Vaccination Schedule
Keep your Child’s Health on Schedule
You are a parent. Your #1 job is to protect your child every way that you can. One of the best ways to do that is with vaccines. Vaccines protect your little one from 14 different diseases, all by the age of 2 years old. What vaccines cannot do? Protect you from the terrible 2s!
Vaccines help prevent up to 10.5 million cases of harmful diseases every year. Vaccines also save nearly 33,000 lives. If your children are not getting life saving vaccines, they are in danger of getting very sick from harmful diseases.
If you are breastfeeding, your baby is getting some antibodies from you. While that is a good start, your breastfed baby will still need to be protected with vaccines.
Vaccines save lives. It really is that simple. What are the different types of vaccinations and when should they be given?
The American Academy of Pediatrics developed a schedule of when your child will need to get vaccines. You can also talk to your baby’s doctor about the timing of vaccines. Some vaccines can be combined.
Recommended Vaccinations
At Birth
Hepatitis B vaccine. The first dose should be given within 24 hours of birth but if your child hasn’t been previously vaccinated, this vaccine can be given at any age.
2, 4, and 6 Months
A total of 3 doses are recommended by 6 months of age: Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Rotavirus, Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (Hib), Pneumococcal and Polio. Several of these vaccinations are often administered together in a single syringe.
6 Months and Each
Following Year
The Flu vaccine is recommended every year for children 6 months and older. Keep in mind that kids younger than 9 who get the Flu vaccine for the first time will need to get 2 separate doses at least a month apart, and for kids younger than 9 who have already had at least 2 doses will only need one more dose.
12-18 Months
2 doses of Hepatitis A starting at 12 months. Between the ages of 12 and 18 months, a single dose of Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (Hib), Pneumococcal, Chickenpox, Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (German Measles). Several of these vaccinations are often administered together in a single syringe.
4–6 Years
As kids get older, their vaccine needs remain largely the same. Children between 4 and 6 should have Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Acellular Pertussis vaccine, the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (German Measles), Inactivated Poliovirus vaccine, and Chickenpox vaccines.
11–12 Years
As your kids enter the ‘tween years’, it’s important to vaccinate them against the Human Papillomavirus. This vaccine is given in 2 shots over a 6 to 12 month period. It can be given as early as age 9. For teens and young adults (ages 15–26 in girls and boys both), it is given in 3 shots over 6 months. It's recommended for both girls and boys to prevent genital warts and some types of cancer.
Also recommended during this age are vaccines for Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis booster as well as Meningitis.