Children

Vaccines can prevent all children from infants to teens from 16 diseases, that could result in hospitalization or even death. This tracker from the Center for Disease Control allows you to keep track of your child's vaccinations and development milestones, and makes it easy to communicate with your doctor. If you choose not to vaccinate your child according to the CDC's schedule, there are risks and responsibilities which you must face.

  • For Newborns:
    • Before your baby can leave the hospital or birth center, it will be given its first 3 doses of vaccines to prevent Hepatitis B. Infants and children must be protected from Hep. B because they are more likely to suffer from an incurable, long-term infection as a result. This can lead to liver damage or liver cancer.
    • While babies receive some immunity from their mother in the last few weeks of pregnancy, this decreases over time leaving them vulnerable to infection. Therefore, it is important to protect your child from disease at an early age before they are exposed to potentially serious diseases.
    • For Infant Immunization Frequently Asked Questions, click here.
    • Find out what vaccines your child aged 0-6 needs here.
  • For Children Aged 1-2 Months:
    • Starting at 1 to 2 months of age, your baby will receive their second dose of Hepatitis B, a diphtheria, tetanus, and whopping cough (pertussis) (DTaP) vaccine, a haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) vaccine, a polio (IPV) vaccine, a pneumococcal (PVC) vaccine, and a rotavirus (RV) vaccine.
    • Children can be protected from 14 diseases before they're 2 years old with vaccines. The CDC's immunization schedule protects children from diseases before they are likely to be exposed to them. Multiple shots during one doctor's visit will not overload the immune system.
    • If you need help paying for vaccines, the Vaccines for Children Programs helps provide vaccines to children whose parents or guardians may not be able to afford them. The program offers vaccines at no cost for eligible children through VFC-enrolled doctors. Find out if you are eligible here.
    • Find out what vaccines your child aged 0-6 needs here.
  • For 4 Month-Olds:
  • For 6 Month-Olds:
  • For Children Aged 7-11 Months:
  • For Children Aged 12-23 Months:
    • Your child will receive a Chickenpox (Varicella) vaccine, a Diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis) (DTaP) vaccine, a Haemophilus influenza type b(Hib), a Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine, a Polio (IPV) vaccine, a pneumococcal (PVC) vaccine, a Hepatitis A (HepA) vaccine, and a HepB vaccine.
    • Sometimes more than one dose of a shot is necessary to build a high enough immunity to protect against the disease, boost immunity that weakens over time, protect your child from changing viruses (flu), and to make sure that those not protected from a first does are protected.
    • The MMR vaccine has proven to present no serious side effects, and has not been proven to cause autism. This is a common misconception due to the fact that diagnosis of autism usually occurs around the same age that the MMR vaccine is given, and because of a study from the UK in 1998 that found a correlation between autism and the MMR vaccine. Since that study's publication, 10 of the 13 authors have withdrawn their support and the journal has retracted it. For more information on the MMMR vaccine's safety, visit here.
    • Combination vaccines have the ability to protect your child from the same diseases in fewer shots. Learn more here.
    • Find out what vaccines your child aged 0-6 needs here.
  • For Children Aged 2-3 Years:
    • There are generally no vaccines scheduled during this time, but if your child has missed any, now would be a good time to make them up. Additionally, you should teach your child about proper hand hygiene and be prepared for their once-a-year checkups with the Well Child Tracker.
    • In order to enroll your child in preschool, you will probably need to give a certificate of immunization. Massachusetts requires your child be vaccinated before enrolling. Get help finding your child's immunization records here. Find Massachusetts' requirements here.
    • Find out what vaccines your child aged 0-6 needs here.
  • For Children Aged 4-6 Years:
    • Between the ages of 4 and 6, your child should see their doctor once a year for check-ups and will be given a Chickenpox (Varicella) vaccine, a Diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis) (DTaP),a Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine, a Polio (IPV) vaccine, an influenza (flu) vaccine.
    • In order to enroll your child in preschool, you will probably need to give a certificate of immunization. Massachusetts requires your child be vaccinated before enrolling. Get help finding your child's immunization records here. Find Massachusetts' requirements here.
    • Booster vaccines (one your child has already gotten earlier in life) are important to protecting their health. Combination vaccines have the ability to protect your child from the same diseases in fewer shots. Learn more here.
    • Find out what vaccines your child aged 0-6 needs here.
  • For Children Aged 7-10 Years:
  • For Children Aged 11-12 Years:
  • For Children Aged 12-18 Years:

Below is an interactive quiz from the CDC to find out what vaccines your child needs:

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