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 health care
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
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 Papilloma Virus
MCV4 = meningococcal conjugate vaccine, 4-valent
MMR = measles, mumps, rubella
IPV = inactivated poliovirus
Tdap = tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis
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 health care 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 health
care 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. 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 18 months, but 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 Papilloma
Virus vaccine
HPV causes 90% of genital warts and 70% of
cervical cancers. Very strong evidence indicates that the
HPV vaccine will prevent both of these health conditions.
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
health care 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).
