U.S. Vaccination Schedule

No parent likes to think about being a part of causing their child pain but vaccinations are one of those necessary evils that make most children and even some parents cry. While it isn’t fun to think about taking your child to have shots done right after birth up until the time that they are 18 years old, it is necessary. Infectious disease is controlled by vaccines. Many people have become complacent about vaccinations, assuming that the diseases that they protect children from during childhood and into adulthood are dead and gone but this simply is not the case. The illnesses are still alive and well, it’s just that we are so well protected that many diseases just are not seen much anymore. That being said, if one doesn’t carefully follow the recommended US vaccination schedule, painful diseases may come back and threaten the lives of our children and the masses.

The Schedule: Making Sense of All of the Vaccinations

The US vaccination schedule has been created to help parents as well as medical providers ensure that children get the protection that they need, when they need it. Most vaccinations need to be repeated several times so that full protection from the illness is achieved. The sheer number of vaccinations may seen excessive but they are set up in such a way that by 18 most people have all of the vaccinations and immunities that they need to avoid some of the deadliest diseases that have plagued the human race over the ages.

Vaccination Schedule from Birth to 6 Years of Age

Hepatitis B: Sadly, vaccinations start a birth with a hepatitis B vaccine that will help inoculate the child against hepatitis B. This will be a series of three vaccinations with the second one being done between one and two months and another taking place sometime between six and 18 months.

Rotovirus: The rotovirus vaccination is necessary and will keep children free from this potentially deadly virus. This too is a series of three shots taking place at two, four and six months of age.

DTaP: This is the shortened version of the vaccination that protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. The vaccinations need to be given at two months, four months, six months and again between 15 and 18 months and again at four to six years of age.

Hib: This is another shortened term for the Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine. This is a series of vaccinations that should be given at two months, four months, six months and then again between 12 and 15 months.

PCV: The Pneumococcal vaccination helps to protect children against contagious pneumonia, which can be deadly. The PCV vaccine should be given at two months, four months, six months and then between 12 to 15 months.

IPV: This is an inactivated poliovirus vaccination. This helps to protect children against the polio virus that was responsible for many deaths and disfigurements in past generations. The IPV vaccination needs to be given at two months, four months and then between six and 18 months and again between four to six years.

Flu vaccine. The flu vaccine needs to be given yearly starting at six months of age, unless otherwise directed by a doctor.

MMR: This is a vaccination that protects against measles, mumps and rubella. This is a vaccination that needs to be given between six and 12 months and again between four to six years.

Varicella: This is a vaccination that allows for immunities to the chicken pox virus. The first inoculation should be given between 12 and 15 months and again between four to six years.

Hepatitis A: Hepatitis A vaccines protect against hepatitis A, which can be fatal. It is done in two doses that should both take place between 12 and 18 months or a series can be done between two and three years.

Meningococcal: This is a vaccination that helps to protect against meningitis, which can be life threatening. This vaccination should be given between two and six years of age.

US Vaccination Schedule From Ages 7 to 18

Tdap: This is a combination vaccination that protects the individual from tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. This should be given between 11 and 12 years of age.

HPV: This is a relatively new addition to the US vacation schedule. This vaccination protects against certain strains of the human papillomavirus. Three doses should be given to individuals between the ages of 11 and 12 years of age.

Meningococcal: This completes a series of these vaccinations and should be given between 11 and 12 years old.

Influenza: Yearly influenza vaccinations should be given unless otherwise directed by a doctor.

Following the US vaccination schedule will help to provide the best immunity to diseases that are not only inconvenient and uncomfortable but can in some cases, be deadly. There are alternative schedules that doctors can choose to follow for those who are behind on shots as well as for those who suffer from deficient immune systems.

Note that the US Vaccination schedule is subject to changes every year; make sure to check with your doctor for the most updated information available.