Childhood vaccine guides: schedules, catch-up and decision tools
One short guide per vaccine: the schedule, catch-up rules, who should not get it, a decision helper for the common question and a catch-up calculator. Written from CDC and AAP guidance.
DTaP, Tdap & Td
DTaP, Tdap and Td for children and teens: the 5-dose schedule, catch-up rules, who should not get it, and when a wound needs a tetanus shot or TIG.
Decision helper: Does this wound need a tetanus shot?HPV
HPV vaccine from age 9: when 2 doses are enough, when 3 are needed, catch-up to 26 years, pregnancy, and who should not get it.
Decision helper: Does this child need 2 or 3 HPV doses?Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A vaccine for children: the 2-dose schedule, catch-up, travel doses for infants, and when an exposed child needs vaccine, immune globulin or both.
Decision helper: Hepatitis A: does this child need vaccine, immune globulin or both?Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B vaccine for newborns and children: the birth dose, when HBIG is needed, preterm babies under 2,000 g, catch-up rules and testing at 9–12 months.
Decision helper: What does this newborn need for hepatitis B?Hib
Hib vaccine for babies and children: the 3- or 4-dose schedule, catch-up by age at first dose, when no Hib is needed, and extra doses for asplenia or HIV.
Decision helper: How many Hib doses does this child need?Influenza
Flu vaccine for children: who needs 2 doses this season, when the nasal spray (FluMist) is OK, egg allergy, pregnancy and side effects.
Decision helper: How many flu doses does my child need this season?MMR
MMR for children: the 2-dose schedule, the early dose before travel at 6–11 months, measles exposure (MMR or immune globulin) and who must not get it.
Decision helper: Does my child need MMR early, or immune globulin, for travel or measles exposure?Meningococcal / MenACWY
MenACWY for children and teens: the dose at 11–12 and booster at 16, college catch-up, and the early series for asplenia, complement deficiency, HIV or travel.
Decision helper: Does this child or teen need MenACWY now?Meningococcal / MenB
MenB (meningitis B) vaccine: shared decision at 16–23 years, who needs it from age 10, 2-dose vs 3-dose schedules, boosters, and why brands cannot be mixed.
Decision helper: Should this teen get MenB?Pneumococcal (PCV & PPSV)
PCV15, PCV20 and PPSV23 for children: the 4-dose schedule, catch-up by age, which conditions need extra doses, and when PPSV23 is still used.
Decision helper: Does this child need extra pneumococcal doses?Polio (IPV)
Polio vaccine (IPV) for children: the 4-dose schedule, when 3 doses are enough, catch-up rules, and which oral polio (OPV) doses from abroad count.
Decision helper: Is this child's polio series complete?Rabies
Rabies after a dog, cat, bat or wild animal bite: who needs post-exposure prophylaxis, rabies immune globulin, the 4-dose or 2-dose vaccine schedule.
Decision helper: Does my child need rabies shots after an animal bite?Rotavirus
Rotavirus vaccine for babies: RotaTeq and Rotarix schedules, the 15-week and 8-month age limits, catch-up rules, contraindications and side effects.
Decision helper: Can this baby get a rotavirus dose today?Schedule & General Principles
Vaccine rules for children: 4-day grace period, never restarting a series, live vaccine spacing, true contraindications, delays after blood products.
Decision helper: Can these two vaccines be given today?Varicella
Varicella vaccine for children: the 2-dose schedule, catch-up intervals, who should not get it, and what to do after chickenpox exposure, including VariZIG.
Decision helper: Chickenpox exposure: vaccine, VariZIG or aciclovir?