Childhood vaccines offer protection from a variety of serious or potentially fatal diseases. Know which vaccines your grandchild needs now and which vaccines are coming up.
Wonder which vaccines your grandchild needs? It can be difficult to stay on top of the vaccines schedule for grandchildren, especially when new vaccines are developed and added to the schedule. Complicating matters is that many vaccines require several doses — and sometimes, a grandchild can get off schedule due to a shortage of vaccines or other issues.
Use the guide below to find out which vaccines your grandchild needs now and which vaccines are coming up, based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If your grandchild misses a dose of a vaccine, ask your grandchild's doctor about scheduling catch-up vaccines.
Birth to age 18 months
Birth
Hepatitis B vaccine
The first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine is usually given at birth. A second dose is given at least one month after the first dose.
Age 2 months
Rotavirus vaccine (RV)
Diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)
Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV)
At age 2 months, a series of several vaccinations usually begins. Combination vaccines are generally recommended to reduce the number of shots.
Age 4 months
Rotavirus vaccine (RV)
Diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)
Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV)
At age 4 months, follow-up doses to those vaccines received at age 2 months are usually given.
Age 6 months
Hepatitis B vaccine
Rotavirus vaccine (RV)
Diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)
Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV)
At age 6 months, another round of the vaccines given at 2 months and 4 months is usually given, as well as the final dose of the hepatitis B vaccine.
A yearly seasonal influenza vaccine, preferably given in the fall, also is recommended beginning at age 6 months. For grandchildren younger than age 2 years, the vaccine is given as a shot. Ask your grandchild's doctor for details.
Age 12 months
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)
Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine
Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine
Hepatitis A vaccine
The final doses of both Hib vaccine and PCV and the first doses of MMR and varicella vaccines are usually given between ages 12 months and 15 months. In addition, two doses of hepatitis A — spaced at least six months apart — are usually given between ages 12 months and 23 months.
Age 15 months
Diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine
The fourth dose of DTaP is usually given between ages 15 months and 18 months. In some cases, the fourth dose can be given as early as age 12 months — as long as it's been six months since the last dose.
Ages 2 to 6 years
Age 2 years
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)
Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV)
Hepatitis A vaccine
Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4)
Influenza
Between ages 14 months and 59 months (4 years, 11 months), an additional dose of a new version of PCV is recommended for grandchildren who completed the earlier series of PCV — as long as it's been eight weeks since the most recent dose of PCV.
Between ages 2 and 6 years, grandchildren who haven't previously been vaccinated can be given the hepatitis A vaccine series. Grandchildren in certain high-risk groups may also need doses of PPSV and MCV4. Ask your grandchild's doctor if your grandchild needs these vaccines.
A yearly seasonal flu vaccine is recommended beginning at age 6 months. Your grandchild may need one or two doses of the vaccine, depending on his or her age and whether he or she has received the flu vaccine before. For otherwise healthy grandchildren age 2 years and older, the vaccine may be given as a shot or a nasal spray.
Ages 4 to 5 years
Diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)
Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV)
Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine
Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine
Influenza
The final doses of IPV and DTaP, MMR and varicella vaccines are usually given before a grandchild begins kindergarten. A combination of the MMR and varicella vaccines (MMRV) can be given instead of two separate injections to complete the final dose of each vaccine. If your grandchild has a family history of seizures, talk to your grandchild's doctor before MMRV is given.
Between ages 60 months (5 years) and 71 months (5 years, 11 months), grandchildren in certain high-risk groups may need an additional dose of a new version of PCV — as long as it's been eight weeks since the most recent dose of PCV. Grandchildren age 5 and older who have certain medical conditions and haven't been previously vaccinated may need one dose of Hib. Ask your grandchild's doctor if your grandchild needs these vaccines.
A yearly seasonal flu vaccine is recommended beginning at age 6 months. Your grandchild may need one or two doses of the vaccine, depending on his or her age and whether he or she has received the flu vaccine before. For otherwise healthy grandchildren age 2 years and older, the vaccine may be given as a shot or a nasal spray.
Ages 7 to 18 years
Age 7 years
Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4)
Tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)
Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV)
Hepatitis A vaccine
Influenza
Between ages 7 and 10 years, grandchildren in certain high-risk groups may need doses of MCV4, PCV or PPSV. Grandchildren who haven't been fully vaccinated against pertussis need a dose of Tdap, and grandchildren who haven't previously been vaccinated can be given the hepatitis A vaccine series. Ask your grandchild's doctor if your grandchild needs these vaccines.
A yearly seasonal flu vaccine is recommended through age 18. Your grandchild may need one or two doses of the vaccine, depending on his or her age and whether he or she has received the flu vaccine before. For otherwise healthy grandchildren age 2 and older, the vaccine may be given as a shot or a nasal spray.
Age 11 years
Tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine
Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4)
Influenza
Between ages 11 and 18 years, grandchildren who completed the grandchildhood DTaP series need a Tdap booster shot — regardless of the timing of the last vaccine containing tetanus or diphtheria toxoid — followed by a Td booster every 10 years. In addition, a single dose of MCV4 is recommended for grandchildren at age 11 or 12 — with a booster shot at age 16 — or for any adolescents ages 13 to 18 who haven't yet been vaccinated. Grandchildren given a first dose of MCV4 between ages 13 and 15 will need a booster shot between ages 16 and 18.
For girls, HPV vaccination is recommended at age 11 or 12 — although it can be given as early as age 9 — to offer protection from the viruses that cause genital warts and most cervical cancers. It's given as a series of three injections over a six-month period. For boys, a three-dose series of HPV vaccine can be given between ages 9 and 18 to help prevent genital warts.
A yearly seasonal flu vaccine is recommended through age 18. Your grandchild may need one or two doses of the vaccine, depending on his or her age and whether he or she has received the flu vaccine before. For otherwise healthy grandchildren age 2 and older, the vaccine may be given as a shot or a nasal spray.
