Like all good babyproofing plans, CDC’s recommended immunization schedule is safe and effective at protecting your baby. It’s based on how your child’s immune system responds to vaccines at various ages, and how likely your baby is to be exposed to a particular disease. This ensures your little one is protected from 14 potentially serious diseases at exactly the right time. On the other hand, there is no data to support that spacing out vaccines offers safe or effective protection from these diseases.

So who looks at all the research and data to know what timing and doses are best? Hundreds of the country’s top doctors, public health professionals, and scientists design the schedule to ensure it is safe and effective.

What are vaccines?

Vaccines play an important role in keeping us healthy. They protect us from serious and sometimes deadly diseases. Vaccines are injections (shots), liquids, pills, or nasal sprays that you take to teach your body's immune system to recognize and defend against harmful germs. The germs could be viruses or bacteria.

Some types of vaccines contain germs that cause disease. But the germs have been killed or weakened enough that they won't make you sick. Some vaccines only contain a part of a germ. Other types of vaccines include instructions for your cells to make a protein of the germ.

These different vaccine types all spark an immune response, which helps your body fight off the germs. Your immune system will also remember the germ and attack it if that germ ever invades again. This protection against a certain disease is called immunity.

These diseases can be very serious. Because of this, getting immunity from a vaccine is safer than getting immunity by being sick with the disease. And for a few vaccines, getting vaccinated can actually give you a better immune response than getting the disease would.

Do vaccines cause side effects?

As with medicines, any vaccine can cause side effects. Most of the time the side effects are minor, such as a sore arm, fatigue, or mild fever. They usually go away within a few days. These common side effects are often a sign that your body is starting to build immunity against a disease.

Serious side effects from vaccines can happen, but they are very rare. These side effects could include a severe allergic reaction. Other possible side effects are different for each vaccine. Talk with your health care provider if you're concerned about your health after getting vaccinated.

Some people worry that childhood vaccines could cause autism spectrum disorder (ASD). But many scientific studies have looked at this and have found no link between vaccines and ASD.

How are vaccines tested for safety?

Every vaccine that is approved in the United States goes through extensive safety testing. It starts with testing and evaluation of the vaccine before it's approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This process can often take several years.

• First, the vaccine is tested in labs. Based on those tests, the FDA decides whether to test the vaccine with people.
• Testing with people is done through clinical trials. In these trials, the vaccines are tested on volunteers. Clinical trials usually start with 20 to 100 volunteers, but eventually include thousands of volunteers.
• The clinical trials have three phases.
• The trials are looking for the answer to important questions such as:
  • Is the vaccine safe?
  • What dose (amount) works best?
  • How does the immune system react to it?
  • How effective is it?
• During the process, the FDA works closely with the company who makes the vaccine to evaluate the vaccine's safety and effectiveness. If the vaccine is found to be safe and effective, it will be approved and licensed by the FDA.
• After a vaccine is licensed, experts may consider adding it to the recommended vaccine, or immunization, schedule. This schedule is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It lists which vaccines are recommended for different groups of people. They list which age groups should get which vaccines, how many doses they need, and when they should get them.

Testing and monitoring continue after the vaccine is approved:

• The company making the vaccines tests every batch of vaccines for quality and safety. The FDA reviews the results of these tests. It also inspects the factories where the vaccine is made. These checks help make sure the vaccines meet standards for quality and safety.
• The FDA, CDC, and other federal agencies continue to monitor its safety, to watch for possible side effects. They have systems to track any safety issues with the vaccines.

These high safety standards and testing help to make sure that vaccines in the United States are safe. Vaccines help protect against serious, even deadly, diseases. They not only protect you, but also help to keep these diseases from spreading to others.

Make sure you’re vaccinated

Before pregnancy:

• MMR vaccine (get one month or more before pregnancy, unless you’re already protected)

During pregnancy:

• Tdap vaccine (to help protect against whooping cough)
• Flu vaccine (if pregnant during flu season)

After pregnancy:

• It’s safe to receive vaccines after giving birth, even while you are breastfeeding

Pregnancy and Whooping Cough

Get the whooping cough vaccine in the third trimester of each pregnancy.

Whooping cough can be really dangerous for your baby, and you may not even know he has it.

Pregnancy and Flu

Get the flu shot by the end of October if you are pregnant during flu season.

Catching flu when you are pregnant can lead to serious pregnancy complications for you and your baby.

Other vaccines you may need:

The need for vaccines such as hepatitis A, meningococcal, and others may be recommended if you have certain health conditions, work in a lab, or travel to countries with increased risk of exposure to the vaccine-preventable disease.

Are pregnant women tested for hepatitis B?

Yes. When a pregnant woman comes in for prenatal care, she is given a series of routine blood tests, including one that checks for hepatitis B virus infection.

If a pregnant woman has hepatitis B, is there a way to prevent her baby from getting hepatitis B?

Yes. Almost all cases of hepatitis B can be prevented in babies born to infected mothers, but these newborns must receive the necessary shots at the recommended times. The combination of hepatitis B immune globulin (known as HBIG) and hepatitis B vaccine can be given to infants born to infected mothers within 12 hours of birth to protect them from infection. To best protect your baby, follow the advice from your baby’s doctor.

Why is the hepatitis B vaccine recommended for all babies?

Nearly all newborns who become infected with the hepatitis B virus develop lifelong hepatitis B. This can eventually lead to serious health problems, including liver damage, liver cancer, and even death. Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all babies to protect them from this serious but preventable disease.

Protect your baby against 14 potentially serious diseases before 2 years old with vaccines.

Your baby’s first shot

Shortly after birth, your baby should receive the first dose of the vaccine to help protect against the following disease:

• Hepatitis B (HepB) (1st dose)

All babies should get the first shot of hepatitis B vaccine within first 12 hours after birth.

This shot acts as a safety net, reducing the risk of getting the disease from you or family members who may not know they are infected with hepatitis B.

If you have hepatitis B, there’s additional medicine that can help protect your newborn against hepatitis B; it’s called hepatitis B immune globin (HBIG). HBIG gives your baby’s body extra help to fight the virus as soon as your baby is born.

After vaccination

Sometimes children have mild reactions from vaccines, such as pain at the injection site or a rash. These reactions are normal and will soon go away.

• Read the Vaccine Information Sheet(s) your baby’s doctor gave you to learn about side effects your baby may experience.
• Swaddle.
• Offer breastmilk or formula more often. It is normal for some babies to eat less during the 24 hours after getting vaccines.
• Pay extra attention to your baby for a few days. If you see something that concerns you, call your baby’s doctor.

Treat mild reactions from vaccines:

• Use a cool, damp cloth to help reduce redness, soreness, and/or swelling at the injection site.
• Reduce fever with a cool sponge bath.
• Ask your child’s doctor if you can give your child a non-aspirin pain reliever.

Important developmental milestones

Get tips to prepare for your baby’s well-child visits.

Shortly after birth, most babies:

• Recognize caregiver’s voice
• Turn head toward breast or bottle
• Communicate through body language, fussing or crying
• Are alert and engaged
• Startle to loud sounds

When should my child get the shot?

One dose at each of the following ages:

• Shortly after birth
• 1 – 2 months
• 6 – 18 months

Mothers can unknowingly pass hepatitis B to their babies at birth.
This shot works best when your baby gets it within the first 12 hours of his life.

Why should my baby get the hepatitis B shot?

• Protects your child from against hepatitis B, a potentially serious disease.
• Protects other people from the disease because children with hepatitis B usually don’t have symptoms, but they may pass the disease to others without anyone knowing they were infected.
• Prevents your child from developing liver disease and cancer from hepatitis B.
• Keeps your child from missing school or child care and you from missing work.

The hepatitis B shot is safe.

The hepatitis B shot is very safe, and is effective at preventing hepatitis B. Vaccines like any medicine, can have side effects. These are usually mild and go away on their own.

What are the side effects?

The most common side effects of the hepatitis B vaccine are mild and include:

• Low fever (less than 101 degrees) or,
• Sore arm from the shot.

What is hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a contagious liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus. When a person is first infected with the virus, he or she can develop an “acute” (short-term) infection. Acute hepatitis B refers to the first 6 months after someone is infected with the hepatitis B virus. This infection can range from a very mild illness with few or no symptoms to a serious condition requiring hospitalization. Some people are able to fight the infection and clear the virus.

For others, the infection remains and is “chronic,” or lifelong. Chronic hepatitis B refers to the infection when it remains active instead of getting better after 6 months. Over time, the infection can cause serious health problems, and even liver cancer.

What are the symptoms of hepatitis B disease?

Infants and young children usually show no symptoms. Hepatitis B infection causes

• Loss of appetite (not wanting to eat)
• Fever
• Tiredness
• Pain in muscles, joints, and stomach
• Nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting
• Dark urine

These symptoms usually appear 3 or 4 months after a person gets the virus.

Is it serious?

Hepatitis B can be very serious. Most people with a recent hepatitis B infection may feel sick for a few weeks to several months. Some people get over the illness. For other people, the virus infection remains active in their bodies for the rest of their life.

Although people with lifelong hepatitis B usually don’t have symptoms, the virus causes liver damage over time and could lead to liver cancer. There is no cure for hepatitis B, but treatment can help prevent serious problems.

Hepatitis B can cause liver damage and cancer. Mothers can unknowingly pass the disease to their babies at birth.

How does hepatitis B spread?

Hepatitis B is spread through contact with blood of an infected person (even if they show no symptoms).

• At birth
• Open cuts or sores
• Sharing toothbrushes or other personal items
• Food chewed for a baby
• Any infected family member or caregiver can pass the virus to your baby.
• The virus can live on objects for 7 days or more.

Protect your baby against 14 potentially serious diseases before 2 years old with vaccines.

What vaccines will my baby get?

At 1 to 2 months, your baby should receive vaccines to protect them from the following diseases:

• Hepatitis B (HepB) (2^nd dose)
• Diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis) (DTaP) (1^st dose)
• Haemophilus influenzae type b disease (Hib) (1^st dose)
• Polio (IPV) (1^st dose)
• Pneumococcal disease (PCV13) (1^st dose)
• Rotavirus (RV) (1^st dose)

After vaccinations

Sometimes children have mild reactions from vaccines, such as pain at the injection site or a rash. These reactions are normal and will soon go away.

• Read the Vaccine Information Sheet(s) your baby’s doctor gave you to learn about side effects your baby may experience.
• Swaddle.
• Offer breastmilk or formula more often. It is normal for some babies to eat less during the 24 hours after getting vaccines.
• Pay extra attention to your baby for a few days. If you see something that concerns you, call your baby’s doctor.

Treat mild reactions from vaccines:

• Use a cool, damp cloth to help reduce redness, soreness, and/or swelling at the injection site.
• Reduce fever with a cool sponge bath.
• Ask your child’s doctor if you can give your child a non-aspirin pain reliever.

Why get vaccinated?

DTaP vaccine can prevent diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis.

Diphtheria and pertussis spread from person to person. Tetanus enters the body through cuts or wounds.

• DIPHTHERIA (D) can lead to difficulty breathing, heart failure, paralysis, or death.

• TETANUS (T) causes painful stiffening of the muscles. Tetanus can lead to serious health problems, including being unable to open the mouth, having trouble swallowing and breathing, or death.
• PERTUSSIS (aP), also known as “whooping cough,” can cause uncontrollable, violent coughing that makes it hard to breathe, eat, or drink. Pertussis can be extremely serious especially in babies and young children, causing pneumonia, convulsions, brain damage, or death. In teens and adults, it can cause weight loss, loss of bladder control, passing out, and rib fractures from severe coughing.

DTaP vaccine

DTaP is only for children younger than 7 years old. Different vaccines against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap and Td) are available for older children, adolescents, and adults.

It is recommended that children receive 5 doses of DTaP, usually at the following ages:

• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 15–18 months
• 4–6 years

DTaP may be given as a stand-alone vaccine, or as part of a combination vaccine (a type of vaccine that combines more than one vaccine together into one shot).

DTaP may be given at the same time as other vaccines.

Talk with your health care provider

Tell your vaccination provider if the person getting the vaccine:

• Has had an allergic reaction after a previous dose of any vaccine that protects against tetanus, diphtheria, or pertussis, or has any severe, life-threatening allergies
• Has had a coma, decreased level of consciousness, or prolonged seizures within 7 days after a previous dose of any pertussis vaccine (DTP or DTaP)
• Has seizures or another nervous system problem
• Has ever had Guillain-Barré Syndrome (also called “GBS”)
• Has had severe pain or swelling after a previous doseof any vaccine that protects against tetanus or diphtheria

In some cases, your child’s health care provider may decide to postpone DTaP vaccination until a future visit.

Children with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. Children who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting DTaP vaccine.

Your child’s health care provider can give you more information.

Risks of a vaccine reaction

• Soreness or swelling where the shot was given, fever, fussiness, feeling tired, loss of appetite, and vomiting sometimes happen after DTaP vaccination.
• More serious reactions, such as seizures, non-stop crying for 3 hours or more, or high fever (over 105°F) after DTaP vaccination happen much less often. Rarely, vaccination is followed by swelling of the entire arm or leg, especially in older children when they receive their fourth or fifth dose.

As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction, other serious injury, or death.

What if there is a serious problem?

An allergic reaction could occur after the vaccinated person leaves the clinic. If you see signs of a severe allergic reaction (hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, or weakness), call 9-1-1 and get the person to the nearest hospital.

For other signs that concern you, call your health care provider.

Adverse reactions should be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Your health care provider will usually file this report, or you can do it yourself.

Why get vaccinated?

Hib vaccine can prevent Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease.

Haemophilus influenzae type b can cause many different kinds of infections. These infections usually affect children under 5 years of age but can also affect adults with certain medical conditions. Hib bacteria can cause mild illness, such as ear infections or bronchitis, or they can cause severe illness, such as infections of the blood. Severe Hib infection, also called “invasive Hib disease,” requires treatment in a hospital and can sometimes result in death.

Before Hib vaccine, Hib disease was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis among children under 5 years old in the United States. Meningitis is an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. It can lead to brain damage and deafness.

Hib infection can also cause:

• Pneumonia
• Severe swelling in the throat, making it hard to breathe
• Infections of the blood, joints, bones, and covering of the heart
• Death

Hib vaccine

Hib vaccine is usually given in 3 or 4 doses (depending on brand).

Infants will usually get their first dose of Hib vaccine at 2 months of age and will usually complete the series at 12–15 months of age.

Children between 12 months and 5 years of age who have not previously been completely vaccinated against Hib may need 1 or more doses of Hib vaccine.

Children over 5 years old and adults usually do not receive Hib vaccine, but it might be recommended for older children or adults whose spleen is damaged or has been removed, including people with sickle cell disease, before surgery to remove the spleen, or following a bone marrow transplant. Hib vaccine may also be recommended for people 5 through 18 years old with HIV.

Hib vaccine may be given as a stand-alone vaccine, or as part of a combination vaccine (a type of vaccine that combines more than one vaccine together into one shot).

Hib vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines.

Talk with your health care provider

Tell your vaccination provider if the person getting the vaccine:

• Has had an allergic reaction after a previous dose of Hib vaccine, or has any severe, life-threatening allergies

In some cases, your health care provider may decide to postpone Hib vaccination until a future visit.

People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. People who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting Hib vaccine.

Your health care provider can give you more information.

Risks of a vaccine reaction

• Redness, warmth, and swelling where the shot is given and fever can happen after Hib vaccination.

People sometimes faint after medical procedures, including vaccination. Tell your provider if you feel dizzy or have vision changes or ringing in the ears.

As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction, other serious injury, or death.

What if there is a serious problem?

An allergic reaction could occur after the vaccinated person leaves the clinic. If you see signs of a severe allergic reaction (hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, or weakness), call 9-1-1 and get the person to the nearest hospital.

For other signs that concern you, call your health care provider.

Adverse reactions should be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Your health care provider will usually file this report, or you can do it yourself.

Four doses of the polio shot for children are recommended by doctors as the best way to protect against polio.

When should my child get the polio shot?

Your child will need one dose at each of the following ages:

• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 – 18 months
• 4 – 6 years

Why should my child get the polio shot?

• Protects your child from polio, a potentially serious disease.
• Protects your child from developing lifelong paralysis from polio.

The polio shot is safe.

The polio shot is very safe, and is effective at preventing polio. Vaccines like any medicine, can have side effects. These are usually mild and go away on their own.

What are the side effects?

• Redness, swelling, or pain where the shot was given

Prepare for your child's vaccine visit and learn about how you can:

• Research vaccines and ready your child before the visit
• Comfort your child during the appointment
• Care for your child after the shot

What is polio?

Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a disabling and life-threatening disease caused by the poliovirus. The virus can infect a person’s spinal cord, causing paralysis (can’t move parts of the body). Paralysis caused by poliovirus occurs when the virus replicates in and attacks the nervous system.  The paralysis can be lifelong, and it can be deadly.

What are the symptoms of polio infection?

Most people who get infected with poliovirus do not have any symptoms. Some people (25 people out of 100) will have flu-like symptoms. These symptoms usually last 2 to 5 days.

In rare cases, poliovirus infection can be very serious. People will have weakness or paralysis in their arms, legs, or both. This paralysis or weakness can last a lifetime.

Is it serious?

The risk of lifelong paralysis is very serious. Even children who seem to fully recover can develop new muscle pain, weakness, or paralysis as adults, 15 to 40 years later.

About 2 to 10 children out of 100 who have paralysis from polio die because the virus affects the muscles that help them breathe.

How does polio spread?

Poliovirus is very contagious. It spreads through contact with:

• The stool (poop) of an infected person.
• Droplets from a sneeze or cough of an infected person.

If you get stool or droplets from an infected person on your hands and you touch your mouth, you can get infected. Also, if your child puts objects, like toys, that have stool or droplets on them into their mouth, they can get infected. Sharing utensils with an infected person can also spread the virus.

An infected person can spread the virus to others immediately before and up to 2 weeks after symptoms appear.

• The virus may live in an infected person’s intestines for many weeks. They can contaminate food and water when they touch it with unwashed hands.
• People who don’t have symptoms can still pass the virus to others and make them sick.

Do people still get polio in the United States?

Thanks to a successful vaccination program, most people in the United States are protected from polio. However, people who are not vaccinated or who haven’t received all recommended doses may be at risk of getting polio. The disease still occurs in other parts of the world. It only takes one person with polio traveling from another country to bring polio into the United States.

Children who will be traveling to a country where the risk of getting polio is greater should complete the series of shots before leaving for their trip. If a child cannot complete the routine series before leaving, a polio accelerated schedule is recommended.

Four doses of a pneumococcal shot (PCV13 or PCV15) are recommended for children by doctors as the best way to protect against pneumococcal disease.

When should my child get a pneumococcal shot?

One dose at each of the following ages:

• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 12 – 15 months

Why should my child get a pneumococcal shot?

• Protects your child from against potentially serious, and even deadly infections cause by pneumococcal disease, like pneumococcal meningitis (infection of the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord) and pneumonia (lung infection).
• Keeps your child from missing school or child care and you from missing work.

Pneumococcal shots are safe.

Pneumococcal shots are safe and effective at preventing pneumococcal disease. Vaccines like any medicine, can have side effects. These are usually mild and go away on their own.

What types of pneumococcal vaccines are there?

All babies and young children should receive a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13 or PCV15). Some children with medical conditions that increase their risk of pneumococcal disease should also receive the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). The number of doses depends on the medical condition. Talk to your child’s doctor about which vaccines they recommend.

What are the side effects?

Most children don’t have any side effects from the shot. The side effects that do occur are usually mild, and may include:

• Fussiness
• Feeling tired
• Loss of appetite (not want to eat)
• Redness, swelling, or soreness where the shot was given
• Fever or chills
• Headache
• Muscle aches or joint pain

Prepare for your child's vaccine visit and learn about how you can:

• Research vaccines and ready your child before the visit
• Comfort your child during the appointment
• Care for your child after the shot

What is pneumococcal disease?

Pneumococcal disease can cause infections of the ears, lungs, blood, and brain.

Pneumococcal disease is an illness caused by bacteria called pneumococcus. It is often mild, but can cause serious symptoms, lifelong disability, or death. Children younger than 2 years old are among those most at risk for the disease.

Treatment with penicillin and other drugs is not as effective as it used to be, because some strains of the disease have become resistant to these drugs. This makes prevention of the disease, through vaccination, even more important.

What are the symptoms?

There are many types of pneumococcal disease. Symptoms depend on the part of the body it affects.

Is it serious?

Pneumococcal disease ranges from mild to very dangerous. About 2,000 cases of serious disease (bacteremia, pneumonia with bacteremia, and meningitis) occur each year in children under 5 years old in the United States. These illnesses can lead to disabilities like deafness, brain damage, or loss of arms or legs. About 1 out of 12 children who get pneumococcal meningitis dies.

How is it spread?

Pneumococcal disease spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Some children may not even feel sick, but they could have the bacteria in their noses and throats. These children can still spread pneumococcal disease.

Do children in the United States still get pneumococcal disease?

Yes. Each year in the United States, pneumococcal disease causes thousands of cases of pneumonia and ear infections. Without vaccines, there would be many more cases. Among children, those younger than 2 years old are most likely to have a serious case of pneumococcal disease.

Two or more doses of a rotavirus vaccine are recommended for children by doctors as the best way to protect against rotavirus.

When should my baby get the drops?

Your baby should get either of the two available rotavirus vaccines:

• RotaTeq (RV5) is given in 3 doses at ages 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months
• Rotarix (RV1) is given in 2 doses at ages 2 months, and 4 months

There are 2 brands of rotavirus vaccine: RotaTeq and Rotarix. Both brands of the rotavirus vaccines are given by mouth (drops), not by a shot.

Why should my baby get the rotavirus drops?

• Protects your baby from rotavirus, a potentially serious disease.
• Protects your baby from developing diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain caused by rotavirus.
• Keeps your child from missing school or childcare and you from missing work.

The rotavirus vaccine is safe.

The rotavirus vaccine is very safe, and is effective at preventing rotavirus. Vaccines like any medicine, can have side effects. These are usually mild and go away on their own.

What are the side effects?

Side effects are rare, usually mild, and may include fussiness, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Some studies have shown a small rise in cases of intussusception within a week after the first or second dose of rotavirus vaccine. Intussusception is a type of bowel blockage that is treated in a hospital. Some babies might need surgery. Studies estimate a risk ranging from about 1 intussusception case in every 20,000 infants to 1 intussusception case in every 100,000 infants after vaccination.

What is rotavirus?

Rotavirus causes severe diarrhea and vomiting. It affects mostly babies and young children. Diarrhea and vomiting can lead to serious dehydration (loss of body fluid). If dehydration is not treated, it can be deadly.

What are the symptoms of rotavirus?

Rotavirus symptoms include:

• Fever
• Watery diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain

Diarrhea and vomiting can last for 3 to 8 days. Children may stop eating and drinking while they are sick.

Is rotavirus serious?

Rotavirus can be very harmful. Diarrhea, vomiting, and fever can cause a loss of body fluids. This leads to dehydration, which can be very dangerous, especially for babies and young children. Some children need an IV (needle in their vein) in the hospital to replace lost fluids.

How does rotavirus spread?

Rotavirus commonly spreads in families, hospitals, and childcare centers.

People who are infected with rotavirus shed the virus in their stool (poop). If you get rotavirus particles in your mouth, you can get sick. This can happen if you

• Touch contaminated objects or surfaces then put your fingers in your mouth
• Put your unwashed hands that are contaminated with poop into your mouth
• Eat contaminated food

Rotavirus can survive on objects for several days. It is very difficult to stop its spread just by hand washing or disinfecting surfaces. The best way to protect young children from rotavirus is to get them vaccinated.

What vaccines will my baby get?

At 4 months, your baby should receive vaccines to help protect against the following diseases:

• Diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis) (DTaP) (2^nd dose)
• Haemophilus influenzae type b disease (Hib) (2^nd dose)
• Polio (IPV) (2^nd dose)
• Pneumococcal disease (PCV13) (2^nd dose)
• Rotavirus (RV) (2^nd dose)

After vaccinations

Sometimes children have mild reactions from vaccines, such as pain at the injection site, or a rash. These reactions are normal and will soon go away.

• Read the Vaccine Information Sheet(s) your baby’s doctor gave you to learn about side effects your baby may experience.
• Swaddle.
• Offer breastmilk or formula more often. It is normal for some babies to eat less during the 24 hours after getting vaccines.
• Pay extra attention to your baby for a few days. If you see something that concerns you, call your baby’s doctor.

Treat mild reactions from vaccines:

• Use a cool, damp cloth to help reduce redness, soreness, and/or swelling at the injection site.
• Reduce fever with a cool sponge bath.
• Ask your child’s doctor if you can give your child a non-aspirin pain reliever.

What vaccines will my baby get?

At 6 months of age, your baby should receive vaccines to protect them from the following diseases:

• Diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis) (DTaP) (3^rd dose)
• Haemophilus influenzae type b disease (Hib) (3^rd dose)
• Polio (IPV) (3^rd dose)
• Pneumococcal disease (PCV13) (3^rd dose)
• Rotavirus (RV) (3^rd dose)
• Influenza (Flu) (every year)

After vaccination

Sometimes children have mild reactions from shots, such as pain at the injection site, a rash, or a fever. These reactions are normal and will soon go away.

• Read the Vaccine Information Sheet(s) your child’s doctor gave you to learn about side effects your child may experience.
• Offer breastmilk and liquids more often. It is normal for some children to eat less during the 24 hours after getting vaccines.
• Pay extra attention to your child for a few days. If you see something that concerns you, call your child’s doctor.

Treat mild reactions from vaccines:

• Use a cool, damp cloth to help reduce redness, soreness, and/or swelling at the injection site.
• Reduce fever with a cool sponge bath.
• Ask your child’s doctor if you can give your child a non-aspirin pain reliever.

A yearly flu vaccine is the best way to protect your child from flu and its potentially serious complications.

Why should my child get a flu vaccine?

• Reduces the risk of flu illness and hospitalization among children.
• Shown to be life-saving for children.
• Can make illness less severe among people who get vaccinated but still get sick with flu.
• Reduces the risk of illness, which can keep your child from missing school or childcare and you from having to miss work.
• Reduces the high risk of developing serious flu complication especially if your child is younger than 5 years, or of any age with certain chronic conditions.
• Helps prevent spreading flu to family and friends, including babies younger than 6 months who are too young to get a flu vaccine.

When should my child get a flu vaccine?

Doctors recommend that your child get a flu vaccine every year in the fall, starting when he or she is 6 months old. Some children 6 months through 8 years of age may need 2 doses for best protection.

• CDC recommends a flu vaccine by the end of October, before flu begins spreading in your community. Getting vaccinated later, however, can still be beneficial and vaccination should continue to be offered throughout the flu season, even into January or later.
• Children 6 months through 8 years getting a flu vaccine for the first time, and those who have only previously gotten one dose of flu vaccine, should get two doses of vaccine. The first dose should be given as soon as vaccine becomes available.
• If your child previously got two doses of flu vaccine (at any time), he only needs one dose of flu vaccine this season.

CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone ages six months and older. Pregnant women should get a flu vaccine during each pregnancy. Flu vaccines given during pregnancy help protect both the mother and her baby from flu.

What vaccines protect against flu?

For the 2020-2021 flu season, CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccination for everyone 6 months and older.

• Flu shots can be given to your child 6 months and older.
• The nasal spray vaccine can be given to people 2 through 49 years of age. However, certain people with underlying medical conditions should not get the nasal spray vaccine.

Your child’s doctor will know which vaccines are right for your child.

Should I get vaccinated if I’m pregnant?

Yes. Changes in your immune, heart, and lung functions during pregnancy make you more likely to get seriously ill from flu. CDC recommends pregnant women get a yearly seasonal flu shot by the end of October, if possible, to ensure best protection against flu. You can be vaccinated during any trimester of your pregnancy. Getting vaccinated can also help protect your baby after birth from flu. (Mom passes antibodies onto the developing baby during her pregnancy.)

Flu vaccines are very safe.

Flu vaccines have a good safety record. Hundreds of millions of Americans have safely received flu vaccines for more than 50 years, and there has been extensive research supporting the safety of flu vaccines.

Vaccines, like any medicine, can have side effects. When they occur, flu vaccine side effects are generally mild and go away on their own within a few days.

What are the side effects?

Common side effects from the flu shot may include:

• Soreness, redness, and/or swelling where shot was given
• Headache
• Fever
• Nausea
• Muscle aches

Side effects from the nasal spray flu vaccine may include:

• Runny nose
• Wheezing
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Muscle aches

If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after vaccination and are mild and short-lived.

To prevent fainting and injuries related to fainting, adolescents should be seated or lying down during vaccination and remain in that position for 15 minutes after the vaccine is given.

Why does my child need a flu vaccine every year?

Flu viruses are constantly changing, so new vaccines are made each year to protect against the flu viruses that are likely to cause the most illness. Also, protection provided by flu vaccination wears off over time. Your child’s flu vaccine will protect against flu all season, but they will need a vaccine again next flu season for best protection against flu.

What is flu?

Flu—short for influenza—is an illness caused by influenza viruses. Flu viruses infect the nose, upper airways, throat, and lungs. Flu spreads easily and can cause serious illness, especially for young children, older people, pregnant women, and people with certain chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes.

What are the symptoms of flu?

Flu symptoms can include:

• Fever (not everyone with flu will have a fever) or feeling feverish/chills
• Chills
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Headache
• Muscle or body aches
• Tiredness
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea (this is more common in children than adults)

Most people who get sick with flu will recover in a few days to less than two weeks.

Is flu illness serious?

Millions of children get sick with flu each year and thousands are hospitalized. CDC estimates that since 2010, between 7,000 and 28,000 children younger than 5 years old have been hospitalized for flu each year in the United States. Children with chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, and disorders of the brain or nervous system, and children younger than 5 years old (and especially children younger than 2 years old) are more likely to end up in the hospital from flu.

Some people at high risk can develop complications (such as pneumonia) that can result in hospitalization and even death.

Flu seasons vary in how serious they are from one season to another. Since 2010, CDC estimates that between 130 and 1,200 children (younger than 18 years) have died from flu each year.

How does flu spread?

Flu spreads mainly by droplets when people who have flu talk, cough, or sneeze, and these droplets land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or are inhaled. Less often, a person might get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.

People can spread flu to others from one day before they have symptoms to 5-7 days after they get sick. This can be longer in children and people who are very sick.

Can my child get flu from a flu vaccine?

No, flu vaccines do not cause flu. Flu vaccines (given as a shot) are currently made in two ways: the vaccine is made either with

1. flu viruses that have been ‘inactivated’ (killed) and are therefore not infectious, or
2. using only a single gene from a flu virus (as opposed to the full virus) in order to produce an immune response without causing infection.

Flu vaccine protects your child from flu illness. However, flu shots can sometimes cause mild side effects that may be mistaken for flu. Keep in mind that it will take about 2 weeks after getting a vaccine for your child to build protection against flu.

What vaccines will my baby get?

At 7-11 months of age, your baby should receive the flu vaccine to protect your baby from the following disease:

• Influenza (Flu) (every year)

After vaccination

Sometimes children have mild reactions from vaccines, such as pain at the injection site, a rash, or a fever. These reactions are normal and will soon go away.

• Read the Vaccine Information Sheet(s) your child’s doctor gave you to learn about side effects your child may experience.
• Offer breastmilk and liquids more often. It is normal for some children to eat less during the 24 hours after getting vaccines.
• Pay extra attention to your child for a few days. If you see something that concerns you, call your child’s doctor.

Treat mild reactions from vaccines:

• Use a cool, damp cloth to help reduce redness, soreness, and/or swelling at the injection site.
• Reduce fever with a cool sponge bath.
• Ask your child’s doctor if you can give your child a non-aspirin pain reliever.

What vaccines will my baby get?

Between 12 and 23 months of age, your baby should receive vaccines to protect them from the following diseases:

• Chickenpox (Varicella) (1^st dose)
• Diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis) (DTaP) (4^th dose)
• Haemophilus influenzae type b disease (Hib) (4^th dose)
• Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) (1^st dose)
• Polio (IPV) (3^rd dose)
• Pneumococcal disease (PCV13) (4^th dose)
• Hepatitis A (HepA) (1^st dose)
• Hepatitis B (HepB) (3^rd dose between 6 months and 18 months)
• Influenza (Flu) (every year)

After vaccinations

Sometimes children have mild reactions from vaccines, such as pain at the injection site, a rash, or a fever. These reactions are normal and will soon go away.

• Read the Vaccine Information Sheet(s) your child’s doctor gave you to learn about side effects your child may experience.
• Offer breastmilk and liquids more often. It is normal for some children to eat less during the 24 hours after getting vaccines.
• Pay extra attention to your child for a few days. If you see something that concerns you, call your child’s doctor.

Treat mild reactions from vaccines:

• Use a cool, damp cloth to help reduce redness, soreness, and/or swelling at the injection site.
• Reduce fever with a cool sponge bath.
• Ask your child’s doctor if you can give your child a non-aspirin pain reliever.

Why get vaccinated?

Varicella vaccine can prevent varicella.

Varicella, also called “chickenpox,” causes an itchy rash that usually lasts about a week. It can also cause fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, and headache. It can lead to skin infections, pneumonia, inflammation of the blood vessels, swelling of the brain and/or spinal cord covering, and infections of the bloodstream, bone, or joints. Some people who get chickenpox get a painful rash called “shingles” (also known as herpes zoster) years later.

Chickenpox is usually mild, but it can be serious in infants under 12 months of age, adolescents, adults, pregnant people, and people with a weakened immune system. Some people get so sick that they need to be hospitalized. It doesn’t happen often, but people can die from chickenpox.

Most people who are vaccinated with 2 doses of varicella vaccine will be protected for life.

Varicella vaccine

Children need 2 doses of varicella vaccine, usually:

• First dose: age 12 through 15 months
• Second dose: age 4 through 6 years

Older children, adolescents, and adults also need 2 doses of varicella vaccine if they are not already immune to chickenpox.

Varicella vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines. Also, a child between 12 months and 12 years of age might receive varicella vaccine together with MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine in a single shot, known as MMRV. Your health care provider can give you more information.

Talk with your health care provider

Tell your vaccination provider if the person getting the vaccine:

• Has had an allergic reaction after a previous dose of varicella vaccine, or has any severe, life-threatening allergies
• Is pregnant or thinks they might be pregnant—pregnant people should not get varicella vaccine
• Has a weakened immune system, or has a parent, brother, or sister with a history of hereditary or congenital immune system problems
• Is taking salicylates (such as aspirin)
• Has recently had a blood transfusion or received other blood products
• Has tuberculosis
• Has gotten any other vaccines in the past 4 weeks

In some cases, your health care provider may decide to postpone varicella vaccination until a future visit.

People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. People who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting varicella vaccine.

Your health care provider can give you more information.

Risks of a vaccine reaction

• Sore arm from the injection, redness or rash where the shot is given, or fever can happen after varicella vaccination.
• More serious reactions happen very rarely. These can include pneumonia, infection of the brain and/or spinal cord covering, or seizures that are often associated with fever.
• In people with serious immune system problems, this vaccine may cause an infection that may be life-threatening. People with serious immune system problems should not get varicella vaccine.

It is possible for a vaccinated person to develop a rash. If this happens, the varicella vaccine virus could be spread to an unprotected person. Anyone who gets a rash should stay away from infants and people with a weakened immune system until the rash goes away. Talk with your health care provider to learn more.

Some people who are vaccinated against chickenpox get shingles (herpes zoster) years later. This is much less common after vaccination than after chickenpox disease.

People sometimes faint after medical procedures, including vaccination. Tell your provider if you feel dizzy or have vision changes or ringing in the ears.

As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction, other serious injury, or death.

What if there is a serious problem?

An allergic reaction could occur after the vaccinated person leaves the clinic. If you see signs of a severe allergic reaction (hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, or weakness), call 9-1-1 and get the person to the nearest hospital.

For other signs that concern you, call your health care provider.

Adverse reactions should be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Your health care provider will usually file this report, or you can do it yourself.

Why get vaccinated?

MMRV vaccine can prevent measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella.

• MEASLES (M) causes fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, commonly followed by a rash that covers the whole body. It can lead to seizures (often associated with fever), ear infections, diarrhea, and pneumonia. Rarely, measles can cause brain damage or death.
• MUMPS (M) causes fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, loss of appetite, and swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears. It can lead to deafness, swelling of the brain and/or spinal cord covering, painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries, and, very rarely, death.
• RUBELLA (R) causes fever, sore throat, rash, headache, and eye irritation. It can cause arthritis in up to half of teenage and adult women. If a person gets rubella while they are pregnant, they could have a miscarriage or the baby could be born with serious birth defects.
• VARICELLA (V), also called “chickenpox,” causes an itchy rash, in addition to fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, and headache. It can lead to skin infections, pneumonia, inflammation of the blood vessels, swelling of the brain and/or spinal cord covering, and infection of the blood, bones, or joints. Some people who get chickenpox get a painful rash called “shingles” (also known as herpes zoster) years later.

Most people who are vaccinated with MMRV will be protected for life. Vaccines and high rates of vaccination have made these diseases much less common in the United States.

MMRV vaccine

MMRV vaccine may be given to children 12 months through 12 years of age, usually:

• First dose at age 12 through 15 months
• Second dose at age 4 through 6 years

MMRV vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines. Instead of MMRV, some children might receive separate shots for MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) and varicella. Your health care provider can give you more information.

Talk with your health care provider

Tell your vaccination provider if the person getting the vaccine:

• Has had an allergic reaction after a previous dose of MMRV, MMR, or varicella vaccine, or has any severe, life-threatening allergies
• Is pregnant or thinks they might be pregnant—pregnant people should not get MMRV vaccine
• Has a weakened immune system, or has a parent, brother, or sister with a history of hereditary or congenital immune system problems
• Has ever had a condition that makes him or her bruise or bleed easily
• Has a history of seizures, or has a parent, brother, or sister with a history of seizures
• Is taking or plans to take salicylates (such as aspirin)
• Has recently had a blood transfusion or received other blood products
• Has tuberculosis
• Has gotten any other vaccines in the past 4 weeks

In some cases, your health care provider may decide to postpone MMRV vaccination until a future visit or may recommend that the child receive separate MMR and varicella vaccines instead of MMRV.

People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. Children who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting MMRV vaccine.

Your health care provider can give you more information.

Risks of a vaccine reaction

• Sore arm from the injection, redness where the shot is given, fever, and a mild rash can happen after MMRV vaccination.
• Swelling of the glands in the cheeks or neck or temporary pain and stiffness in the joints sometimes occur after MMRV vaccination.
• Seizures, often associated with fever, can happen after MMRV vaccine. The risk of seizures is higher after MMRV than after separate MMR and varicella vaccines when given as the first dose of the two-dose series in younger children. Your health care provider can advise you about the appropriate vaccines for your child.
• More serious reactions happen rarely, including temporary low platelet count, which can cause unusual bleeding or bruising.
• In people with serious immune system problems, this vaccine may cause an infection that may be life-threatening. People with serious immune system problems should not get MMRV vaccine.

If a person develops a rash after MMRV vaccination, it could be related to either the measles or the varicella component of the vaccine. The varicella vaccine virus could be spread to an unprotected person. Anyone who gets a rash should stay away from infants and people with a weakened immune system until the rash goes away. Talk with your health care provider to learn more.

Some people who are vaccinated against chickenpox get shingles (herpes zoster) years later. This is much less common after vaccination than after chickenpox disease.

People sometimes faint after medical procedures, including vaccination. Tell your provider if you feel dizzy or have vision changes or ringing in the ears.

As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction, other serious injury, or death.

What if there is a serious problem?

An allergic reaction could occur after the vaccinated person leaves the clinic. If you see signs of a severe allergic reaction (hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, or weakness), call 9-1-1 and get the person to the nearest hospital.

For other signs that concern you, call your health care provider.

Adverse reactions should be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Your health care provider will usually file this report, or you can do it yourself.

Two doses of the hepatitis A vaccine are recommended for children by doctors as the best way to protect against hepatitis A.

Why should my child get the hepatitis A shot?

• Protects your child from hepatitis A, a potentially serious disease.
• Protects other people from the disease because children under 6 years old with hepatitis A usually don’t have symptoms, but they often pass the disease to others without anyone knowing they were infected.
• Keeps your child from missing school or childcare and you from missing work.

When should my child get the hepatitis A shot?

Your child will need two doses of the Hepatitis A shot for best protection. One dose at each of the following ages:

• 12 through 23 months
• 6 months after last dose

The hepatitis A shot is safe.

The hepatitis A vaccine is very safe, and it is effective at preventing the hepatitis A disease. Vaccines, like any medicine, can have side effects. These are usually mild and go away on their own.

What are the side effects?

The most common side effects are usually mild and last 1 or 2 days. They include:

• Sore arm from the shot
• Headache
• Tiredness
• Fever
• Loss of appetite (not wanting to eat)

What is hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Children with the virus often don’t have symptoms, but they often pass the disease to others, including their unvaccinated parents or caregivers. These individuals can get very sick.

What are the symptoms of hepatitis A disease?

Children under 6 years old often have no symptoms. Older children and adults feel
very sick and weak. Symptoms usually appear 2 to 6 weeks after a person gets the virus.
The symptoms may include

• Fever
• Loss of appetite (not wanting to eat)
• Tiredness
• Stomach pain
• Vomiting
• Dark urine
• Yellow skin and eyes

Is it serious?

Older children, adolescents and adults often feel sick and symptoms can last for up to 6 months. There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A.

Hepatitis A is a serious disease that used to be more common in the United States. In the 1980s, the United States used to see as many as 30,000 cases a year. Thanks to the vaccine, the number of hepatitis A cases in the United States has dropped by 95%.

How does hepatitis A spread?

Hepatitis A virus is found in the stool (poop) of a person who has the virus. It spreads when a person puts something in his or her mouth that has the hepatitis A virus on it. Even if the item looks clean, it can still have virus on it that can spread to others. The amount of stool can be so tiny that it cannot be seen with the naked eye. You can get it by touching objects such as doorknobs or diapers or eating food that has the virus on it.

What vaccines will my child get?

At 2-3 years of age, your child should receive vaccines to protect them from the following diseases:

• Influenza (Flu) (every year)

After vaccinations

Sometimes children have mild reactions from vaccines, such as pain at the injection site, a rash, or a fever. These reactions are normal and will soon go away.

• Read the Vaccine Information Sheet(s) your health care professional gave you to learn about side effects your child may experience.
• Pay extra attention to your child for a few days. If you see something that concerns you, call your child’s health care professional.

Treat mild reactions from vaccines:

• Use a cool, damp cloth to help reduce redness, soreness, and/or swelling at the injection site.
• Reduce fever with a cool sponge bath.
• Ask your child’s doctor if you can give your child a non-aspirin pain reliever.

What vaccines will my child get?

At 4-6 years of age, your child should receive vaccines to protect them from the following diseases:

• Diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis) (DTaP) (5^th dose)
• Polio (IPV) (4^th dose)
• Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) (2^nd dose)
• Chickenpox (Varicella) (2^nd dose)
• Influenza (Flu) (every year)

After vaccinations

Sometimes children have mild reactions from vaccines, such as pain at the injection site, a rash, or a fever. These reactions are normal and will soon go away.

After your child gets a vaccination:

• Read the Vaccine Information Sheet(s) your healthcare professional gave you to learn about side effects your child may experience.
• Pay extra attention to your child for a few days. If you see something that concerns you, call your child’s doctor.

Treat mild reactions from vaccines:

• Use a cool, damp cloth to help reduce redness, soreness, and/or swelling at the injection site.
• Reduce fever with a cool sponge bath.
• Ask your child’s doctor if you can give your child a non-aspirin pain reliever.

Vaccines before school

Your child will typically need a certificate of immunization to enroll in school. Your state may also require children entering school to be vaccinated against certain diseases, such as whooping cough (pertussis). If you’re unsure of your state’s school immunization requirements, check with your child’s doctor, your child’s school, or your state’s health department.

Your doctor’s office or healthcare clinic should be able to give you a record of your child’s immunizations. You can also ask if your doctor has recorded the vaccines your child has received in your state’s immunization registry.

What vaccines will my 7-10 year old get?

• Influenza (Flu)
  Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every year.
• HPV
  Although recommended for children ages 11-12, the HPV vaccine can be given as early as 9 to help protect both girls and boys from HPV infection and cancers caused by HPV.

You can take advantage of any visit to your child’s doctor to get recommended vaccines for your child, including sports physicals or annual checkups before the school year.

Vaccines your child may have missed

Find your child’s personal immunization record and bring it to your appointment. An up-to-date record tells your doctor exactly what shots your child has already received.

If your child missed a vaccine, now is a good time for your child to catch up. Make an appointment for your child to get caught up if they haven’t received vaccines to protect against any of the following diseases:

• Tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough (pertussis) (Tdap)
• Hepatitis A (HepA)
• Hepatitis B (HepB)
• Polio (IPV)
• Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
• Chickenpox (Varicella)

HPV vaccination is recommended at ages 11-12 years to protect against cancers caused by HPV infection.

When should my child get the shot?

11-12 Years

• Two doses of the HPV shot are needed, 6-12 months apart.
• If the shots are given less than 5 months apart, a 3 dose is needed.

If started after 15 birthday

• Three doses of the HPV shot should be given over 6 months.
• If your teen hasn’t gotten the vaccine yet, talk to his/her doctor about getting it as soon as possible.

Your child can get the first dose of the HPV vaccine at the same visit they get vaccines to protect against meningitis and whooping cough.

Why does my child need the HPV shot?

• Protects against infections that can lead to certain cancers.
• Protects against abnormal cells that can lead to cancer (precancers) and the lasting effects of testing and treatment for these precancers.
• Protects your child long before they are ever exposed to cancer-causing infections.

The HPV shot is safe.

The HPV shot is very safe, and it is effective at protecting against HPV infection. Vaccines, like any medicine, can have side effects. These are usually mild and go away on their own.

With over 135 million doses distributed in the United States, HPV vaccine has a reassuring safety record that’s backed by over 15 years of monitoring and research.

What are the side effects?

The most common side effects of the HPV vaccine are mild and include:

• Pain, redness, or swelling in the arm where the shot was given
• Fever
• Dizziness or fainting (fainting after any vaccine, including HPV vaccine, is more common among adolescents)
• Nausea
• Headache or feeling tired
• Muscle or joint pain

To prevent fainting and injuries related to fainting, adolescents should be seated or lying down during vaccination and for 15 minutes after the shot.

It is important to tell the doctor or nurse if your child has any severe allergies, including an allergy to latex or yeast.

What is Human Papillomavirus (HPV)?

HPV is a group of more than 150 related viruses that infect men and women. These common viruses infect about 13 million people, including teens, every year. Some HPV infections can lead to certain types of cancer.

Is it serious?

While most HPV infections go away on their own, some infections that don’t go away can cause:

• Cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers in women
• Penile cancer in men
• Anal cancer in both men and women
• Cancer of the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils (oropharynx) in both men and women
• Genital warts

85% of people will get an HPV infection in their lifetime.

While there is screening for cervical cancer, there are no routine screening tests for these other types of HPV cancers, so they often aren’t detected until they cause health problems.

Every year in the U.S.:

• More than 4,000 women die of cervical every year in the U.S., even with screening and treatment
• Nearly 36,000 men and women are diagnosed with a cancer caused by an HPV infection
• Nearly 200,000 women are estimated to be diagnosed with a cervical precancer, or abnormal cells on the cervix that can lead to cancer. Treatment for cervical cancers and precancers can limit women’s ability to have children

How do you get HPV?

HPV is spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact. You can get HPV by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the virus. It is most commonly spread during vaginal or anal sex. HPV is so common that nearly all men and women get it at some point in their lives.

What vaccines will my child get?

At 11-12 years old, your preteen should receive routinely recommended vaccines to protect them from the following diseases:

• Meningococcal disease (one dose of MenACWY vaccine)
• HPV (two doses of vaccine)
• Tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough (pertussis) (one dose of Tdap vaccine)
• Influenza (Flu) (one dose of vaccine every year)

At 12 years old, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends COVID-19 vaccination to help protect against COVID-19 (two doses of vaccine). COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines may be given to your child on the same day.

Why does my child need vaccines now?

• To protect against infections that can make adolescents sick, including protection against infections where risk of exposure increases as adolescents get older
• To extend protection from childhood diseases, as protection from childhood vaccines wears off

When should my child be vaccinated?

A good time to get routine vaccines is during a yearly health checkup.

Your preteen can also get these vaccines at a physical exam required for sports, school, or camp. Ask the doctor or nurse every year if there are any vaccines that your child may need.

Children who are 12 years and older should get a COVID-19 vaccine. If your child has not gotten vaccinated yet, talk to their doctor about getting it as soon as possible.

Allergies: It is very important to tell the doctor or nurse if your child has any serious allergies, including allergies to yeast, latex, or chicken eggs, before they receive any shots.

After vaccination

After vaccination, your preteen might experience:

• Redness and soreness: Use a cool, damp cloth to help reduce redness, soreness and/or swelling at the injection site.
• Fainting after getting a shot: Although rare, fainting after any vaccine is more common among adolescents. Sitting or lying down when getting a shot and then for about 15 minutes after the shot can help prevent fainting.

Serious side effects are rare.

Two doses of the meningococcal shot called MenACWY are recommended for preteens and teens by doctors as the best way to protect against meningococcal disease.

When should my child get the meningococcal shot?

One dose at each of the following ages:

• 11 - 12 years
• 16 years

Teens may also get a MenB shot, preferably at ages 16-18 years. Multiple doses are needed for best protection. If you are interested, talk to child’s doctor.

Why should my child get meningococcal shots?

• Protects against the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease.
• Protects your child from infections of the lining of the brain and spinal cord, as well as bloodstream infections.
• Protects your child from long-term disabilities that often come with surviving meningococcal disease.

What vaccines protect against meningococcal disease?

• Meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) vaccine protects against four types (serogroups A, C, W, and Y) of Neisseria meningitidis bacteria.
• Serogroup B meningococcal (MenB) vaccine protects against one type (serogroup B) of Neisseria meningitidis bacteria.

Meningococcal shots are safe.

The meningococcal shots are safe and effective at preventing meningococcal disease. Vaccines like any medicine, can have side effects. These are usually mild and go away on their own.

What are the side effects?

About half of people who get a MenACWY vaccine have mild side effects following vaccination:

• Redness or pain where they got the shot
• Fever

These reactions usually get better on their own within 1 to 2 days, but serious reactions are possible.

Following a MenB shot, more than half of people who get the vaccine will have mild problems:

• Soreness, redness, or swelling where you got the shot
• Tiredness (fatigue)
• Headache
• Muscle or joint pain
• Fever or chills
• Nausea or diarrhea

These reactions usually get better on their own within 3 to 5 days, but serious reactions are possible. Note that teens can get both meningococcal vaccines during the same visit, but in different arms.

Some preteens and teens might faint after getting a meningococcal vaccine or any other shot.

To prevent fainting and injuries related to fainting, adolescents should be seated or lying down during vaccination and remain in that position for 15 minutes after the vaccine is given.

Prepare for your child's vaccine visit and learn about how you can:

• Research vaccines and ready your child before the visit
• Comfort your child during the appointment
• Care for your child after the shot

What is meningococcal disease?

Meningococcal disease can refer to any illness caused by a type of bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis, also known as meningococcus [muh-ning-goh-KOK-us]. Meningococcal disease is not very common in the United States, but teens and young adults are at increased risk.

The two most common types of infections are

1. Infections of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis)
2. Infections of the bloodstream

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms are usually sudden onset of fever, headache, and stiff neck. It can start with symptoms similar to flu, and will often also cause nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity to light, rash, and confusion.

Is meningococcal disease serious?

Meningococcal meningitis and bloodstream infections can be very serious, even deadly. The infections progress quickly. Someone can go from being healthy to very ill in 48 hours or less. Even if they get treatment, about 10 to 15 out of 100 people with meningococcal disease will die from it. Long-term disabilities from having meningococcal disease include loss of limbs, deafness, nervous system problems, and brain damage.

How do you get meningococcal disease?

Meningococcal bacteria spread through saliva or spit, usually through:

• Close contact, like when a person who has the bacteria in their nose or throat coughs on or kisses someone
• Ongoing contact, like living with a person who has the bacteria in their nose or throat (for example, same household, college residence halls, military barracks)