Vaccines protect your family from diseases that can be very serious.
Here is a schedule of recommended vaccines for children from birth to age 18.
| RECOMMENDED VACCINE | VACCINE SCHEDULE | PROTECTS AGAINST
|
| DTaP | Dose 1: age 2 months Dose 2: age 4 months Dose 3: age 6 months Dose 4: Between ages 15 months and 18 months Dose 5: Between ages 4 years and 6 years |
|
| Influenza | Every year, starting at age 6 months Extra dose recommended for children under age 9 the first year they receive this vaccine | Influenza(flu), which can cause pneumonia |
| HepA | Dose 1: Between ages 12 months and 23 months Dose 2: 6 months to 18 months after first dose Catch-up series for those ages 2 years and older who have not already completed the HepA series. Two doses may be given, separated by at least 6 months. | Hepatitis A, which can lead to liver failure |
| HepB | Dose 1: At birth Dose 2: Between ages 1 month and 2 months Dose 3: Between ages 6 months and 18 months Catch-up series between ages 7 years and 18 years if your child has not received all three doses | Hepatitis B, which can lead to chronic liver infection, liver failure, or liver cancer |
| Hib | Dose 1: age 2 months Dose 2: age 4 months Dose 3: age 6 months, if needed Dose 4: Booster between ages 12 months and 15 months Catch-up vaccine(s) after age 15 months, if needed | Haemophilus influenzae type b, which can lead to a life-threatening infection such as meningitis and epiglottitis, cognitive disability, pneumonia, and death |
| HPV | Doses: 2 betweenages 9-14 (6 month apart)for both boys and girls Catch-up series of 3 doses between ages 15-26. | Human papillomavirus, which can cause cervical cancer in women and genital warts in both men and women
|
| IPV | Dose 1: age 2 months Dose 2: age 4 months Dose 3: Between ages 6 months and 18 months Dose 4: Between ages 4 years and 6 years Catch-up series between ages 7 years and 18 years if your child has not received all four doses | Polio, which can lead to paralysis and death |
| PCV13 | Dose 1: age 2 months Dose 2: age 4 months Dose 3: age 6 months Dose 4: Between ages 12 months and 15 months Extra dose of PCV13 recommended for children ages 24 months through 71 months with certain health conditions Extra dose is recommended for previously unvaccinated children with immune conditions ages 6 years through 18 years | Pneumococcus, which can lead to sinus and ear infections, pneumonia, blood infection, meningitis, and death |
| MCV4 | Dose between ages 11 years and 12 years, with a booster at age 16 years Catch-up dose between ages 13 years and 15 years, if needed, with a booster between ages 16 years and 18 years For children with high-risk conditions, a dose is recommended between ages 9 months and 10 years | Meningococcal disease, which can cause bacterial meningitis and lead to loss of limbs, disabilities, deafness, seizure, stroke, and death
|
| MMR | Dose 1: Between ages 12 months and 15 months Dose 2: Between ages 4 years and 6 years Catch-up series between ages 7 years and 18 years if your child has not had both doses |
|
| RV | Dose 1: age 2 months Dose 2: age 4 months Dose 3: age 6 months, if needed, depending on the vaccine manufacturer of the previous doses | Rotavirus, which can lead to severe diarrhea and dehydration |
| Tdap | Single dose recommended between ages 11 years and 12 years Catch-up dose between ages 7 years and 10 years if your child has not had all five doses of DTaP Check whether additional dose is needed between ages 13 years and 18 years | |
| Varicella | Dose 1: Between ages 12 months and 15 months Dose 2: Between ages 4 years and 6 years Catch-up series between ages 7 years and 18 years if your child has not received both doses
| Chickenpox, which can lead to infected blisters, bleeding disorders, brain swelling, and pneumonia
|
Vaccines can sometimes have side effects. Most side effects are mild and don't last more than a few days.
For example, your child might get a mild fever or have a sore arm at the injection spot. Severe side effects are very rare. Talk to your pediatrician about any concerns you have.
