Health & Parenting

Back-to-School Vaccinations Made Simple

Vaccine Checklist continued...

18 Months
The series of inoculations that your toddler needs at his or her 18 month well-visit will vary based on your child’s past history of vaccinations. He or she may need a dose of:

• HepB
• DTaP
• PCV (pneumococcal)
• Flu shot
• HepA

19-23 Months
Vaccinations recommended when your child from 19 to 23 months depends on which ones were -- or were not -- given during earlier visits. These may include:

• Flu shot
• HepA
• MMR
• Varicella

Two to Three Years
From age two to three, your child may need a dose of the MMR and/or varicella or chicken pox vaccine, depending on when he or she received the last dose.

That’s not all. Your child may also need the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV) if he or she has certain underlying medical conditions. This is typically given two or more months after the last dose of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV).

What’s more, children who are not fully vaccinated against Hepatitis A should receive the HepA series between the ages of two and six. The meningococcal vaccine (MCV) is recommended for high risk children aged 2 through 10. Meningococcal disease is the number one cause of bacterial meningitis in U.S. children 2 through 18. Meningitis is an infection of fluid surrounding the brain and the spinal cord. It can also cause blood infections.

Four to Six Years
From the ages of four to six, your child may need a dose of the DTaP vaccine, the polio vaccine, MMR vaccine, and varicella vaccine. In addition, the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV) may be needed if your child has certain underlying medical conditions. It can be given between the ages of two to six. Children who are not fully vaccinated against Hepatitis A should receive the HepA series between the ages of two and six. The meningococcal vaccine (MCV) is recommended for high risk children aged 2 through 10.

Eleven to 12 Years
The following vaccines are recommended for 11-12 year olds:

• Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular peruses vaccine (Tdap). Adolescents aged 11 to 18 should get one dose of this vaccine.
• Meningococcal vaccine (MCV4). Adolescents should receive this vaccine during their 11-12 year old check-up or when they enter high school or college, the CDC states.
• Hepatits B. This three-shot vaccine course is recommended for adolescents who did not receive it as part of their childhood vaccines.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) or cervical cancer vaccine. As of now, two vaccines (Cervarix and Gardasil) are available to protect against the types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers. These are given in three shots over a six-month period.

Gardasil also protects against most genital warts. Both vaccines are recommended for 11- and 12-year-old girls. In addition, females aged 13 through 26 who did not get any (or all) of the shots are eligible for the HPV shot. These vaccines can also be given to girls as young as age 9. Girls should receive the same vaccine brand for all three doses. Gardisal can be used to protect boys and men aged 9 through 26 from most types of genital warts.