Here's the vaccine schedule to follow for your baby or older child

Vaccines are designed to guard babies, toddlers, and older children against a whole range of serious and potentially deadly illnesses. That's why there's a specific immunization schedule laid out by the experts for little ones (and their parents) to follow.

Even if you're worried about things you may have heard or read about getting your little one vaccinated, try not to delay any of your child's shots unless your pediatrician recommends it for medical reasons.

"Crucial to survival and good health, vaccines are the single greatest preventative health measure in modern medicine," says Chandani DeZure, M.D., a pediatrician and neonatal and pediatric hospitalist in Palo Alto, California, and a member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board. "Pediatricians, via vaccinations, have probably saved more lives than all other medical specialties combined."

Vaccines work by helping the body produce antibodies against the illness they're designed to prevent. If your child is immunized, they're much less likely to get the illness, and if they do, it will likely be a much milder case.

Read on to learn more about the latest vaccine schedule for your little one and the various immunizations themselves.

2025 CDC childhood immunization schedule

Every year, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes a new vaccine schedule showing which vaccines are recommended and when to get them. The schedule is endorsed by reputable medical organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Family Physicians, among others.

If your child is immunocompromised, has missed vaccines, or has other special health considerations, talk with their doctor about a catch-up immunization schedule or a personalized plan based on your little one's health needs.

Also talk with the pediatrician if you plan to travel internationally with your child to make sure they're protected from illnesses in the area you'll be visiting.

Here are the latest recommended vaccines and schedules:

COVID-19, to protect against the COVID-19 virus and its variants:

• Children 6 months to 4 years who are unvaccinated can get the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine in a 2- or 3-dose series. The Moderna shot (marketed as Spikevax) is given in 2 doses, and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (known as Comirnaty) is given in 3 doses.
• Children 6 months to 4 years who have had 1 or more doses of the Moderna vaccine should get the 2024-2025 Moderna vaccine, and those who had the Pfizer shot in the past should get 2 doses of the 2024-2025 Pfizer vaccine. If they've gotten 2 or more doses of the Pfizer vaccine, they only need 1 dose of the 2024-2025 version.
• Children 5 to 11 years who are unvaccinated should get 1 dose of either COVID vaccine. Those who were previously vaccinated just need to be sure to wait at least eight weeks between doses.
• Children 12 to 18 years who are unvaccinated should receive 1 dose of the latest Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or 2 doses of the Novavax vaccine. Those who were previously vaccinated should receive 1 or more doses, depending on the brand and when the last vaccine was given.

Because COVID vaccine protection decreases over time, it's a good idea to stay on top of your family's annual shots.

The CDC provides a good rundown of how to stay up-to-date to reduce the risk of getting seriously ill with COVID. Your child's healthcare provider can also help if you have questions or concerns.

DTaP, to protect against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whopping cough), is given in 5 doses:

• At 2 months
• At 4 months
• At 6 months
• Between 15 and 18 months
• Between 4 and 6 years

Hepatitis A, to protect against hepatitis A, which can cause the liver disease hepatitis:

• First dose at 12 months to 23 months
• Second dose at least six months after the first dose

Hepatitis B, to protect against hepatitis B, which can cause the liver disease hepatitis:

If you test negative for hepatitis B during pregnancy, your baby should receive the vaccine:

• At birth
• Between 1 and 2 months
• Between 6 and 18 months

If you test positive for hepatitis B during pregnancy, your baby should receive both the hepatitis B vaccine and an injection of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) within 12 hours of birth.

Hib, to protect against Haemophilus influenza type B, which can lead to meningitis, pneumonia, and epiglottitis:

• At 2 months
• At 4 months
• At 6 months (if needed, depending on brand of vaccine given at 2 and 4 months)
• Between 12 and 15 months

HPV, to protect against human papillomavirus, the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States and a cause of genital warts plus cervical, anal, and throat cancers.

"This is the only vaccine that's proven to prevent cancer," says Dr. DeZure. "It's given to both girls and boys before they become sexually active."

• Between 9 and 14 years (preferably between 11 and 12 years): 2 doses, six to 12 months apart
• If your child does not start the first dose by age 15, the recommendation is 3 doses. Dose 2 is given 1 to 2 months after dose 1, and dose 3 is given 6 months after dose 2.

Influenza (the flu shot), to protect against the seasonal flu, to be given each fall or early winter:

• 1 dose annually for most children aged 6 months to 8 years who have received at least two influenza vaccine doses in the past
• 2 doses (taken at least 28 days apart) for children 6 months to 8 years old who are getting the flu vaccine for the first time, or who have previously received only 1 dose of the vaccine
• 1 dose annually for all children 9 years or older

Meningococcal vaccine, to protect against four types of meningococcal bacteria, which can cause meningitis and bloodstream infections:

• Between 11 and 12 years
• A booster shot at 16 years

Meningococcal B vaccine, to protect against a fifth strain of meningococcal bacteria. Most adolescents receive this vaccine, though it's not yet required:

• Between 16 years and 23 years (preferably ages 16 to 18 years)
• 2-dose series at least six months apart

MMR, to protect against measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles):

• Between 12 and 15 months
• Between 4 and 6 years
• You can choose to get the MMRV vaccine instead, which also protects against varicella, or chickenpox.
• At least four weeks before traveling outside the U.S., infants 6 to 11 months should receive 1 dose, and children 12 months and older should receive 2 doses at least four weeks apart before departure.
• If you're traveling to an area with a measles outbreak and your baby is under a year old, ask your baby's healthcare provider about getting the first dose early.

Pneumococcal (PCV) vaccine, to protect against pneumococcal disease, which can lead to meningitis, pneumonia, and ear infections:

• At 2 months
• At 4 months
• At 6 months
• Between 12 and 15 months

Polio (IPV), to protect against polio:

• At 2 months
• At 4 months
• Between 6 and 18 months
• Between 4 and 6 years

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), an antibody that can protect against RSV, which can lead to bronchiolitis and pneumonia. The shot is only given once, in a baby's first RSV season (typically October through March). When and if they receive the shot depends on mom's RSV immunization status.

• If you received the RSV vaccine (Abrysvo) more than two weeks before delivery, then your baby will be protected for six months and will not receive the RSV antibody (nirsevimab, brand name Beyfortus).
• If you received the vaccine less than two weeks before delivery or didn't receive one at all, then your baby doesn't have protection from RSV and should receive 1 dose of nirsevimab – ideally in the first week of life/birth hospitalization if born during RSV season. If your baby is not born during RSV season, they won't be eligible for nirsevimab in the hospital, but they would be eligible before entering their first RSV season in the fall.
• A baby is eligible for the vaccine in their second RSV season only if they're considered at high risk.

Rotavirus, (oral, not injection) to protect against rotavirus, which can cause severe diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and dehydration:

• At 2 months
• At 4 months
• At 6 months (not needed if the Rotarix brand was given at 2 and 4 months)

Tdap, a booster to protect against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis

• Between 11 and 12 years

Varicella, to protect against chickenpox:

• Between 12 and 15 months

By following the recommended vaccine schedule with your pediatrician's guidance, you're setting your baby up for a healthy life and helping protect them from getting very sick with an array of preventable illnesses.