Medical Immunization Schedule for Children

Your child may get as many as 20 or more immunizations beginning within hours of delivery, to age 18. Trying to remember and track all those shots and scheduling trips to the doctor to get their next vaccination on time can be hard to manage. Many vaccinations can be given within a range of weeks or months. Still it is important to get others according to a set period. Most schools require a child to be up to date on all immunizations before they can register for their first day of class. Specific immunization requirements may vary, so be sure to check with your local school district. Not all recommended immunizations are required for school admission. Also important is to understand that some immunizations may be recommended that are not a part of this guide if you and your children travel outside the United States, especially to developing countries. Use this guide to give you a bird’s-eye view of what important immunizations are needed and be sure to check with your pediatrician for recommendations according to your child’s needs.

Recommended Immunizations at Birth

• Hepatitis B vaccine
• Routine vaccinations of children with Hepatitis B began in the U.S. in 1991
• The first dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine is given within hours of birth at the hospital.
• Follow-up doses generally given during scheduled well-baby exams within the recommended immunization schedule.
• Since routine vaccinations began cases of Hepatitis B has dropped 95% among children

Immunizations between 1-2 Months

• Second dose of Hepatitis B vaccine is given
• The Hepatitis B vaccine is usually given in a series of 3-4 shots
• As with any medication, report any fever, or signs of an allergic reaction to your child’s doctor.

Immunizations Given at 2 Months of Age

• Inactivated Poliovirus (IPV)
• Rotavirus (RV)
• Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib)
• Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP)
• Pneumococcal (PCV)
• Rotavirus illness causes severe gastric distress such as vomiting and dehydration, which can become life threatening in small children.
• The RV vaccine can prevent up to 95 percent of severe infections and 74-87% of all episodes.

Immunizations Given at 4 Months of Age

• Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP)
• Rotavirus (RV)
• Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib)
• Inactivated Poliovirus (IPV)
• Pneumococcal (PCV)
• Some vaccines may be combined and given as a single injection.
• The DTaP vaccine is an example of a combination vaccine effective against diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis)

Immunizations Given at 6 Months of Age

• Rotavirus (RV)
• Inactivated Poliovirus (IPV)
• Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib)
• Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP)
• Pneumococcal (PCV)
• According to a report in the journal Pediatrics®, only 35% of children are in full compliance with recommended vaccinations.
• Noncompliance not only risks individual children, but also can risk entire families or communities as they expose at risk individuals around them.

Immunizations given at 12-15 Months

• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
• Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib)
• Pneumococcal (PCV)
• Varicella
• Haemophilus influenza type b illnesses can cause fatal brain infections in children.
• Since the use of the Hib vaccine, cases of Hib disease are rare.
•  Pneumococcal disease can attack various systems and parts of the body.
• The bacteria responsible for pneumococcal disease can cause pneumonia, inner ear infections, and even serious brain infections.
• The PCV vaccine is recommended for infants, anyone with weakened immune systems, and others between two years and 59 years of age on doctor’s recommendation.

Immunizations given at 12-23 months

• Hepatitis A (HepA)
• The HepA vaccine is given in 2 doses between the ages of 12-23 months
• This vaccine may not be necessary for all children –follow your pediatrician’s recommendations

Immunizations given between 15-18 Months

• Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP)
• Pertussis is also known as whooping cough.
• Pertussis can be fatal in infants and is 100% preventable by following the recommended immunization schedule.

Meningococcal vaccine between ages 2-6 may be recommended for high-risk children.

• There are three common types meningococcal disease in the United States.
• Meningococcal vaccines are effective in preventing illness caused by two of the three diseases commonly seen.
• Ask your pediatrician if your child is at risk.
• The Meningococcal vaccine is usually recommended for pre-teens and teens with the first dose given between ages 11-12.

Immunizations given between 4-6 years of Age

• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
• Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis ( DTaP)
• Inactivated Poliovirus (IPV)
• Though arguments have been made for years about the risks of the MMR vaccine, no research supports the theory that the vaccine is linked to autism.
• Varicella

Immunizations recommended for Ages 7-18 Years

• Influenza vaccines yearly for all children over the age of 6 months
• Vaccine boosters for DTaP between ages 11-12
• HPV vaccine ( series of 3 doses) for females between ages 11-12
• Meningococcal vaccine between the ages of 11-12