Children get many infectious diseases, especially in the early months and years of life. Colds, bronchitis, or croup are difficult to avoid, as are ear infections, sinusitis, and conjunctivitis (pinkeye). Vaccines prevent many childhood diseases. The following chart shows what vaccines to take, when to take them, and why.
When to Vaccinate |
What Vaccine |
Why |
|---|---|---|
| Birth (or any age if not previously immunized) | Hepatitis B (HBV) (three doses)—HepB | Prevents hepatitis B, a type of liver disease that can lead to liver scarring, cancer, or failure. |
| 1 to 4 Months | HepB | |
| 2 Months | Diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis— DTaP | Prevents: Diphtheria, a serious bacterial infection that can lead to breathing problems Tetanus, a bacterial illness that causes a painful tightening of the muscles, such as "lock jaw" Pertussis (Whooping cough), an infectious bacterial disease that causes uncontrollable coughing |
| Haemophilus influenza type b vaccine (three doses)—Hib | Protects against illnesses like meningitis, pneumonia, and infections of the blood, bones, and joints | |
| Inactivated poliovirus vaccine—IPV | Protects against polio, a contagious, paralyzing, and life-threatening disease | |
| Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine—PCV | Protects against the pneumococcal bacterium, the leading cause of infections such as pneumonia, blood infections, and bacterial meningitis | |
| Rotavirus vaccine (three doses)—RV | Protects against severe diarrhea, mostly in babies and young children | |
| 4 Months | DTaP, Hib, IPV, PCV, RV | |
| 6 Months and Annually | Influenza – Flu vaccine or flu "shot" (two doses, one month apart, for those under 9 getting a flu shot for the first time) | Protects against seasonal flu |
| 6 Months | DTaP, Hib, PCV, RV | |
| 6 – 18 Months | Hep B, IPV | |
| 12 – 15 Months | Hib, PCV | |
| Measles, mumps and rubella (German measles) vaccine—MMR | A "3 in 1" vaccine against three potentially life-threatening diseases: |
|
| Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine—Var Note: In February 2008, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) changed its recommendations. It had recommended giving the MMR and Varicella vaccines at the same time. Now it does not express a preference for giving them separately or at the same time. |
Protects against chickenpox, a usually mild infectious disease characterized by an uncomfortable, itchy rash, fever, and headache; in adults, can cause shingles and other serious problems | |
| 12 – 23 Months | Hepatitis A vaccine (two doses)—Hep A | Protects against a type of liver disease |
| 15 – 18 Months | DTaP | |
| 4 – 6 Years | DTaP, MMR, IPV, Var | |
| 11 – 12 Years | Human papillomavirus vaccine—HPV | In young girls, prevents most cases of genital warts and cervical cancer |
| Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis booster—Tdap | ||
| Meningitis vaccine—MCV | Protects against meningitis, an inflammation of the thin tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord; there are several types of meningitis | |
| College Entrants | Meningitis vaccine for college aged—MCV4 | Protects against meningitis, recommended for previously unvaccinated college entrants planning to live in dormitories. |
Sources: medlineplus.gov; U.S. Centers for Disease Control; CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices