Health Topics for Child Health and Development

UI Children's Hospital

UI Family Care Centers

Divisions Within the Department of Pediatrics

Iowa Registry for Congenital and Inherited Disorders

Immunizations

Immunizations protect children from many childhood diseases. To assure your children's health and well-being, make sure their immunizations are up to date. Any delay in receiving vaccinations puts them at risk of exposure to disease. Infant immunizations are given at birth, and at 2, 4, 6, 12, and 18 months of age. Children should receive follow-up vaccinations at 4 to 6 years and 10 to 12 years of age.

The following immunization schedule is based on recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices:

• Hepatitis B is a series of 3 shots with one given at birth, at 2 months, and at 6 months. A fourth dose may be needed between 11 and 12 years.

• DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) or DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis) is a series of 5 shots given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 18 months; and again between ages 4 and 6 years. A Td (tetanus and diphtheria) shot should be given between ages 10 and 12 and every 10 years thereafter.

• HiB (haemophilus influenza type B) is a series of 4 shots given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and between 12 and 15 months.

• Polio is a series of 4 doses given at 2 months, 4 months, between 6 and 18 months, as well as between the ages of 4 and 6 years.

• MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) is a series of 2 shots with 1 given between 12 and 15 months, and 1 between the ages of 4 and 6 years. A third dose may be needed between 11 and 12 years.

• Varicella (chickenpox) is a single dose shot given between 12 and 18 months of age. A second dose may be needed between 11 and 12 years.

• The tuberculin skin test may be given at age 1 year, between 4 and 6 years, and/or between 14 and 16 years, and will be repeated at some interval set by your healthcare provider.

Hepatitis A vaccine is now being required by many daycare centers.

Some risks are associated with vaccinations. These are outweighed by the benefits of preventing disease. It is important to discuss your children's risks and immunization schedule with your healthcare provider. Be sure to keep informed of any new vaccine recommendations.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have set up several hotlines that provide immunization information by phone, fax, or mail. Call 1-800-CDC-SHOT. Their National Immunization Information Hotline number is 1-800-232-2522 for English, or 1-800-232-0233 for Spanish.

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