Immunizations are designed to protect against serious illnesses ranging from polio and tetanus to measles, mumps, and the seasonal flu. Many people consider them the most important part of well-child checkups.
To find out more about the many illnesses prevented by immunizations, click on the links below under "recommended immunization schedule."
For a personalized list of which immunizations your child might need, and when, try our Immunization Scheduler.
How immunizations work
Immunizations are vaccines made of either weakened or "killed" versions of the bacteria or virus that causes a particular disease. When these altered viruses and bacteria are injected or taken orally, the immune system mounts an attack that stimulates the body to produce antibodies.
See which shots your baby needs when, and make a personalized schedule for your child's immunizations.
Once produced, the antibodies remain active in the body, ready to fight off the real disease. For example, if whooping cough broke out in your area, an immunized child would be much less likely to contract the disease than one who wasn't immunized.
What's new in 2011
Every year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices publishes a new schedule showing which vaccines are recommended and when to get them. This schedule is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
New this year:
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• The 2010-2011 flu vaccine now combines seasonal flu and H1N1 (swine flu) protection in one immunization. The committee recommends two doses for kids age 6 months to 8 years old who didn't get at least one dose of the H1N1 vaccine in 2009.
Recommended immunization schedule
If your child has gotten behind on immunizations, ask your doctor about the "catch-up" schedule.
• At 2 months
• At 4 months
• At 6 months
• Between 15 and 18 months (can be given as early as 12 months as long as it's at least six months after the previous shot)
• Between 4 and 6 years old
• A booster shot at 11 or 12 years of age
Hepatitis A, to protect against hepatitis A, which can cause the liver disease hepatitis.
Between 12 and 23 months, two shots at least six months apart
Hepatitis B (HBV), to protect against hepatitis B, which can cause the liver disease hepatitis:
• At birth
• Between 1 and 2 months
• Between 6 and 18 months.
Hib, to protect against Haemophilus influenza type B, which can lead to meningitis, pneumonia, and epiglottitis:
• At 2 months
• At 4 months
• At 6 months (not needed if the PedvaxHIB or ComVax brand of vaccine was given at 2 and 4 months)
• Between 12 and 15 months
HPV, to protect against human papillomavirus, the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States and a cause of cervical cancer:
Three doses between 11 and 12 years, for girls (one version of the HPV vaccine prevents genital warts in males, but isn't on the official schedule)
Influenza (the flu shot or, for age 2 and up, nasal spray vaccine), to protect against seasonal flu and H1N1 (swine flu):
• Age 6 months and up, every year in the fall or early winter
• Two doses for children 6 months to 8 years old who are getting the seasonal flu vaccine for the first time, who had only one dose of the seasonal flu vaccine in the previous flu season, or who didn't get the H1N1 vaccine during the 2009-2010 season
• One dose for all other children
Meningococcal, to protect against meningococcal disease, the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in U.S. children in pre-vaccine days:
Between 11 and 12 years
MMR, to protect against measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles):
• Between 12 and 15 months
• Between 4 and 6 years old
Pneumococcal (PCV), to protect against pneumococcal disease, which can lead to meningitis, pneumonia, and ear infections:
• At 2 months
• At 4 months
• At 6 months
• Between 12 and 15 months
Polio (IPV), to protect against polio:
• At 2 months
• At 4 months
• Between 6 and 18 months
• Between 4 and 6 years old
Rotavirus, to protect against rotavirus, which can cause severe diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and dehydration (given orally, not as an injection):
• At 2 months
• At 4 months
• At 6 months (not needed if the Rotarix brand of vaccine was given at 2 and 4 months)
Varicella, to protect against chicken pox:
• Between 12 and 15 months
• Between 4 and 6 years.
Are Your Childs immunizaton Up-To-Date? Click link below*** Print A Chart!!!
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