Vaccine Schedule

Immunizations are essential for keeping young children healthy. Unfortunately, keeping up with the schedule can be confusing, particularly since it changes periodically, and new vaccines and combinations of vaccines are constantly being developed. Your child’s immunization schedule will depend on the particular combinations and sequence of previous vaccines.

There are a few constants that may help you keep track of your child’s schedule:

• Your child’s schedule of well-child visits does not change based on the immunization schedule. The appropriate vaccines are given at each well-child visit. For more on the well-child visit schedule, click here.
• Shots are given at most well-child visits between ages 2 months and 18 months.
• The primary vaccine series will be completed by 18 months of age. After that, booster shots are needed between ages 4-6 years.

The immunization schedule is developed based on extensive research on the optimal timing and spacing of vaccine doses to maximize the intensity and duration of the immune system response and protection from disease. The medical and public health communities develop recommendations and guidelines on vaccines, which are revised annually and as needed.

Below is our recommended vaccine schedule. Based on previous immunization history, the schedule may change slightly from child to child.

DtaP: Diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (whooping cough)
Hib: Haemophilus influenzae type b
IPV: inactivated polio vaccine
PCV: pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
MMR: measles-mumps-rubella vaccine
Tdap: tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (whooping cough)
HPV: human papillomavirus vaccine
MenACWY: meningococcal conjugate vaccine for groups A, C, W, & Y
MenB: meningococcal conjugate vaccine for group B