Childhood vaccines offer protection from a variety of serious or potentially fatal diseases. Know which vaccines your child needs now and which vaccines are coming up.

By Mayo Clinic staff

Wonder which vaccines your child needs? It can be difficult to stay on top of the vaccines schedule for children, especially when new vaccines are developed and added to the schedule. Complicating matters is that many vaccines require several doses — and sometimes, a child can get off schedule due to a shortage of vaccines or other issues.

Use the guide below to find out which vaccines your child needs now and which vaccines are coming up, based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If your child misses a dose of a vaccine, ask your child's doctor about scheduling catch-up vaccines.

Birth to age 18 months

Birth

• Hepatitis B vaccine

The first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine is usually given at birth. A second dose is given at least one month after the first dose.

Age 2 months

• Rotavirus vaccine (RV)
• Diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine
• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)
• Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV)

At age 2 months, a series of several vaccinations usually begins. Combination vaccines are generally recommended to reduce the number of shots.

Age 4 months

• Rotavirus vaccine (RV)
• Diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine
• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)
• Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV)

At age 4 months, follow-up doses to those vaccines received at age 2 months are usually given.

Age 6 months

• Hepatitis B vaccine
• Rotavirus vaccine (RV)
• Diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine
• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)
• Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV)

At age 6 months, another round of the vaccines given at 2 months and 4 months is usually given, as well as the final dose of the hepatitis B vaccine.

A yearly seasonal influenza vaccine, preferably given in the fall, also is recommended beginning at age 6 months. For children younger than age 2 years, the vaccine is given as a shot. Ask your child's doctor for details.

Age 12 months

• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine
• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)
• Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine
• Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine
• Hepatitis A vaccine

The final doses of both Hib vaccine and PCV and the first doses of MMR and varicella vaccines are usually given between ages 12 months and 15 months. In addition, two doses of hepatitis A — spaced at least six months apart — are usually given between ages 12 months and 23 months.

Age 15 months

• Diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine

The fourth dose of DTaP is usually given between ages 15 months and 18 months. In some cases, the fourth dose can be given as early as age 12 months — as long as it's been six months since the last dose.

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