Immunizations for Prevention
Immunizations protect your child against several serious, life-threatening diseases. Your child should have shots according to the following schedule. If your child's shots are not up-to-date, call your healthcare provider's office for an appointment.
Routine Immunization Schedule for Infants and Children
Age of Child Immunization
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birth to 2 weeks Hep B
2 months DTaP, IPV, Hib, Hep B, PCV7, rotavirus
4 months DTaP, IPV, Hib, PCV7, rotavirus
6 months DTaP, Hib, Hep B, PCV7, rotavirus
6 to 18 months IPV
6 months to 5 years Influenza (yearly)
12 to 15 months MMR, Hib, Var, PCV7
12 to 18 months DTaP, Hep A
18 to 36 months Hep A
4 to 6 years DTaP, IPV, MMR, Var
11 to 12 years Tdap, MCV4, HPV (for girls)
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Explanation of abbreviations:
DTaP = diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough)
Hib = Haemophilus influenzae type b
Hep A = hepatitis A
Hep B = hepatitis B
HPV = human papillomavirus
MCV4 = meningococcal conjugate vaccine, 4-valent
MMR = measles, mumps, rubella
IPV = inactivated poliovirus
Tdap = tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis for 11 years of age and up
Var = chickenpox (varicella)
PCV7 = pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, 7-valent
Reference: American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on
Infectious Diseases, Recommended Childhood
Immunization Schedule, January 2006. Web Site:
http://www.cispimmunize.org
Descriptions of Immunizations
Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP/Tdap) vaccine
Whooping cough is a very dangerous disease, especially for babies. The risk of suffering and death caused by whooping cough is far greater than the possible side effects of the shot. A child who has not been immunized against pertussis has a chance of 1 in 3000 of getting whooping cough. In contrast, a child who gets the shot is estimated to have a chance of 1 in 2 million or less of having neurological damage from the vaccine.
If your child is between 11 and 18 years of age and has had a tetanus (Td) booster, he or she may need to have a tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) booster as well. Ask your healthcare provider if your child needs this shot.
Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine
Outbreaks of measles have made it necessary for children to have 2 MMR vaccines. They should have the first shot when they are 12 to 15 months old and the second when they are 4 to 6 years old. These diseases are nearly gone from the U.S. However, they will come back if children are not fully vaccinated. If your child has not received 2 MMR vaccines after the age of 12 months, call your healthcare provider's office during office hours.
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine
Haemophilus influenzae is a type of bacteria that causes several life-threatening diseases in young children (such as meningitis, epiglottitis, and pneumonia). Before the vaccine was available, over 3800 children per year in the US became mentally retarded, blind, or deaf, or got cerebral palsy as a result of the disease. The Hib vaccine does not protect against flu and meningitis caused by viruses.
Hepatitis B vaccine (Hep B)
Vaccination against hepatitis B prevents this type of hepatitis and the severe liver damage that can occur 20 or 30 years after a person is first infected. More than 5000 adults die each year in the U.S. from hepatitis-related liver cancer or cirrhosis. The younger the age when the infection occurs, the greater the risk of serious problems.
If you have an older child who was not vaccinated against hepatitis B as an infant, ask your provider whether he or she should have the shots. Your child needs a total of 3 hepatitis B shots.
Rotavirus vaccine
Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe infection in the intestines, usually causing diarrhea. Most cases occur between 6 months and 2 years of age. Rotavirus vaccines should not be given to infants aged after age 8 months. The rotavirus vaccine given early in life will prevent severe rotavirus disease, which can cause dehydration or death.
Polio vaccine
The polio vaccine protects children from this now rare but crippling disease. The inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) is recommended.
Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine
The chickenpox vaccine is usually given between the ages of 12 and 15 months, and a second dose should be given at age 4 to 6 years. It can be given to older children if they have not had the vaccine or the disease yet. Children age 13 or older should get 2 doses at least 4 weeks apart.
This vaccine is 70% to 90% effective in preventing chickenpox. If your child had the vaccine, but still gets chickenpox, it will be a milder form of the disease. By getting the chickenpox vaccine, you can reduce the chance of missed work and school, skin infections, medical costs, and getting shingles later in life.
Pneumococcal (PCV7) vaccine
The PCV7 vaccine protects against the 7 types of pneumococcal bacteria that cause pneumonia, bloodstream infections, and meningitis. The vaccine also prevents some ear infections caused by pneumococci.
Routine use of PCV7 is now recommended for infants and toddlers. Some children (up to age 5) who have a serious illness may benefit from the vaccine.
Human papillomavirus vaccine
HPV causes nearly all cases of genital warts and cervical cancer. Evidence indicates that the HPV vaccine will prevent 90% of genital warts and 70% of cervical cancers. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends the HPV vaccine for females aged 11 to 12. It is approved for females 9 to 26 years old. Three doses of the vaccine are given: an initial dose, another 2 months later, and the last dose 6 months after the first dose.
Influenza vaccine
It is recommended that all healthy children age 6 months to 5 years old get the influenza vaccine. Those less than 2 years old are at a greater risk of getting severely ill or needing to go to the hospital because of the flu. The influenza vaccine is also recommended each year for children ages 6 months and older if they have certain medical risk factors. Caregivers of young children should also get the influenza vaccine each year. The vaccine can be given to anyone to avoid getting the flu.
Other Vaccines
Hepatitis A vaccine
The hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for all children over 1 year of age. It should also be considered for older children and teens in some states and regions, and for certain people at high risk. Talk to your healthcare provider or local public health department for more information.
Meningococcal vaccine
Meningococcal disease can often be prevented in adolescents and young adults by a vaccine. Meningococcal conjugate vaccine is recommended for all 11 to 12-year olds, teens starting high school, or young adults before they move into college dorms.
Reasons Not To Vaccinate
Talk to your provider before getting your child vaccinated if:
- Your child had an allergic reaction to a previous vaccine.
- Your child has a serious neurologic disease.
The pertussis vaccine (DTaP) should not be given if a child has a serious neurologic disease. Your child can still have the tetanus and diphtheria vaccine without the pertussis vaccine.
- Your child has immune system problems.
Children with immune systems that are weakened by certain diseases or medicines should not get live virus vaccines (such as chickenpox, oral polio, or MMR). A live virus vaccine can cause the actual disease if the immune system is very weak.
- Your child has egg allergies.
Children who have a severe allergy to eggs should not receive the influenza vaccine. However, children who are allergic to eggs can receive all other routine immunizations. Although the measles and mumps vaccines are grown in chick cells, the egg proteins are removed from these vaccines. The vaccines can be given without having your child tested for an egg allergy.
Unwarranted Reasons Not to Vaccinate
Some children in the U.S. have not received all of the recommended immunizations. The following conditions are NOT reasons to delay or avoid immunizations.
Your child CAN still get immunizations if:
- Your child had soreness, redness, or swelling at the injection site after a previous DTaP shot.
- Your child had a fever of less than 105°F (40.5°C) after a previous DTaP shot.
- Your child has a mild illness such as a cold, cough, or diarrhea without a fever.
- Your child is recovering from a mild illness such as a cold, cough, or diarrhea.
- Your child has recently been exposed to an infectious disease.
- Your child is taking antibiotics.
- Your child was premature.
- Your child is breast-feeding.
- Your child has allergies (unless it is an egg allergy).
- Your family has a history of seizures or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
