When to Get Immunizations?

Answer 1

The overall purpose of providing our children with immunizations is to protect them from diseases, viruses and illnesses that may commonly occur during childhood or well into their adult years. It is extremely important to vaccinate your children on a regular schedule that is determined by your state or doctors office. By staying on schedule, you know that your child is getting what they need, when they need it the most. In addition, immunizations may also be required for your children to be accepted into the school system. Typically, immunization shots are administered on a schedule over several years that range from birth into toddlerhood and up.

Immunizations at Birth

When going on a list schedule of immunization shots for children, the first shot that they will typically receive is given at birth if desired. This shot is known as the Hepatitis B vaccine or HBV. If not given at birth, this shot may be administered at any time for those who have not already received it. Protect your child against this harmful virus infection by also administering a second dose of the vaccine at around 1 to 2 months after the first shot is administered.

Immunizations from 1 Month to 6 Months

From 1 month to 6 months of age, you can expect your child to receive multiple different immunizations shots that are designed to protect them from diseases such as polio and pertussis. At 2 months of age, children typically receive immunizations including the Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine, Rotavirus vaccine, Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine and Inactivated poliovirus vaccine. Over the next several months, second and third doses of many of these immunization shots will be administered.

Immunizations from 12 Months and Up

At around 12 months, your child will receive immunizations for common childhood diseases such as chicken pox and measles, mumps, and rubella. Two shots for the Hepatitis A vaccine will be given at least 6 months apart from each other. Other immunizations that your child will receive from 15 months to 6 years of age include DTaP MMR, IPV and Varicella.