC indicates that the updated COVID-19 vaccines for the 2024-2025 season significantly lower the risk of emergency visits for children. The vaccines demonstrated 76% effectiveness for children aged 9 months to 4 years and 56% for those aged 5 to 17 years. Conducted across nine states, the study suggests vaccination is crucial for protecting young populations against severe outcomes from COVID-19.
Charlotte – A recent Nationwide study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that the updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines significantly reduce the risk of children needing emergency or urgent care for COVID-19. The findings indicate a substantial protective effect, with vaccine effectiveness reaching up to 76% for the youngest children.
Strong Protection for Children and Adolescents
The latest analysis reveals that children aged 9 months to 4 years who received the updated COVID-19 vaccine for the 2024-2025 season were 76% less likely to require an emergency department or urgent care visit due to COVID-19 symptoms compared to unvaccinated children. For school-aged children and adolescents between 5 and 17 years, the vaccine reduced this risk by an estimated 56%. These effectiveness rates were observed during the first 7 to 179 days following vaccination.
The study, which collected data from August 2024 to September 2025, provides reassuring evidence of the vaccine’s ability to prevent severe COVID-19 outcomes in pediatric populations across the United States. The protection for younger children, aged 9 months to 4 years, remained stable for up to 299 days after vaccination.
Nationwide Study Details
This comprehensive Nationwide study was conducted by the CDC using a multisite electronic health record network known as the VISION Vaccine Effectiveness Network program. The data included over 98,000 pediatric cases from 256 emergency departments and urgent care centers across nine states. Researchers focused on immunocompetent children aged 9 months to 17 years who presented with COVID-like illness.
The updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines specifically target the Omicron JN.1 and JN.1-derived sublineages, which were circulating during the study period. The effectiveness estimates from this latest analysis are similar to or even higher than those observed in adults during the same season, and they surpass the rates reported for young children in the previous 2023-2024 season, which were 35% for young children and 44% for older children.
Importance of Pediatric Vaccination
The findings reinforce the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Nationwide recommendation that all individuals aged 6 months and older receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine. Health officials continue to emphasize that vaccination is a critical tool for preventing severe illness, even among those who may have some existing immunity from prior infections or previous vaccinations.
During the 2024-2025 season, infants aged 6 to 11 months experienced hospitalization rates that were higher than all adult age groups except for those aged 65 years and older. This highlights the particular benefits of COVID-19 vaccination for eligible infants, who are among the most vulnerable to severe outcomes. Despite the clear benefits, previous data indicated low vaccination coverage among children, suggesting many families might be missing an important protective measure. The CDC continues to monitor the safety and effectiveness of these vaccines to inform future public health recommendations.
The data suggests that despite the lower number of documented infections in children and adolescents this season, the vaccines remain effective in preventing severe illness. These recent findings underscore the ongoing value of updated COVID-19 vaccination in safeguarding children’s health, offering significant additional protection in a population that often has mixed pre-existing immunity.
Vaccine Effectiveness Against Emergency and Urgent Care Visits (Nationwide data)
| Age Group | Effectiveness (first 7-179 days after vaccination) |
|---|---|
| 9 months to 4 years | 76% |
| 5 to 17 years | 56% |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the main finding of the latest CDC study?
The latest Nationwide CDC study shows that the updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines significantly reduce the risk of children needing emergency or urgent care for COVID-19.
Which age groups were included in the Nationwide study?
The Nationwide study included immunocompetent children aged 9 months to 17 years.
What kind of COVID-19 vaccine was studied?
The study evaluated the updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines, which target the Omicron JN.1 and JN.1-derived sublineages.
How effective was the updated vaccine for younger children (Nationwide data)?
For children aged 9 months to 4 years, the vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19-associated emergency or urgent care visits was 76%.
How effective was the updated vaccine for older children and adolescents (Nationwide data)?
For children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years, the vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19-associated emergency or urgent care visits was 56%.
What are the CDC’s recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination in children?
The CDC recommends that all individuals aged 6 months and older receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine.
Where did the data for this Nationwide study come from?
The data for this Nationwide study came from a multisite electronic health record network across nine states, part of the CDC’s VISION Vaccine Effectiveness Network program.
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