Pediatric Immunization Schedule

Until your child is three years old, they need a well-child visit for immunizations more than once a year. Please schedule their next appointment at our front desk on your way out of each appointment. From four years onwards, look for a letter in the mail asking you to book your child’s next visit when appointments become available.

Example immunization schedule

This schedule of recommended immunizations is an example to help you plan your children’s well-child visits. Your child’s actual schedule may vary depending on their individual needs, so please follow their primary care providers’ recommendations. Some of these vaccines may be given as part of a combination vaccine so your child gets fewer shots. 

• Newborn visit
  • Hep B, first dose (if not given at hospital)
• Two-month visit
  • Pentacel (DTap, Hib, IPV), first dose
  • Prevnar (pneumococcal), first dose
  • Hep B, second dose
  • Rotavirus, oral, second dose
• Four-month visit
  • Pentacel (DTap, Hib, IPV), second dose
  • Prevnar, second dose
  • Rotavirus, oral, second dose  
• Six-month visit
  • Pentacel (DTap, Hib, IPV,) third dose
  • Prevnar, third dose
  • Hep B, third dose
  • Rotavirus, oral, third dose
• Nine-month visit
  • No immunizations scheduled. May use the nine-month visit to catch up if immunizations have been missed.
• 12-month visit 
  • MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), first dose 
  • Hep A, first dose
  • Varivax (chicken pox), first dose
• 15-month visit 
  • Pentacel (DTAP, Hib, IPV), fourth dose
  • Prevnar, fourth dose
• 18-month visit
  • Hep A, second dose (must be given six months after first Hep A)
• 24-month visit
  • Lead and hemagram (iron check) is done in lab as a finger stick

Well-child visits yearly (age two and up)

• Four-year visit: Child must be four years old to receive the following vaccines:
  • DTaP/IPV (Kinrix)
  • MMR/Varivax (ProQuad)

Note: These are general guidelines. Variances may occur under individual circumstances.

Special circumstances

In a few instances, certain vaccines/immunizations follow a different schedule or may change depending on circumstances. Below are a few examples:

• Boostrix-Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) is given at age ten, then a booster is given every ten years unless there is an injury. If an injury occurs, then a booster is needed if it’s been more than five years since the last vaccination. Please be sure to call the office.
• Meningococcal conjugate vaccine is first given at 11 to 12 years; a second dose is given at 16 years.
• The HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine is first given at 11 to 12 years; a second dose is given six to 12 months later. Patients over 15 require three doses: first dose, then two months later and six months later. The HPV vaccine is recommended for both girls and boys to prevent genital warts and some types of cancer.
• The HepA vaccine can be given as early as six months of age to babies who may travel to a place where hepatitis A is common (they still need routine vaccination after their first birthday). It's also recommended for kids two years and older, and adults who are at high risk for the disease, so please talk to your child’s pediatrician. 
• The MMR vaccine can be given to babies as young as six months old if they may be traveling internationally. These children should still get the recommended routine doses at 12 to 15 months and four to six years of age but can get the second dose as early as four weeks after the first if they may still be traveling and at risk.
• The flu vaccine is especially important for kids who are at risk for health problems from the flu, six months and older.