The following is the routine childhood vaccine or immunization schedule. There is also a catch-up schedule for children who are behind on vaccines, and a different schedule for children considered high-risk for infection. Your child's healthcare provider or nurse can give you information about the routine and other schedules.
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Vaccine
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Disease prevented
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Number of vaccines and age for giving them
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Hepatitis (HepB)
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Hepatitis B. This is an infection that can cause chronic, severe liver disease.
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1st: Birth
2nd: 1 to 2 months
3rd: 6 to 18 months
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Rotavirus (RV)
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Rotavirus infection. This causes severe diarrhea in infants and children up to 2 years old.
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1st: 2 months
2nd: 4 months
3rd: 6 months
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Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP)
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Diphtheria. This is a disease that causes inflammation of the throat and airways, which can block breathing.
Tetanus (lockjaw). This is a disease that causes severe, painful spasms of neck, jaw, and other muscles. It can cause death.
Pertussis (whooping cough). This is a disease that causes prolonged loud coughing and gasping. It can interfere with breathing and can cause death.
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1st: 2 months
2nd: 4 months
3rd: 6 months
4th: 15 to 18 months
5th: 4 to 6 years
Note: Your child also needs an extra dose (called the Tdap) at 11 to 12 years old. Your child should then get the Tdap booster every 10 years throughout life.
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Haemophilus influenzae Type b (Hib)
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Haemophilus influenzae Type b (Hib). This is a severe bacterial infection that causes lung infection (pneumonia), inflammation of the covering of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis), and other serious infections.
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1st: 2 months
2nd: 4 months
3rd: 6 months (this dose depends on the vaccine used)
4th: 12 to 15 months
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Inactivated Poliovirus (IPV)
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Polio. This is an infection that can paralyze the muscles.
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1st: 2 months
2nd: 4 months
3rd: 6 to 18 months
4th: 4 to 6 years
Note: Infants, children, and adults traveling to countries where polio is still active, and staying for more than 4 weeks, should get age-appropriate polio vaccines or a polio booster within 12 months before travel.
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Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
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Measles. This is a disease that cause ear infections and pneumonia.
Mumps. This is a disease that affects the glands in the neck. It may affect the testes.
Rubella (German measles). This is a disease that can cause birth defects in women exposed while pregnant.
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1st: 12 to 15 months
2nd: 4 to 6 years
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Varicella
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Chickenpox. This is a disease that causes itchy rash, with fever and fatigue. It can lead to scarring, pneumonia, brain inflammation (encephalitis), and other serious infections.
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1st: 12 to 15 months
2nd: 4 to 6 years
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Meningococcal
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Bacterial meningitis. This is inflammation of the membrane covering the brain and spinal cord. It can result in death.
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Once at 11 to 12 years, with a booster at 16.
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Pneumococcal (PCV)
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Pneumococcal disease. This can cause ear infections, pneumonia, meningitis, and bacteremia.
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1st: 2 months
2nd: 4 months
3rd: 6 months
4th: 12 to15 months
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Influenza
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Flu. Different strains of which appear each year. The flu can be serious, especially for very young children. It can result in pneumonia and hospitalizations.
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Yearly beginning at age 6 months.
2 doses are given for children who are younger than 9 years old and have never had flu vaccines.
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Hepatitis A (HepA)
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Hepatitis A. This is an infection that can cause sudden liver inflammation.
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1st: 12 to 23 months
2nd: 6 to 18 months after the first dose
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Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
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Certain types of genital HPV infection, which is a sexually transmitted disease (STD), can cause genital warts and/or cervical, vaginal, or vulvar cancers in women.
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1st: 9 to 14 years
2nd: 6 to 12 months after 1st
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