What Is a Vaccine Schedule?

One way to help protect your child from serious diseases is by following the childhood vaccine schedule.  This schedule shows what vaccines (immunizations) are given at what age, starting from birth. The schedule is from the American Academy of Pediatrics and helps make sure your child gets the right vaccines at the right time. The schedule may vary depending on where you live, your child's health, the kind of vaccine, and the vaccines available.

We’ve also included some extra vaccines that aren’t on the routine immunization schedule but may still be important for certain kids. Whether you want to find out which vaccines will be offered at the next well-child checkup or what to expect as your child grows, this guide can help you stay on track.

Some vaccines might be given as part of a combination vaccine so that kids get fewer shots. Talk with your doctor about which vaccines your child needs.

Infant Vaccine Schedule: Birth–12 Months

Birth–2 Months

• HepB (hepatitis B vaccine). Ideally, the first dose is given within 24 hours of birth, but kids who weren’t vaccinated before can get it at any age. Some babies with a low birth weight will get it at 1 month or when they go home from the hospital. The second dose of HepB should be given 1–2 months after the first dose.
• RSV-mab: While not a vaccine, this antibody shot helps protect babies against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for several months. It can be given at birth or up to 8 months of age. Babies receive the shot during or right before RSV season (fall and winter).

Some babies 8–19 months old who are at risk for getting very sick from RSV can get a second shot as they enter their second RSV season.

Prior to a baby being born, mothers can get an RSV vaccine during the third trimester of pregnancy if their due date is during RSV season. This vaccine will protect a newborn from severe RSV disease. Most babies whose mothers got the RSV vaccine during pregnancy at least 14 days before delivery do not need the RSV-mab shot.

2–4 Months

2 months:

First dose of:

• DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine)
• Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine)
• IPV (inactivated poliovirus vaccine)
• PCV (pneumococcal conjugate vaccine)
• RV (rotavirus vaccine)

4 months:

• Second dose of DTaP, Hib, IPV, PCV, and RV.

6–12 Months

6 months:

Third dose of:

• DTaP
• Hib: This third dose may be needed, depending on the brand of vaccine used in previous doses.
• IPV: This third dose may be given at 6–18 months.
• PCV
• RV: This third dose may be needed, depending on the brand of vaccine used in previous doses.
• HepB: This third dose may be given at 6–18 months.

Toddler Vaccine Schedule: 12–24 Months

12–15 Months

First dose of:

• MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella — or German measles — vaccine)
• Varicella

Third dose of:

• IPV: This third dose may be given at 6–18 months, if not given already.
• HepB: This third dose may be given at 6–18 months, if not given already.

Next dose of:

• Hib (booster shot, a dose to help “boost” protection). Depending on the brand used, this booster dose might be the third or fourth dose.
• PCV

12–23 months

• HepA (hepatitis A vaccine): given as 2 shots at least 6 months apart

15–18 months

Fourth dose of:

• DTaP

Childhood Vaccine Schedule: 4–12 Years

4–6 Years

Second dose of:

• MMR
• Varicella (booster shot)

Fourth dose of:

• IPV

Fifth dose of:

• DTaP

11–12 Years

• HPV (human papillomavirus vaccine). This vaccine is given as 2 shots over a 6- to 12-month period. It can be given as early as age 9. Teens and young adults (ages 15–26) and people with a weak immune system will get it as 3 shots over 6 months. It's recommended for both girls and boys to help prevent genital warts and some types of cancer.
• Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis booster). This booster shot is also recommended during each pregnancy.
• MenACWY (meningococcal vaccine). This vaccine protects against germs called meningococcal bacteria types A, C, W, and Y. A booster dose is also recommended at age 16.

Annual Vaccines

• Influenza (flu): The flu vaccine is recommended every year for children 6 months and older:
  • Kids younger than 9 who get the flu vaccine for the first time will get it in 2 separate doses at least a month apart.
  • Those younger than 9 who have previously had at least 2 doses of flu vaccine will need only 1 dose.
  • Kids older than 9 need only 1 dose.

The flu vaccine is especially important for kids at risk for health problems from the flu. Some high-risk groups are kids younger than 5 years old and those with chronic medical conditions, like asthma, heart problems, sickle cell disease, diabetes, or HIV.

The vaccine is given by injection with a needle (the flu shot) or by nasal spray. Your doctor will recommend which to use based on your child's age and general health. The nasal spray is only for healthy people ages 2–49. People with weak immune systems or some health conditions (like asthma) and pregnant women should not get the nasal spray vaccine.

• COVID-19: Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines by getting the first doses and then yearly doses can help keep kids healthy. Children who have a weak immune system may need to get the vaccine every 6 months.

Other Vaccines

The vaccines mentioned above are part of the routine vaccine schedule. Sometimes doctors recommend vaccines in special cases, like for certain travel or health conditions, or extra safety. Ask your doctor which ones are right for your child.

Dengue Vaccine

This vaccine is given in 3 doses to kids 9–16 years old who have already had dengue fever and live in areas where it’s common (like Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).

Meningococcal Vaccines

• MenB (meningococcal vaccine). This protects against a germ called meningococcal bacterium type B. Teens and young adults (ages 16–23) can get the MenB vaccine in 2 doses. The preferred age is 16–18 because college students have a higher risk of getting infected.

The vaccine is recommended as routine only for kids 10 years and older who have certain conditions that weaken their immune system, or during an outbreak (when a disease happens in greater numbers than expected in a certain area). Some kids can get a vaccine called MenABCWY, which offers protection against all five bacteria in a single shot.

• MenACWY. Babies as young as 8 weeks old can get this vaccine (depending on the vaccine brand) if they’re at risk for a meningococcal infection, like meningitis. This includes children with some immune disorders. First-year college students who live in dorms — if they haven’t received MenACWY in the past — and military recruits also should get the vaccine.

Travel Vaccines

• HepA. Babies as young as 6 months old can get this vaccine if they’re traveling to a place where hepatitis A is common. They’ll still need routine vaccination after their first birthday. The vaccine is also recommended for older kids who didn't get it in the past.
• MMR. Babies as young as 6 months old can get this vaccine if they’re going out of the country or live in an area where there’s a measles outbreak. They should still get the recommended routine doses at 12–15 months and 4–6 years, but they can get the second dose as early as 4 weeks after the first if they’ll still be traveling and at risk. During a mumps outbreak, doctors may recommend a third vaccine dose for some people.
• MenACWY. Kids who live in (or will travel to) countries where meningitis is common or where there’s an outbreak also should get this vaccine. If children got the vaccine at a young age due to travel or an outbreak, they should still get the two recommended routine doses according to the schedule.

Pneumococcal Vaccine

Older kids — ages 2 and up — need extra protection against pneumococcal (new-muh-KOK-uhl) infections, like pneumonia, if they have:

• conditions that affect their immune systems, like HIV or asplenia (when the spleen is missing or not working properly)
• other conditions, like chronic heart disease or chronic lung disease, or have a cochlear implant

The number of doses and the kind of vaccines they get will depend on their age, their medical condition, and the type of vaccines they got in the past.

Polio Vaccine

Adults who were fully vaccinated against polio as children (with the IPV vaccine) can get a polio vaccine booster dose if they might be exposed to the disease. This can include people who:

• travel to places where there's a high risk for catching polio
• might be exposed to poliovirus (the virus that causes polio) at work, like in a lab
• have close contact with someone who has polio

Mpox Vaccine

People at high risk for mpox infection can get this vaccine starting at age 18. They'll get it in 2 doses given 1 month apart.

What Else Should I Know?

All vaccines are tested for safety, and they keep millions of people healthy each year. If you’d like to know more about the vaccines your child needs or have questions about vaccinating your family during an outbreak, ask your doctor.