Navigating the world of childhood vaccines can be difficult, especially if you’re not sure what all the abbreviations stand for or how they actually work.
Childhood vaccines are given to stimulate the immune system in order to prevent disease. Each vaccine introduces a dead or weakened form of the disease into the body so that the immune system develops antibodies against that particular strain of virus or bacteria. Some immunizations require boosters to increase effectiveness.
Immunizations are important not only because they protect you and your child from becoming sick, but also because they confer herd immunity to the greater population. Herd immunity is when a significant portion of the population is vaccinated, making it more difficult for infections to spread, especially to those individuals who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons (i.e., a compromised immune system or allergy).
Immunization schedules may vary due to a variety of factors, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following:
Birth
- HepB: The HepB vaccine protects against Hepatitis B, a virus that affects the liver. The first dose of the HepB immunization is recommended at birth, and the second dose is given one month after the first dose.
Two months:
- HepB: The second dose as described above.
- RV: This protects against rotavirus.
- DTaP: Diptheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine
- Hib: Haemophilua influenzae type B vaccine
- PCV: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
- IPV: Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (polio)
Four months
- RV: Rotavirus (second dose)
- DTaP: Diptheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine (second dose)
- Hib: Haemophilua influenzae type B vaccine (second dose)
- PCV: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (second dose)
- IPV: Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (second dose)
Six months
- HepB: This is the final dose and can be given any time between 6–18 months.
- RV: Rotavirus (final dose)
- DTaP: Diptheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine (third dose)
- Hib: Haemophilua influenzae type B vaccine (third dose)
- PCV: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (third dose)
- IPV: Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (third dose)
- Influenza: The influenza shot may be given beginning at 6 months of age and continuing yearly. Children aged 6 months to 8 years need two doses given at least four weeks apart.
Twelve to fifteen months
- HiB: Haemophilua influenzae type B vaccine (final dose)
- PCV: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (final dose)
- MMR: Measles, mumps, rubella vaccine (first dose)
- Varicella: Chickenpox vaccine
- HepA: Hepatitis A vaccine. Two doses are needed to be effective. The first dose should be given between 12–23 months. The second dose follows 6–18 months after the first dose.
Eighteen months
- DTaP: Diptheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine (fourth dose)
Four to six years
- DTaP: Diptheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine (fifth dose)
- IPV: Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (fourth dose)
- MMR: Measles, mumps, rubella vaccine (second dose)
- Varicella: Chicken pox vaccine (booster)
Eleven to twelve years
- DTaP: Diptheria, tetanus, and ancellular pertussis vaccine (sixth dose)
- HPV (3 doses): Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. The first dose should be given between ages 11–26, prior to the first sexual encounter. Three doses are given over the course of six months.
- MCV4: Meningococcal virus vaccine. This is the first dose, with a booster needed at age 16.
The DTaP shot should be continued every 10 years throughout life to protect against tetanus.
Sources:
2016 Recommended Immunizations for Children from Birth Through 6 Years Old
2016 Recommended Immunizations for Children from 7 Through 18 Years Old
