Child & Adolescent
Immunization Schedule

The CDC Recommended Immunization Schedule covers vaccines from birth through 18 years. Key vaccines include: Hepatitis B (birth, 1 month, 6 months), Rotavirus (2, 4, 6 months), DTaP (2, 4, 6, 15-18 months, 4-6 years), Hib (2, 4, 6, 12-15 months), PCV15/PCV20 (2, 4, 6, 12-15 months), IPV (Polio) (2, 4, 6-18 months, 4-6 years), Influenza (annually from 6 months), MMR (12-15 months, 4-6 years), Varicella (12-15 months, 4-6 years), Hepatitis A (12-23 months), Meningococcal ACWY (11-12 years, 16 years), HPV (9-14 years, 2 doses), and Tdap (11-12 years).

The 2025 CDC immunization schedule, approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), includes updates from recent years. Key changes include updated pneumococcal vaccine recommendations (PCV15 + PPSV23 or PCV20), updated COVID-19 vaccine guidance, and continued emphasis on RSV prevention (RSV monoclonal antibody or maternal vaccine).

The schedule is organized by age groups: birth, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, 19-23 months, 2-3 years, 4-6 years, 7-10 years, 11-12 years, 13-15 years, and 16-18 years. This tool shows every recommended vaccine at each age with dosing details.

Vaccines undergo rigorous safety testing through the FDA approval process and are continuously monitored through systems like VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System), the Vaccine Safety Datalink, and CISA (Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment). The benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks.

Common mild side effects include: injection site soreness/redness, low-grade fever, fussiness, and fatigue. These typically resolve within 1-2 days. Serious adverse events are extremely rare. Anaphylaxis occurs in approximately 1 in 1 million doses and is managed by the provider's observation period. Vaccines do not cause autism — this has been thoroughly studied and disproven.

The CDC recommends several vaccines during pregnancy to protect both mother and baby: Tdap (during each pregnancy, preferably at 27-36 weeks gestation) to provide passive pertussis antibodies to the newborn, Influenza (inactivated flu shot, any trimester), COVID-19 vaccine (recommended during pregnancy), and RSV vaccine (Abrysvo, given at 32-36 weeks gestation, September-January).

Live vaccines (MMR, Varicella, LAIV/FluMist) are contraindicated during pregnancy. If a pregnant woman is not immune to rubella or varicella, these vaccines should be administered after delivery. The maternal Tdap vaccine provides up to 78% protection against pertussis in infants during the first 2 months of life before the baby's own DTaP series begins.

The HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine protects against HPV types that cause cervical, throat, anal, and other cancers, as well as genital warts. The current vaccine (Gardasil 9) covers 9 HPV types responsible for approximately 90% of cervical cancers.

The CDC recommends routine HPV vaccination at age 11-12 years, though it can be started as early as age 9. If the series is started before age 15, only 2 doses are needed (0 and 6-12 months apart). Starting at age 15 or older requires 3 doses (0, 1-2, and 6 months). Catch-up vaccination is recommended through age 26, and shared clinical decision-making applies for ages 27-45. The vaccine is most effective when given before exposure to HPV.

There are two types of meningococcal vaccines: MenACWY (protects against serogroups A, C, W, and Y) and MenB (protects against serogroup B). The CDC recommends: MenACWY at age 11-12 years with a booster at age 16, and MenB based on shared clinical decision-making at age 16-23 years (preferred at 16-18).

College freshmen living in dormitories who have not received MenACWY after age 16 should receive a dose. MenACWY is also recommended for children with complement deficiency, functional or anatomic asplenia, HIV, and those traveling to areas with meningococcal disease.

Children traveling internationally may need additional vaccines depending on the destination. Common travel vaccines include: Hepatitis A (if not already vaccinated), Typhoid (for South Asia, parts of Africa and Latin America), Yellow Fever (required for certain African and South American countries; available from age 9 months), Japanese Encephalitis (for extended stays in rural Asia), and Rabies (pre-exposure prophylaxis for areas with high animal rabies).

Visit a travel health provider 4-6 weeks before departure. Ensure all routine childhood vaccines are up to date before travel, as diseases like measles and polio are still endemic in some regions. The CDC's Travelers' Health website provides destination-specific recommendations.

If your child has missed one or more vaccine doses, they can catch up without restarting the series. The CDC publishes a catch-up immunization schedule with minimum intervals between doses. Key principle: vaccine series never need to be restarted regardless of how long ago the last dose was given.

Use our Catch-Up Immunization Calculator to generate a personalized catch-up plan. Multiple vaccines can be safely given at the same visit to help catch up quickly. Contact your pediatrician or local health department to schedule catch-up vaccinations.