Vaccines
Vaccines (also called immunizations) keep your child healthy by protecting against infectious illnesses. Your child needs many vaccines as they grow — most of them in the first year.
Vaccines are important to your child's health and are required to attend school
Make sure your child gets needed vaccines on time. To help keep your child as healthy as possible:
- Stay on schedule.
- Talk with your child’s provider if you have any questions or concerns about vaccines.
- If your child is afraid of needles, you can help them conquer their fear using these tips.
- If your child has already missed a vaccine, don’t worry – the vaccines may still be given. Talk with your child’s provider about a catch-up vaccine schedule.
Stay on track with your child’s vaccinations
Recommendations are for all children. Vaccination ages may vary for children who are catching up on missed vaccines or are in certain high-risk groups. For details, see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
Birth to 2 years
Children need these vaccines:
- Hepatitis B (HepB): Starting at birth, 3 doses
- Rotavirus (RV): Starting at 2 months through 6 months, 2-3 doses
- Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP): Starting at 2 months old, 4 doses
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib): Starting at 2 months old, 4 doses
- Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV13): Starting at 2 months old, 4 doses
- Polio (IPV): Starting at 2 months old, 3 doses
- Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR): 1 dose between 12 and 15 months old
- Varicella: 1 dose between 12 and 15 months old
- Hepatitis A (HepA): Starting at 12 months old, 2 doses
- Flu: Starting at 6 months old, once a year (1- 2 doses)
From 3 - 6 years
Children need these vaccines:
- Flu: Once a year
- Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP): One dose between 4 and 6 years old
- Polio (IPV): One dose between 4 and 6 years old
- Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR): One dose between 4 and 6 years old
- Varicella: One dose between 4 and 6 years old
Download the child vaccination quick guide below to keep track of them while your child is 0 to 6 years old.
You can also get information about children's vaccinations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).