- COVID-19
- Administering Vaccines
How are COVID-19 vaccines administered?
All COVID-19 vaccines are administered intramuscularly. Preparation details and dose volume vary by product.
Last reviewed:
March 19, 2024
Ask the Experts: COVID-19: Administering Vaccines
Results (3)
- COVID-19
- Administering Vaccines
Has CDC provided clinical guidance on what to do if an error occurs while administering COVID-19 vaccinations?
Yes. CDC has published an appendix to its interim clinical considerations for the use of COVID-19 vaccines to address a wide range of errors in vaccine administration. It includes a detailed table outlining actions to take after an error has occurred: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/interim-considerations-us-appendix.html#appendix-b.
Categories of errors covered in the CDC table include:
- Site/route
- Age
- Product and dosage
- Incorrect intervals
- Interchanging product types when not recommended
- Incorrect diluent (certain Pfizer-BioNTech formulations)
- Use of diluent when not indicated
Ask the Experts refers our readers to this CDC table for the most current and comprehensive guidance on COVID-19 vaccine administration errors and how to manage them. For all vaccine administration errors the following steps are recommended: inform the patient of the error, report the error to VAERS (https://vaers.hhs.gov) unless CDC’s guidance states that the error does not need to be reported, evaluate why the error occurred, and implement strategies to prevent future errors.
Last reviewed:
March 19, 2024
- COVID-19
- Administering Vaccines
A dose of COVID-19 vaccine was administered subcutaneously instead of by the intramuscular route. Does the dose need to be repeated?
No. CDC does not recommend repeating the dose of any COVID-19 vaccine in circumstances where the dose is administered in an incorrect route or an incorrect site (i.e., not in the deltoid or anterolateral thigh). In the case of a subcutaneous injection, the patient should be advised of the possibility of self-limited local or systemic side effects.
Last reviewed:
March 19, 2024