Vaccine

Disease prevented

Number of vaccines and recommended 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 depending on type of vaccine

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 or Td 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

Screening

Who needs it

How often

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: People who plan to travel to other countries should make sure they are fully vaccinated against polio before departure. If a child cannot complete the routine series before departure, it's advised that the vaccines be given on an earlier schedule.

Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)

Measles. This is a disease that causes 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 (VAR)

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. Three types of vaccines are available:

• Meningococcal conjugate vaccine, or MenACWY.

• Serogroup B meningococcal vaccine, or MenB.

• Pentavalent meningococcal, or MenACWY.

MenACWY. Advised for all children.

1st: 11 to 12 years

2nd: 16 years

Catch-up vaccine may be given between ages 13 to 15 years, with a booster between ages 16 to 18 for children not vaccinated as a preteen.

MenB. May be advised for some children and teens over 10 years old depending on their health and risk. Talk with your child's healthcare provider.

MenABCWY. If a patient age 10 and older is receiving MenACWY and MenB vaccines at the same visit, MenABCWY may be given instead. Talk with your child's healthcare provider.

Screening

Who needs it

How often

Pneumococcal (PCV)

Pneumococcal disease. This can cause ear infections, pneumonia, meningitis, and bacteremia.

1st: 2 months

2nd: 4 months

3rd: 6 months

4th: 12 to 15 months

Influenza

Flu. Different strains 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. 

COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19 most often causes a respiratory illness. Symptoms range from mild to severe and can result in a hospital stay.

Experts advise COVID-19 vaccination for everyone ages 6 months and older. The specific vaccine and number of doses can vary depending on age and risk. Talk with your healthcare provider to learn more.

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 infection (STI), can cause genital warts and cancers of the anus, cervix, vagina, vulva, penis, or throat.

1st: 9 to 14 years

2nd: 6 to 12 months after 1st

3-dose series if not started until after age 15 years

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) monoclonal antibody nirsevimab

RSV. This is a common virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. RSV can be severe in infants and can result in a hospital stay.

1 dose for infants younger than 8 months born during or entering their first RSV season. Nirsevimab may also be recommended for some infants and children ages 8 through 19 months who are at increased risk for severe RSV disease and entering their second RSV season. Note: If 1 dose of maternal RSV vaccine was given during weeks 32 through 36 of pregnancy, immunization is not needed for most infants. Talk to your baby's healthcare provider to see if nirsevimab is right for your child.