Recommended Immunization Schedules
- Recommended Immunization Schedule for Children (0-6 years)
- Recommended Immunization Schedule for Adolescents (7-18 years)
- Recommended “Catch Up” Immunization Schedulefor late starters and those 1 month behind schedule (4 mos-18 years)
- Vaccinate Before You Graduate
Questions about immunizations?
Why does my child need to be immunized?
Vaccinations have reduced the number of infections from vaccine-preventable diseases by more than 90%! Yet many parents still question their safety because of misinformation they’ve received. That’s why it’s important to turn to a reliable and trusted source, including your pediatrician, for information.
I’m breastfeeding my baby. Does he still need to be immunized?
Yes, your baby needs all of the recommended vaccines even when the mother is breastfeeding. Breastfeeding supplies your child with the best possible nutrition and even some antibodies from the mother. However, it will not protect him from infectious illnesses the way that immunizations do.
My child has a cold and fever. Can she receive any vaccinations while she’s sick?
Yes. If an otherwise healthy child only has a mild illness such as a runny nose, a low-grade fever, an ear infection, a cough, or mild diarrhea, she can safely be vaccinated.
What vaccine side effects should concern me?
If your child has negative effects after being vaccinated, let your pediatrician know about them at your next office visit. A few side effects are signs of a serious reaction, and if you see them, call your pediatrician immediately. They include hives, difficulty breathing, extreme irritability, a fever above 104°F, or a generalized rash.
My child has missed some of her vaccinations. Do we have to start all over again at the beginning?
No. If a particular immunization such as the diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis or hepatitis B vaccine is given in a series of doses and your child has missed one or more of them, just pick up where you’ve left off. The vaccines she has already received still count. At the next doctor’s visit, she can restart her childhood vaccinations until she’s caught up.
The answers to these questions and more can be found at HealthyChildren.org founded by the American Academy of Pediatrics.