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Pediatric Vaccine Schedule

Vaccinating your child is one of the most effective ways to protect them from serious disease. Most vaccines are given between birth and age six. Your pediatrician can help you keep track of your child’s pediatric vaccination schedule to make sure they stay healthy and protected.
Pediatric Primary Care

What is a vaccine?

A vaccine is a shot that contains a small amount of weakened virus or bacteria that helps protect your child from disease. This won’t make them sick. Vaccines work by helping your child’s body recognize certain viruses or bacteria and build antibodies, preparing them to fight off real infections in the future.

Pediatric Immunization Schedule

Delaying vaccines can leave your child unprotected from disease, so it’s essential that they receive them at the right time.

Your provider will help you stay on track, using this detailed pediatric immunization schedule.

Pediatric Vaccines

Vaccinating children is one of the easiest ways we can keep them safe and healthy. Make sure you’re working with a pediatrician to vaccinate your child on schedule to protect them against infectious illnesses. Many vaccines appear on this list more than once. That is because it sometimes takes more than one dose of a vaccine to fully protect your child.


Birth

  • HBV (hepatitis B)

2 months

HBV (hepatitis B)

4 months

  • HBV (hepatitis B)
  • HIB (haemophilus influenzae type B)
  • IPV (poliovirus)
  • PVC13 (pneumococcal conjugate)
  • RV5 (rotavirus)
  • TDAP (diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis)
     

6 months

  • HBV (hepatitis B)
  • HIB (haemophilus influenzae type B)
  • IPV (poliovirus)
  • PVC13 (pneumococcal conjugate)
  • RV5 (rotavirus)
  • TDAP (diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis)

12 months

  • HAV (hepatitis A)
  • MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
  • PVC13 (pneumococcal conjugate)
  • VAR (varicella)

15 months

  • HIB (haemophilus influenzae type B)
  • TDAP (diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis)

18 months

  • HAV (Hepatitis A)

4-6 years

  • IPV (poliovirus)
  • MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
  • TDAP (diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis)
  • VAR (varicella)

11-12 years

  • HPV4 (human papillomavirus) – 2 doses 6 months apart (over age 15 years requires 3 doses)
  • Menveo (meningococcal group A, C, Y)
  • TDAP (diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis)

16 years

  • Bexsero (meningococcal group B) – 2 doses
  • Menveo (meningococcal group A, C, W, Y)

What vaccines do schools require?

States require children to receive certain vaccines to enroll in and attend school. These vaccines help protect all kids from infectious diseases. Required vaccines vary by state. Check vaccine requirements for Illinois and Michigan.

Illinois Vaccine Requirements

Michigan Vaccine Requirements

Seasonal Vaccines

Some vaccines protect your child from seasonal illnesses, which tend to increase during the colder months. Getting these vaccines helps your child stay healthier in fall and winter.

How do seasonal vaccines work?

Viruses can change over time. Some, like the flu, change faster than others. When this happens, vaccines need to change too to keep working. That’s why it’s important to get your child vaccinated each year to keep them protected against the latest strains.

What seasonal vaccines does my child need?

Ask your pediatrician about which seasonal vaccines they recommend for your child, including:

  • Flu: This annual shot protects against illness, especially during winter. Children under 9 need two shots if it’s their first time.
  • COVID-19: This vaccine can be taken with your annual flu shot. If your child is over 12 and was vaccinated before September 12, 2023, the CDC recommends an updated vaccine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are vaccines safe for my child?

Yes, vaccines are safe and are thoroughly tested by the FDA before approval. Read more about how to ensure that vaccines are safe.

What are the potential side effects of vaccines?

Some children have minor side effects from getting a vaccine like a slight fever or swelling at the injection site. The risk for death or serious side effects is so small that it is hard to document.

Do vaccines cause autism?

Claims that vaccines cause autism or other diseases have been carefully researched and disproved. After a thorough review, in 2004 the Institute of Medicine rejected the idea that vaccines had any relationship with autism.

Why are vaccines needed for rare diseases, like polio?

Many of these diseases still thrive in other parts of the world. Travelers can and do bring these viruses back to the U.S. Without the protection of vaccines, these diseases could easily spread here again.

Can giving multiple vaccines at once overload my child’s immune system?

Many studies have been done to evaluate the safety of multiple vaccines. None has shown that multiple vaccines cause a problem. Children are exposed to many foreign substances every day with no harmful effects.

Where can I get vaccines?

Your child’s pediatrician is the best resource for keeping your child on track with their vaccination schedule. Contact your pediatrician’s office to schedule vaccinations or ask about recommended seasonal vaccines.

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