As a parent, one of the most important things is keeping your child safe and healthy. Although the pandemic has created a sense of hesitancy around vaccines, they still remain one of the safest ways to protect your child against infectious diseases. But how do you know which vaccines your child needs and when they need them?
Here’s your guide to every immunization your child needs based on their age:
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends COVID-19 vaccines for everyone ages 5 and older. COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines may be administered on the same day. See the COVID-19 Vaccine Product Information page for additional information.
All babies should receive the first dose of Hep B vaccine soon after birth, before they are discharged from the hospital, though babies born to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative mothers may delay the first dose in rare circumstances.
If a combination vaccine containing Hep B is used for the rest of the vaccination series, four doses may be administered: The second dose at least 4 weeks after the first dose, and the third dose 8 weeks later (and at least 16 weeks after the first dose.) The last dose should not be administered before the baby is 6 months old.
Babies born to HBsAg-positive mothers should receive the Hep B vaccine and hepatitis B immune globulin within 12 hours of birth at separate sites. The second dose is recommended at 1 to 2 months, and the final dose (the third or fourth) at 6 months. Children and teens through age 18 who haven’t been vaccinated against hepatitis B can begin the series at any time. Babies born to mothers whose HBsAg status is unknown should receive their first dose of HepB within 12 hours of birth.
The mother’s blood should be tested for HBsAg status as soon as possible; if the test is positive, her baby should receive HBIG right away, and before the baby is one week old. The second dose should be given at 1-2 months. The last dose should not be given before the baby is 6 months old.
The CDC recommends a series of five shots of the DTaP vaccine that protects against diptheria, tetanus, and pertussis. Children usually get their first shot at age 2 months, followed by shots at 4 months, 6 months, 15-18 months, and 4-6 years.
In the wake of a 2010 pertussis outbreak in California, CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, voted to recommend that children ages 7-9 years who did not complete the recommended childhood series of DtaP receive a catch-up dose of Tdap.
Kids should also get a booster of tetanus and diphtheria toxoids (Td) at age 11 to 12 if it’s been at least 5 years since
their last DTP or DTaP shot. In 2005, the FDA approved a new tetanus and acellular pertussis vaccine for adolescents (Tdap adolescent preparation), given in one dose to children who miss their 11-12-year Td/Tdap booster. Everyone should get a Td booster every 10 years.
If a baby gets Hib conjugate vaccines at 2 and 4 months, he or she doesn’t need a third dose at 6 months. The final dose in the series should not be given before the child is 12 months old. Avoid DTaP/Hib combination products for the first three doses because they may not provide the same level of immunity as the separate vaccines.
The oral vaccine (OPV) containing live bacteria is no longer recommended for children in the United States and as of 2000, the CDC recommends using the inactivated form (IPV) for all four doses. Children should receive four doses of IPV at 2 months, 4 months, 6-18 months, and on or after the 4th birthday.
Recommended for all children 2 to 23 months of age and children aged 2 to 5 who are at high risk for pneumococcal infection or with weak immune systems. Children under 24 months get four doses of PCV at 2, 4, 6, and 12 to 15 months of age, and children over 24 months of age get one dose of PCV if they have been partially immunized.
The Rotavirus vaccine should be administered in three doses, at ages 2, 4, and 6 months. (If Rotarix vaccine is used, the third dose at 6 months is not needed.) The first dose should be given at 6 to 12 weeks, with subsequent doses at four to 10-week intervals. The vaccine should not be started when the child is older than 15 weeks or continued after 32 weeks.
The first dose should be administered at 12 to 15 months of age. Experts recommend the second dose of MMR at 4-6 years, but kids can receive it anytime at least 4 weeks after the first dose (as long as they get both after 12 months of age). If they miss the second dose, they can get it anytime up to age 18.
Susceptible babies (those who lack a reliable history of chickenpox) should get this vaccine at 12 to 15 months and a second dose at 4 to 6 years of age. Susceptible children over age 13 should get two doses at least 4 weeks apart.
This vaccine is now recommended for all children at the age of 1 year. There are two doses, given 6 months apart. Children older than 1 year can have the vaccine if they missed it earlier and immunity is desired.
RELATED: Flu Shot Vs. FluMist: Which Is Better For Your Child?
A yearly flu shot is recommended for all children aged 6 months to 18 years. Children under 9 who are getting vaccinated for the first time should receive two doses separated by at least a month. Healthy people between the ages of 5 and 49 can opt for the nasal spray vaccine instead of the injected version.
The FDA approved Meningococcal conjugate vaccine in January 2005. All children 11 to 12 years old, previously unvaccinated adolescents and college freshmen living in dormitories should also receive MCV4.
The new human papillomavirus vaccine comes in three doses, with the second and third dose following at two and six months after the first dose. The CDC recommends routine immunization for girls who are 11 to 12 years old, though vaccination can start as young as 9. The CDC also recommends a catch-up vaccination for females between 13 and 26 who haven’t been immunized or completed the full vaccine series.
Every year the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the American Academy of Family Physicians revise their schedule of childhood immunizations.
For a PDF version of the CDC’s 2022 immunization schedule, click here.
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