Vaccines A Parents’ Guide to Vaccines for Children By Laura Dorwart Laura Dorwart Laura Dorwart is a health journalist with expertise in disability rights, mental health, and pregnancy-related conditions. She has written for publications like SELF, The New York Times, VICE, and The Guardian. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 17, 2023 Medically reviewed by Michael Menna, DO Medically reviewed by Michael Menna, DO Michael Menna, DO, is a board-certified, active attending emergency medicine physician at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents How they Work Different Types Schedule at a Glance Vaccine Hesitancy COVID-19 Vaccines Frequently Asked Questions Vaccines protect babies and children from potentially life-threatening diseases at a time when they're most vulnerable. In fact, widespread childhood vaccination has reduced or eliminated deadly diseases like polio and smallpox. By following the recommended immunization schedule for your child, you can protect them and those around them from avoidable health risks. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that kids receive vaccines against 17 preventable diseases. Here’s an overview of the current recommended immunization schedule for children, from birth to 18 years old. ER Productions Limited / Getty Images How Vaccines Work Vaccines work with the body’s natural immune system to produce a protective response to harmful antigens (viruses or bacteria). Vaccines trigger your body to produce antibodies against the disease before you’re ever exposed to it. They can also prevent reinfection. Common Vaccines for Children Inactivated vaccines: These contain a dead version of the virus they protect against. They aren’t quite as strong as live vaccines, so your child may need booster shots to maintain immunity. Live-attenuated vaccines: These vaccines contain a weakened, harmless version of an antigen. They're usually more powerful than inactivated vaccines and can provide lifetime protection against conditions like smallpox, measles, mumps, and rubella. Recombinant vaccines: These vaccines behave like a natural infection, using the proteins of a virus to activate the body's immune response. Examples include the hepatitis B vaccine and the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines: These vaccines, such as the COVID-19 vaccine, make proteins that trigger an immune response by showing the body a “blueprint” for fighting the virus. There are several ways that your baby or child might receive a vaccine. The main ways vaccines for children are administered are: Oral vaccines: These are delivered in liquid through a dropper, often to babies and younger patients. Intramuscular (IM) injections: These are injected directly into the muscle. Subcutaneous (SC) injections: SC injections are injected below the skin. Nasal sprays: These are available for the influenza vaccine. How Do Vaccines Work, Exactly? School Requirements The CDC doesn’t regulate vaccine requirements for schools or childcare centers in America. Instead, each state sets its own rules regarding school immunization requirements. Check your state laws to find out which vaccines your child is required to get before attending school. Outside of medical exemptions, there are two other types of possible vaccine exemptions: religious exemptions and philosophical exemptions based on personal beliefs. 12 Vaccines Recommended for Every Child Different Types of Vaccines for Children The following are the most common immunizations for children in the U.S. and the diseases they prevent: Hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine: Hepatitis B is a viral infection that can affect the liver, sometimes resulting in liver failure or cancer of the liver. The HepB vaccine is given in three doses, with the first just after birth. Rotavirus (RV) vaccine: Babies can get two-dose series at 2 and 4 months, or a three-dose series at 2, 4, and 6 months to protect against rotavirus infection, which can cause severe diarrhea, dehydration, and fever. DTap and Tdap vaccines: The DTap vaccine protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough). The Tdap vaccine is a recommended booster shot against the same infections. Haemophilus influenza (Hib) conjugate vaccine: The Hib vaccine prevents Hib infection. Hib infection can cause several serious complications, including meningitis and pneumonia. Pneumococcal vaccine (Prevnar 13 and Vaxneuvance): Pneumococcal disease is caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae and can lead to meningitis, pneumonia, or sepsis. Poliovirus (IPV) vaccine: The polio vaccine protects children against the highly contagious poliovirus. Polio used to affect thousands of children per year, causing paralysis or even death. Hepatitis A (HepA) vaccine: Hepatitis A is a viral liver infection that can cause fever, jaundice (a yellowing of the whites of the eyes and the skin), and severe dehydration. MMR vaccine: The MMR vaccine protects children against three formerly common childhood diseases: measles, mumps, and rubella. Varicella (VAR) vaccine: The VAR vaccine prevents chickenpox and is given in two doses, starting at 12 months of age. Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY and MenB): The meningococcal vaccine protects against bacterial meningitis, which can be especially risky for teens and young adults living in close quarters (such as at camp or college). Influenza vaccine: The annual flu vaccine protects against the influenza virus. There are six different types of flu vaccines for school-aged kids. HPV vaccine: The HPV vaccine protects against the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes some strains of cervical cancer and anal cancer. Vaccine Side Effect vs. an Adverse Effect Child Vaccine Schedule at a Glance The annual vaccine schedule is set by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which is part of the CDC. The list of vaccines for children by age is updated every year with input from medical experts at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and several other organizations. Here’s a list of the currently recommended vaccines for children from birth to 18 years old. Vaccine Schedule Vaccine Doses Age HepB 3 Birth, 1–2 months, 6–18 months RV 2–3 2 and 4 months or 2, 4, and 6 months DTaP 5 2, 4, 6, and 15–18 months; 4–6 years Hib 3–4 2, 4, 6, and 12-15 months, or 2, 4, and 12-15 months Pneumococcal 4 2, 4, 6–18 months and 12–15 months IPV 4 2, 4, and 6–18 months; 4–6 years COVID-19 2-3 6 months and older Influenza Annually 6 months and older MMR 2 12–15 months, 4–6 years VAR 2 12–15 months, 4–6 years HepA 2 12 and 18–23 months Tdap 1 11–12 years HPV 2–3 11–12 years, but can start at 9 years; 2-dose series if started at 9–14 years, 3–dose series if started at 15 years or older MenACWY 2–3 11–12 years, 16 years Mandatory vs. Recommended Vaccines: What You Should Know Vaccine Hesitancy for Parents The anti-vaccination movement has led some parents to worry about vaccinating their children. Efforts by people who don’t believe in vaccinations have already resulted in unexpected outbreaks of previously eliminated diseases, such as measles. Some parents are worried that vaccines for children haven't gone through enough testing. Others are concerned about potential side effects or vaccine reactions. However, vaccines are generally safe and effective. Your child’s best protection against many common but preventable diseases is to follow the recommended immunization schedule. Vaccine Safety Vaccines are effective and lifesaving. Vaccine-preventable diseases can still appear in the U.S. at any time, and immunization protects your child if they’re exposed.Alternative vaccine schedules aren’t approved by any medical association in the U.S. There’s no evidence that a different schedule is necessary or that vaccines “overburden” a child’s immune system. As always, speak with your child’s pediatrician about any concerns you might have, especially if your child is immunocompromised, has had an organ transplant, or has any severe allergies or preexisting conditions. Discover What Parents Should Know Regarding the Vaccine Debate COVID-19 Vaccines for Kids The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for children ages 6 months and older and the Novavax vaccine for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) in children ages 12 years and older. In its update to the 2023 vaccination schedule, the ACIP added COVID-19 vaccination to the schedules for children and adults. Updated bivalent boosters from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna that provide protection against the Omicron variant also received EUA from the FDA. A bivalent booster shot is recommended two months after receiving a primary COVID-19 vaccination series or after the last booster dose. The CDC recommends a bivalent booster shot for everyone over the age of 5. For younger children, the type of booster your child is eligible for depends on which primary series was given. Children ages 6 months to 5 years can receive the bivalent booster from Moderna after completing the primary series of the original Moderna vaccine. The Pfizer bivalent shot is available for children ages 6 months to 4 years old only as the third dose of the primary Pfizer series. Everyone ages 6 years and older can choose to get the Pfizer or Moderna bivalent booster. Efficacy of the Covid-19 Vaccine for Kids In a study of around 3,100 children, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was found to be safe and 90.7% effective in preventing COVID-19. Where Can You Find Vaccine Appointment for Kids 5-11? Summary Vaccines are one of the most important ways that parents can protect their children from life-threatening diseases. Babies get the hepatitis B vaccine just after birth. If you follow the recommended immunization schedule, your children will be protected from 17 vaccine-preventable diseases by the time they turn 18. If your child misses a shot, don’t worry. Just ask their healthcare provider to continue the series at your next visit. A Word From Verywell Vaccines currently prevent around 3.5 million to 5 million deaths per year. They protect children and vulnerable loved ones, like their grandparents, immunocompromised classmates and relatives, and siblings who are too young to get vaccinated, from preventable, life-threatening diseases. By following the recommended immunization schedule, you can protect both your child’s health and the health of those around them. Frequently Asked Questions When should children begin getting vaccines? The CDC recommends that children get their first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine just after birth.According to the recommended immunization schedule, they’ll receive most of their shots against vaccine-preventable diseases before 15 months of age.Kids will receive some additional vaccines at 4–6 years old and again at 11–12 years old. Is there a COVID vaccine for kids? The COVID vaccine has been found to be safe and effective forminors, with few side effects reported.The CDC recommends that anyone 6 months and older receive a COVID-19 vaccine. People ages 6 months to 11 years are eligible for either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Teens aged 12-17 may receive the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax. Can parents opt out of childhood vaccines? The federal government doesn't mandate vaccination requirements. Instead, each state sets its own rules about school-required immunizations.There are 15 states that currently allow for some personal-beliefs vaccine exemptions, while 44 states and Washington, D.C., allow for some religious exemptions.However, nonmedical exemptions for vaccines are rare and not recommended by any medical organization in the US. 15 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Five important reasons to vaccinate your child. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended vaccines by age. World Health Organization. How do vaccines work? U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Vaccine types. National Conference of State Legislatures. States with religious and philosophical exemptions from school immunization requirements. World Health Organization. Poliomyelitis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended Vaccinations for Infants and Children, Parent-Friendly Version. Hussain A, Ali S, Ahmed M, Hussain S. The anti-vaccination movement: a regression in modern medicine. Cureus. 10(7):e2919. doi: 10.7759/cureus.2919 Offit PA, Quarles J, Gerber MA, et al. Addressing parents’ concerns: do multiple vaccines overwhelm or weaken the infant’s immune system? Pediatrics. 2002;109(1):124-129. doi: 10.1542/peds.109.1.124 Wodi AP, Murthy N, McNally V, Cineas S, Ault K. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommended Immunization Schedule for Children and Adolescents Aged 18 Years or Younger - United States, 2023. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2023;72(6):137-140. Published 2023 Feb 10. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7206a1 U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes Updated (Bivalent) COVID-19 Vaccines for Children Down to 6 Months of Age. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA authorizes Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in children 5 through 11 years of age. World Health Organization. Vaccines and immunization. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters. By Laura Dorwart Laura Dorwart is a health journalist with particular interests in mental health, pregnancy-related conditions, and disability rights. She has published work in VICE, SELF, The New York Times, The Guardian, The Week, HuffPost, BuzzFeed Reader, Catapult, Pacific Standard, Health.com, Insider, Forbes.com, TalkPoverty, and many other outlets. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! 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