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
Download the Schedule
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Talk to your child’s health care provider for more guidance if:
- Your child has any medical condition that puts them at higher risk for infection.
- Your child is traveling outside the United States.
- 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
|
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| Hepatitis B |
Dose 1
|
Dose 2
|
Dose 3
|
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| Rotavirus |
Dose 1
|
Dose 2
|
Dose 3
|
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| DTaP |
Dose 1
|
Dose 2
|
Dose 3
|
Dose 4
|
Dose 5
|
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| Hib |
Dose 1
|
Dose 2
|
Dose 3
|
Dose 4
|
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| Pneumococcal |
Dose 1
|
Dose 2
|
Dose 3
|
Dose 4
|
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| Polio |
Dose 1
|
Dose 2
|
Dose 3
|
Dose 4
|
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| COVID-19 |
At least 1 dose of the current COVID-19 vaccine
|
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| Influenza/Flu |
Every year. Two doses for some children
|
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| MMR |
Dose 1
|
Dose 2
|
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| Chickenpox |
Dose 1
|
Dose 2
|
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| Hepatitis A |
2 doses separated by 6 months
|
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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
Content Source:
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases