Project L.O.V.E.

Introduction

If you have trouble keeping track of all the immunizations your child needs, you're not alone. Many parents find the immunization process confusing, especially when new vaccines are developed and added to the schedule. Complicating matters further is that many vaccines require several doses before a child develops immunity to a disease. And sometimes, due to vaccine shortages or problems with scheduling appointments, children can get off schedule.

This immunization schedule for children in the United States can help set the record straight. And if your child misses a dose of vaccine, don't worry. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides doctors with a catch-up schedule for children who may have missed some of their immunizations.

Click on the tabs to the left corresponding to your child's age to find out what vaccines he or she should have now and what's coming up.

Birth

Vaccine recommended

Hepatitis B — dose 1 of 3

The timing of the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine depends on whether the mother is infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) at the time of delivery. If you're HBV-positive, your baby needs the first dose of vaccine along with hepatitis B immune globulin within 12 hours of birth. Even if you're HBV-negative, your baby might receive the first dose of vaccine before going home from the hospital unless your doctor specifically recommends otherwise. 

2 Months

Vaccines recommended

Talk with your doctor about the use of combination vaccines to reduce the number of shots received.

4 Months

Vaccines recommended

At the 4-month checkup, your baby receives follow-up doses to those vaccines received at the 2-month checkup. Talk with your doctor about the use of combination vaccines to reduce the number of shots received.

6 Months

Vaccines recommended

At the 6-month checkup, your baby receives another round of the vaccines given at 2 months and 4 months. Children, from 6 months to 5 years old, should get an influenza (flu) shot every year. If it is the first time your child is receiving the vaccine, two doses are recommended.

Talk with your doctor about the use of combination vaccines to reduce the number of shots received.

12-15 Months

Vaccines recommended

The final doses of both Hib and PCV7 vaccines need to wait until your child is 12 months or older. The first dose of MMR vaccine also is given at this time.  HepA is recommended between 12 to 23 months of age.

Your child needs two doses of varicella vaccine to protect against chickenpox. Varicella vaccine is recommended at any visit after your child is 12 months old. The CDC recommends the second dose of the vaccine at age 4 to 6 years.

Talk with your doctor about the use of combination vaccines to reduce the number of shots received. To avoid giving four shots in one visit, many doctors may recommend the MMR and varicella vaccines at age 12 months and the Hib and PCV7 vaccines at 15 months.

All children 0 through 18 years of age need three doses of hepatitis B vaccine if they haven’t already received them.

18-23 Months

Vaccines recommended

Your child needs two doses of hepatitis A vaccine to protect. Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended at any visit after your child is 12 months old. The CDC recommends the second dose of the vaccine at least 6 months following the first dose and before the child is two years old.

4-6 Years

Vaccines recommended

Around the time your child starts kindergarten, he or she receives the final doses of DTaP, IPV, MMR and varicella vaccines. Many states require proof that your child's vaccinations are current before allowing school enrollment. The greater the number of vaccinated children, the greater the protection of all children in the school from vaccine-preventable diseases.

Children 16-59 months of age who have not been vaccinated may need one or two doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7). Talk to your health care provider.

Children over 12 months of age (who have not had chickenpox or have not been previously vaccinated) need two doses.

11-12 Years

Vaccines recommended

  • Tdap booster shot. Tdap (Tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis) is recommended for adolescents who have completed the childhood DTP/DTaP vaccination series but haven't had a booster shot. By age 12, your child should have a Tdap booster shot. Follow-up doses are needed every 10 years.
  • Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) — 1 dose
  • Human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) : Recommended for 11-12 year old girls. HPV is given in three doses. 

MCV4 is recommended for children age 11 and older and for unvaccinated adolescents when they enter high school (about age 15). College freshmen living in dormitories who haven't previously received the meningococcal vaccine also should be vaccinated with MCV4 or with meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4).

Tdap or Td is given at 11-12 years of age if at least 5 years have passed since the last dose of DTaP/DTP.

13-18 Years

All children 0 through 18 years of age need three doses of hepatitis B vaccine if they haven’t already received them.

Children 13 years of age and older (who have not had chickenpox or have not been previously vaccinated) need two doses of chickenpox vaccine given 4-8 weeks apart.


Questions about immunizations?  Click Here.


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