Vaccine schedule by age (US)
The full 2026 CDC schedule with what each one is for, what reactions are normal, and what to bring to make visits easier.
Safety & Health · Reference
TL;DR
The CDC vaccine schedule covers 14 diseases through about 17 routine shots in the first 18 months. The schedule is built so each shot lands when immunity is needed and after maternal antibodies have faded enough to be effective. Most babies handle vaccines well. Fever, fussiness, and a sore spot at the injection site for 1 to 2 days is normal. Severe reactions are rare and worth knowing the signs of.
Health information, not medical advice. The CDC schedule is the recommendation. Your pediatrician will tailor timing if your child has specific health conditions or premature birth. Catch-up schedules exist for kids who fell behind.
The full schedule at a glance
Birth
- Hepatitis B (HepB) dose 1. Given in the nursery.
1 to 2 months
- HepB dose 2 (between 1 and 2 months).
- DTaP, Hib, IPV, Pneumococcal (PCV15 or PCV20), Rotavirus. All at the 2-month visit.
4 months
- DTaP, Hib, IPV, Pneumococcal, Rotavirus (second doses).
6 months
- DTaP, Hib (depending on brand), Pneumococcal (third dose), Rotavirus (third dose if needed).
- HepB dose 3 (between 6 and 18 months).
- IPV (third dose between 6 and 18 months).
- Influenza (flu) annually starting at 6 months. The first season needs 2 doses 4 weeks apart.
- COVID-19 starting at 6 months (current CDC guidance, check for updates).
12 to 15 months
- MMR (measles, mumps, rubella).
- Varicella (chickenpox).
- Hib booster.
- PCV booster.
- HepA dose 1.
15 to 18 months
- DTaP booster.
18 months to 23 months
- HepA dose 2 (at least 6 months after dose 1).
4 to 6 years
- DTaP, IPV, MMR, Varicella boosters.
Annually starting at 6 months
- Flu vaccine every fall.
11 to 12 years
- Tdap, HPV (2 doses), Meningococcal (MenACWY).
16 years
- Meningococcal booster, MenB (shared decision).
What each vaccine prevents
- HepB. Liver infection that can become chronic. Prevents 90 percent of mother-to-child transmission when given at birth.
- DTaP. Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough). Pertussis kills babies under 6 months.
- Hib. Haemophilus influenzae type b. Used to be the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in kids. Now rare because of this vaccine.
- IPV. Inactivated polio.
- PCV. Pneumococcal disease (meningitis, pneumonia, blood infection).
- Rotavirus. Severe diarrhea and dehydration. Oral vaccine, not a shot. Must start by 15 weeks of age.
- Flu. Influenza. Annual because the virus changes each year.
- COVID-19. Severe COVID disease.
- MMR. Measles, mumps, rubella. Measles is making a US comeback in undervaccinated communities.
- Varicella. Chickenpox.
- HepA. Hepatitis A.
- HPV (teen). Cancers caused by human papillomavirus.
- Meningococcal (teen). Bacterial meningitis.
RSV protection (newer category)
Not technically a vaccine but on the schedule. Nirsevimab (Beyfortus), a monoclonal antibody, is recommended for infants under 8 months entering their first RSV season (Oct to Mar). Alternative: the maternal RSV vaccine (Abrysvo) given between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy passes antibodies to the baby. Pick one path.
What reactions are normal
- Sore, red, or slightly swollen injection site for 1 to 2 days.
- Low-grade fever (under 102) for 24 hours.
- Fussiness or extra sleepiness for a day.
- Loss of appetite for one feed.
- MMR and varicella can cause a mild rash 7 to 14 days after the shot. Normal.
- DTaP can cause a sore arm or leg for 2 to 3 days. Normal.
Post-vaccine fever, dosed right
Skip the math at 3 AM. Enter your baby's weight, get the exact mL or mg of Tylenol or Motrin in seconds.
Try the Tylenol calculatorWhat is not normal (call the pediatrician)
- Fever over 104, or fever in a baby under 12 weeks.
- Inconsolable crying for 3 hours or longer.
- Hives, swelling of face or tongue, trouble breathing (signs of allergic reaction within hours).
- Seizure.
- Limp, pale, or unresponsive episode.
- Severe swelling at the injection site that gets worse over 48 hours.
Making appointments easier
- Bring a pacifier, breast, or bottle. Sucking during the shot blunts the pain response. There is good evidence for this.
- Hold the baby skin-to-skin or against you, not lying flat.
- Distract with eye contact, singing, or a familiar toy.
- Topical anesthetic creams (lidocaine) exist but require application 30 minutes before. Ask if interested.
- Pre-medicating with Tylenol before the appointment is no longer recommended. It can blunt the immune response. Treat fever if it shows up after.
- For toddlers: don't lie. "It's just a poke, it might pinch, it will be over fast" is fine. "It won't hurt" loses trust on the spot.
Catch-up schedules
If your child fell behind, they do not need to restart any series. The CDC has a catch-up schedule that telescopes doses. Your pediatrician can review it at the next visit and get back on track. There is no penalty for falling behind beyond the temporary lower protection during the gap.
Travel and special situations
International travel may need additional vaccines (typhoid, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis depending on region). Ask the pediatrician 6 weeks before travel. Some require boosters or timed doses.
Premature babies follow the same schedule by chronological age, not adjusted age, with rare exceptions.
Mild illness (runny nose, low fever, mild diarrhea) is NOT a reason to delay vaccines. Moderate-to-severe illness with high fever is.