Your kid's year-by-year immunization guide

Keep Your Child Healthy With This Vaccine Road Map This guide will help you keep up-to-date with your child's immunizations. To minimize the number of times your kid gets poked with a needle, keep in mind that some vaccines can be given together. Since immunization schedules can vary depending on your child's health and vaccine availability, make sure to talk to your child's doctor about changes to the typical schedule. Birth to Two Months Doctors recommend that the first vaccine to protect against the hepatitis B virus (HBV) should be given at birth. However, don't worry if your child hasn't received it yet; it can be given at any time. The follow-up shot should be administered one to two months after the first dose. Two to Six Months Vaccines for the following ailments are usually given at this age: diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (DTaP) ; Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib); inactivated poliovirus (IPV); pneumococcal conjugate (PCV); and rotavirus. Six Months to Two Years The following immunizations are usually given at six to18 months: inactivated poliovirus (IPV) vaccine and the hepatitis B vaccine. At 12 to15 months, shots are administered to protect against: Hib; measles, mumps and rubella (MMR); PCV; and varicella (chickenpox). At 12 to 23 months, the hepatitis A vaccine is given as two shots at least six months apart. At 15 to 18 months, the DTaP is administered. Ages 4 to 6 Booster shots are often taken at this age. If your child has not been previously vaccinated, these shots can also be given: DTaP, MMR, IPV and varicella. Ages 11 to 12 Children generally receive the DTaP booster and the meningitis vaccine (MCV), with another booster at age 16. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is recommended for girls to prevent cervical cancer and is given as three shots over six months. Ages 13 to 18 Teenagers should receive the meningitis vaccine if they have not been previously vaccinated. Those who received the initial shots around ages 13 to15 should get a booster dose at around 17. Teens Starting College Students should have had all the necessary vaccines prior to starting college. Generally, the MCV is recommended for all college students who will live in dorms. Some colleges also require specific vaccinations. Special Circumstances The MCV should be given to children with chronic illnesses between the ages of 2 and 10. A booster shot is given a few years later, depending on when the first dose was given. Children with asplenia, HIV or other medical conditions often receive pneumococcal vaccines. Flu Shots Doctors recommend that kids over six months old get the flu shot every year. Flu shot immunizations are especially important for kids with medical conditions like asthma, heart problems, sickle cell anemia, diabetes or HIV. Immunity against the flu builds up two weeks after receiving the shot.