Vaccine schedule for babies and kids

Immunizations are designed to protect against serious illnesses ranging from polio and tetanus to chickenpox and hepatitis. When children get behind on their vaccines, serious diseases can reemerge, causing outbreaks and even deaths.

It's important not to delay your child's vaccines – they're crucial for immunity and protection against illnesses like measles, RSV, COVID-19, and the flu.

Immunizations are one of the most important parts of well-child checkups. To learn more about the illnesses immunizations can prevent, click on the links below.

How immunizations work

Immunizations are vaccines made from either weakened or killed versions of the bacteria or virus that cause a particular disease. When these altered viruses and bacteria are injected or taken orally, the immune system mounts an attack that stimulates the body to produce antibodies.

These antibodies remain active in the body, ready to fight off the actual illness if necessary. For example, if pertussis (whooping cough) breaks out in your area, an immunized child is much less likely to contract the disease than one who wasn't immunized. And if a child gets pertussis despite being immunized, the disease is usually much milder and less likely to result in serious complications.

2024 CDC childhood immunization schedule

Every year, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) publishes a new immunization scheduleOpens a new window showing which vaccines are recommended and when to get them. This schedule is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

COVID-19, to protect against the COVID-19 virus and its variants:

• Children 6 months and older are advised to have the COVID-19 vaccine in a 2- or 3-dose series. The COVID-19 booster shot may be recommended after they finish the series.

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The CDC has an online toolOpens a new window to help you decide – based on your child's age, which primary series they received, and their health status – when your child should get a booster.

DTaP, to protect against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis:

• At 2 months

• At 4 months

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• At 6 months

• Between 15 and 18 months

• Between 4 and 6 years

• A booster shot at age 11 or 12 years (Tdap)

Hepatitis A, to protect against hepatitis A, which can cause the liver disease hepatitis:

• First dose at 12 months to 23 months

• Second dose six at least 6 months after first dose

Hepatitis B, to protect against hepatitis B, which can cause the liver disease hepatitis:

• At birth

• Between 1 and 2 months

• Between 6 and 18 months

Hib, to protect against Haemophilus influenza type B, which can lead to meningitis, pneumonia, and epiglottitis:

• At 2 months

• At 4 months

• At 6 months (if needed, depending on brand of vaccine given at 2 and 4 months)

• Between 12 and 15 months

HPV, to protect against human papillomavirus, the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States and a cause of both genital warts and cervical, anal, and throat cancers:

• For girls and boys age 9 to 14 years old

• Two doses, 6 to 12 months apart

• If your child does not start the first dose by age 15, the recommendation is three doses. Dose 2 is given 1 to 2 months after dose 1, and dose 3 is given 6 months after dose 2.

Influenza (the flu shot), to protect against the seasonal flu, to be given each fall or early winter:

• One dose annually for most children age 6 months to 8 years who have received at least two influenza vaccine doses in the past

• Two doses (taken at least 28 days apart) for children 6 months to 8 years old who are getting the flu vaccine for the first time, or who have previously received only one dose of vaccine

• One dose annually for all children 9 years or older

Meningococcal vaccine, to protect against four types of meningococcal bacteria, which can cause meningitis and bloodstream infection:

• Between 11 and 12 years

• A booster shot at 16 years

Meningococcal B vaccine, to protect against a fifth strain of meningococcal bacteria. Most adolescents receive this vaccine, though it's not yet required:

• Between 16 years and 23 years (preferred age 16 to 18 years)

• 2-dose series at least 1 month apart or 6 months apart, depending on the specific vaccine

MMR, to protect against measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles):

• Between 12 and 15 months

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• Between 4 and 6 years

• For children older than 1 year, you can choose to get the MMRV vaccine instead, which also protects against varicella, or chickenpox.

• At least 4 weeks before traveling outside of the U.S., infants 6 to 11 months should receive one dose and children 12 months and older should receive two doses at least 4 weeks apart before departure.

• If you're traveling to an area with a measles outbreak and your baby is under a year old, ask your baby's healthcare provider about getting the first dose early.

Pneumococcal (PCV) vaccine, to protect against pneumococcal disease, which can lead to meningitis, pneumonia, and ear infections:

• At 2 months

• At 4 months

• At 6 months

• Between 12 and 15 months

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Polio (IPV), to protect against polio:

• At 2 months

• At 4 months

• Between 6 and 18 months

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• Between 4 and 6 years

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), an antibody that can protect against RSV, which can lead to bronchiolitis and pneumonia:

• Babies born in October through March: 1 dose at birth

• Babies born in April through September: 1 dose before RSV season begins in October

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• If you were vaccinated against RSV while pregnant, your baby has protection against RSV for 6 months after birth and doesn't need a dose

Rotavirus, (oral, not injection) to protect against rotavirus, which can cause severe diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and dehydration:

• At 2 months

• At 4 months

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• At 6 months (not needed if the Rotarix brand was given at 2 and 4 months)

Varicella, to protect against chicken pox:

• Between 12 and 15 months

• Between 4 and 6 years

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Learn more:

• Risks of delaying vaccinations

• Should we postpone vaccines if my child is sick?

• How to tell if your child is having a bad reaction to a vaccine

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