Your child needs vaccines as they grow!

Purpose

Guide for parents and caregivers to ensure their child is up-to-date on recommended childhood vaccines.

Recommended Immunizations for Birth Through 6 Years Old, United States, 2024

Talk to your child’s health care provider for more guidance if:

  1. Your child has any medical condition that puts them at higher risk for infection.
  2. Your child is traveling outside the United States.
  3. Your child misses a vaccine recommended for their age.

Key

ALL children should be immunized at this age.
SOME children should get this dose of vaccine or preventive antibody at this age
Vaccine or Preventive Antibody Birth 1
Month
2
Months
4
Months
6
Months
7
Months
8
Months
12
Months
15
Months
18
Months
19
Months
20–23
Months
2-3
Years
4-6
Years
RSV antibody
Depends on mother’s RSV vaccine status
Depends on child’s health status
Hepatitis B
Dose 1
Dose 2
Dose 3
Rotavirus
Dose 1
Dose 2
Dose 3
DTaP
Dose 1
Dose 2
Dose 3
Dose 4
Dose 5
Hib
Dose 1
Dose 2
Dose 3
Dose 4
Pneumococcal
Dose 1
Dose 2
Dose 3
Dose 4
Polio
Dose 1
Dose 2
Dose 3
Dose 4
COVID-19
At least 1 dose of the current COVID-19 vaccine
Influenza/Flu
Every year. Two doses for some children
MMR
Dose 1
Dose 2
Chickenpox
Dose 1
Dose 2
Hepatitis A
2 doses separated by 6 months

What diseases do these vaccines protect against?

Vaccine-Preventable Disease Disease Complications
RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus)
Contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, and sometimes lungs; spread through air and direct contact
Infection of the lungs (pneumonia) and small airways of the lungs; especially dangerous for infants and young children
Hepatitis B
Contagious viral infection of the liver; spread through contact with infected body fluids such as blood or semen
Chronic liver infection, liver failure, liver cancer, death
Rotavirus
Contagious viral infection of the gut; spread through the mouth from hands and food contaminated with stool
Severe diarrhea, dehydration, death
Diphtheria*
Contagious bacterial infection of the nose, throat, and sometimes lungs; spread through air and direct contact
Swelling of the heart muscle, heart failure, coma, paralysis, death
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)*
Contagious bacterial infection of the lungs and airway; spread through air and direct contact
Infection of the lungs (pneumonia), death; especially dangerous for babies
Tetanus (Lockjaw)*
Bacterial infection of brain and nerves caused by spores found in soil and dust everywhere; spores enter the body through wounds or broken skin
Seizures, broken bones, difficulty breathing, death
Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b)
Contagious bacterial infection of the lungs, brain and spinal cord, or bloodstream; spread through air and direct contact
Depends on the part of the body infected, but can include brain damage, hearing loss, loss of arm or leg, death
Pneumococcal
Bacterial infections of ears, sinuses, lungs, or bloodstream; spread through direct contact with respiratory droplets like saliva or mucus
Depends on the part of the body infected, but can include infection of the lungs (pneumonia), blood poisoning, infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord, death
Polio
Contagious viral infection of nerves and brain; spread through the mouth from stool on contaminated hands, food or liquid, and by air and direct contact
Paralysis, death
COVID-19
Contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, or lungs; may feel like a cold or flu. Spread through air and direct contact
Infection of the lungs (pneumonia); blood clots; liver, heart or kidney damage; long COVID; death
Influenza (Flu)
Contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, and sometimes lungs; spread through air and direct contact
Infection of the lungs (pneumonia), sinus and ear infections, worsening of underlying heart or lung conditions, death
Measles (Rubeola)
Contagious viral infection that causes high fever, cough, red eyes, runny nose, and rash; spread through air and direct contact
Brain swelling, infection of the lungs (pneumonia), death
Mumps
Contagious viral infection that causes fever, tiredness, swollen cheeks, and tender swollen jaw; spread through air and direct contact
Brain swelling, painful and swollen testicles or ovaries, deafness, death
Rubella (German Measles)
Contagious viral infection that causes low-grade fever, sore throat, and rash; spread through air and direct contact
Very dangerous in pregnant people; can cause miscarriage or stillbirth, premature delivery, severe birth defects
Chickenpox (Varicella)
Contagious viral infection that causes fever, headache, and an itchy, blistering rash; spread through air and direct contact
Infected sores, brain swelling, infection of the lungs (pneumonia), death
Hepatitis A
Contagious viral infection of the liver; spread by contaminated food or drink or close contact with an infected person
Liver failure, death

*DTaP protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis

†MMR protects against measles, mumps, and rubella

This parent-friendly schedule is recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).