Immunization Schedule

Birth

• Hep B: Hepatitis B vaccine (HBV); recommended to give the first dose at birth, but may be given at any age for those not previously immunized.

1–2 months

• Hep B: Second dose should be administered 1 to 2 months after the first dose.

2 months

• DTaP: Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine
• Hib: Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine
• IPV: Inactivated poliovirus vaccine
• PCV: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
• Rota: Rotavirus vaccine

4 months

• DTaP
• Hib
• IPV
• PCV
• Rota

6 months

• DTaP
• Hib
• PCV
• Rota

6 months and annually

• Seasonal influenza. The vaccine is recommended every year for children 6 months and older. Kids under 9 who get a flu vaccine for the first time will receive it in two separate doses a month apart.
  
  Kids 6 months to 5 years old are still considered the group of kids who most need the flu vaccine, but updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommend that all older kids and teens get it, too.
  
  It's especially important for high-risk kids to be vaccinated. High-risk groups include, but aren't limited to, kids with asthma, heart problems, sickle cell anemia, diabetes, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
  
  It can take up to 2 weeks after the shot is given for the body to build up immunity against the flu.

6–18 months

• Hep B
• IPV

12–15 months

• Hib
• MMR: Measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles) vaccine
• PCV
• Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine

12–23 months

• Hep A: Hepatitis A vaccine; given as two shots at least 6 months apart

15–18 months

• DTaP

4–6 years

• DTaP
• MMR
• IPV
• Varicella

11–12 years

• HPV: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, given as 3 shots over 6 months. It's recommended for both girls and boys to prevent genital warts and certain types of cancer.
• Tdap: Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis booster
• MCV: Meningitis vaccine; with a booster dose at age 16

College entrants

• MCV: Meningitis vaccine; recommended for previously unvaccinated college entrants who will live in dormitories. One dose will suffice for healthy college students whose only risk factor is dormitory living.

Special circumstances

• Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for kids 2 years and older who have not received the vaccine and are at increased risk of developing the disease. This includes kids who live in states where the disease is common or who plan to travel to countries where the disease is common.  
• Meningitis vaccine can be given to kids as young as 9 months who are at risk of contracting meningitis. This includes children with certain immune disorders as well as those who live in (or are planning to travel to) countries where meningitis is common. This vaccine also should be given to teens 13 and older who did not receive it in childhood.
• Pneumococcal vaccines also can be given to older kids (age 2 and up) who have immunocompromising conditions, such as asplenia or HIV infection, or other conditions, like cochlear implant.

Reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD
Date reviewed: April 2012