Infant & Child Immunizations
On-time vaccinations throughout childhood is essential in providing immunity before children are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases. Vaccines are tested to ensure that they are safe and effective for children to receive at the recommended ages.
Your children are exposed to thousands of germs every day in their daily environment. This happens through the food they eat, the air they breath, and the things they put in their mouths. Babies are born with immune systems that can fight most germs, but there are some deadly diseases that they can’t handle. That’s why they need vaccines to strengthen their immune system. The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend every child continues to receive routine vaccinations during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Deciding to vaccinate
Vaccinating your children is an important decision and is critical to their health and wellbeing. With so much information–some of it incorrect–circulating in the media, it is important to learn the facts about vaccines and to discuss concerns with your healthcare provider.
Many of the diseases that vaccines prevent are incredibly dangerous to children (and even adults). Although the statistical likelihood of contracting some of the diseases are low, it is important to ensure protection if and when it is needed.
Oftentimes articles, blog posts, and media stories question the safety of vaccines which may lead you to question their safety.
Before a vaccine is approved, it goes through years of rigorous testing and extensive research that is overseen by the FDA to ensure its safety. After a vaccine is deployed, continuous monitoring by the CDC, FDA, and National Institute of Health (NIH) tracks the vaccines effectiveness and safety.
A popular misconception is that vaccines cause autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Studies and evidence by the CDC and other health agencies have shown that there is no link between receiving vaccines and developing ASD.
Read more about vaccines and autism here.
When to vaccinate
Making sure your children are vaccinated on time is important to keeping them healthy. Immunization schedules are the recommended timeframes for your children’s vaccinations. Make sure to stay on track with your children’s immunizations. If you miss a dose or visit, the vaccine should be administered as soon as possible when feasible and indicated by your child’s healthcare provider.
You can find the current immunization schedules with the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics here.
The vaccinations
The following vaccinations are recommended for your children. Click on each vaccine to learn more and to schedule an immunization visit:
| Birth: | 1st Hep B |
| 2 months: | 1st DTaP 1st Hib 1st Polio (IPV) 1st Pneumococcal (PCV13) 1st Rotavirus(RV) 2nd Hepatitis B |
| 4 months | 2nd DTaP 2nd Hib 2nd Polio (IPV) 2nd Pneumococcal (PCV13) 2nd Rotavirus (RV) |
| 6 months: | 3rd DTaP 3rd Hib 3rd Polio (IPV) 3rd Pneumococcal (PCV13) 3rd Rotavirus (RV) 3rd Hep B Influenza1 |
| 12 months: | 4th Pneumococcal (PCV13) 1st MMR 1st Varicella (Chickenpox) 1st HepA |
| 15–18 months: | 4th DTaP 4th Hib 2nd Hep A |
| 4 years: | 2nd MMR 2nd Varicella (Chickenpox) 4th Polio (IPV) 5th DTaP |
| 11–12 years: | Tdap HPV (series of 3 shots) MCV4 Tetanus booster2 |
| 16–18 years: | MCV4 booster |
Not sure what your child needs?
Get a quick online visit with a doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider who is trained in infant and child vaccinations and learn which vaccines your children and family needs.
Get An Online Vaccination VisitRead more about infant and child immunizations at CDC.gov
