Childhood Vaccination Schedule
Childhood Routine Vaccine Schedule
The following is the routine childhood vaccine or immunization schedule. There is also a catch-up schedule for children who are behind on vaccines, and a different schedule for children considered high-risk for infection. Your child's healthcare provider or nurse can give you information about the routine and other schedules.
Vaccine |
Disease prevented |
Number of vaccines and age for giving them |
Hepatitis (HepB) |
Hepatitis B. This is an infection that can cause chronic, severe liver disease. |
1st: Birth 2nd: 1 to 2 months 3rd: 6 to 18 months |
Rotavirus (RV) |
Rotavirus infection. This causes severe diarrhea in infants and children up to 2 years old. |
1st: 2 months 2nd: 4 months 3rd: 6 months |
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP) |
Diphtheria. This is a disease that causes inflammation of the throat and airways, which can block breathing. Tetanus (lockjaw). This is a disease that causes severe, painful spasms of neck, jaw, and other muscles. It can cause death. Pertussis (whooping cough). This is a disease that causes prolonged loud coughing and gasping. It can interfere with breathing and can cause death. |
1st: 2 months 2nd: 4 months 3rd: 6 months 4th: 15 to 18 months 5th: 4 to 6 years Note: Your child also needs an extra dose (called the Tdap) at 11 to 12 years old. Your child should then get the Tdap booster every 10 years throughout life. |
Haemophilus influenzae Type b (Hib) |
Haemophilus influenzae Type b (Hib). This is a severe bacterial infection that causes lung infection (pneumonia), inflammation of the covering of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis), and other serious infections. |
1st: 2 months 2nd: 4 months 3rd: 6 months (this dose depends on the vaccine used) 4th: 12 to 15 months |
Inactivated Poliovirus (IPV) |
Polio. This is an infection that can paralyze the muscles. |
1st: 2 months 2nd: 4 months 3rd: 6 to 18 months 4th: 4 to 6 years Note: Infants, children, and adults traveling to countries where polio is still active, and staying for more than 4 weeks, should get age-appropriate polio vaccines or a polio booster within 12 months before travel. |
Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) |
Measles. This is a disease that cause ear infections and pneumonia. Mumps. This is a disease that affects the glands in the neck. It may affect the testes. Rubella (German measles). This is a disease that can cause birth defects in women exposed while pregnant. |
1st: 12 to 15 months 2nd: 4 to 6 years |
Varicella |
Chickenpox. This is a disease that causes itchy rash, with fever and fatigue. It can lead to scarring, pneumonia, brain inflammation (encephalitis), and other serious infections. |
1st: 12 to 15 months 2nd: 4 to 6 years |
Meningococcal |
Bacterial meningitis. This is inflammation of the membrane covering the brain and spinal cord. It can result in death. |
Once at 11 to 12 years, with a booster at 16. |
Pneumococcal (PCV) |
Pneumococcal disease. This can cause ear infections, pneumonia, meningitis, and bacteremia. |
1st: 2 months 2nd: 4 months 3rd: 6 months 4th: 12 to15 months |
Influenza |
Flu. Different strains of which appear each year. The flu can be serious, especially for very young children. It can result in pneumonia and hospitalizations. |
Yearly beginning at age 6 months. 2 doses are given for children who are younger than 9 years old and have never had flu vaccines. |
Hepatitis A (HepA) |
Hepatitis A. This is an infection that can cause sudden liver inflammation. |
1st: 12 to 23 months 2nd: 6 to 18 months after the first dose |
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) |
Certain types of genital HPV infection, which is a sexually transmitted disease (STD), can cause genital warts and/or cervical, vaginal, or vulvar cancers in women. |
1st: 9 to 14 years 2nd: 6 to 12 months after 1st
|
Updated:  
August 28, 2017
Reviewed By:  
Adler, Liora C., MD,Cunningham, Louise, RN,Fetterman, Anne, RN, BSN