Guidelines have been set for many health issues. Experts are able to devote a considerable amount of time to a particular question (far more than an individual physician could ever hope to achieve), thus the benefit of many experts' in-depth knowledge on many different questions is now available to individual families and physicians. A subcommittee of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians, called the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), has established a Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule:

• Hepatitis B #1 -- Birth (may be delayed for up to 2 months if mother is HBsAg(-))
• Hepatitis B #2 -- 1 to 2 months
• Hepatitis B #3 -- 6 to 18 months

• Rotavirus #1 – 2 months
• Rotavirus #2 -- 4 months
• Rotavirus #3 -- 6 months

• Diphtheria, Tetanus, acellular Pertussis (DTaP) #1 -- 2 months
• DTaP #2 -- 4 months
• DTaP #3 -- 6 months
• DTaP #4 -- 15 to 18 months
• DTaP #5 -- 4 to 6 years

• Tetanus, Diphtheria, and acellular Pertussis (TdaP) – 11-12 years

• H. influenzae type b (Hib) #1 -- 2 months
• Hib #2 -- 4 months
• Hib #3 -- 6 months
• Hib #4 -- 12 to 15 months

• Inactivated Polio #1 -- 2 months
• Inactivated Polio #2 -- 4 months
• Inactivated Polio #3 -- 6 to 18 months
• Inactivated Polio #4 -- 4 to 6 years

• Measles , mumps, and rubella (MMR) #1 -- 12 to 15 months
• MMR #2 -- 4 to 6 years

• Varicella Zoster Virus Vaccine (chickenpox) #1 -- 12 to 15 months
• Varicella Zoster Virus Vaccine (chickenpox) #2 – 4 to 6 years

• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine #1 -- 2 months
• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine #2 -- 4 months
• Pneumoccocal conjugate vaccine #3 -- 6 months
• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine #4 -- 12-15 months

• Hepatitis A #1 – 12-23 months
• Hepatitis A #2 -- 6 months after Hepatitis A #1
• Influenza -- Annually for children ages 6 months to 18 years. Children under 9 receiving influenza immunization for the first time require 2 doses, 4 weeks apart.

• Meningococcal vaccine—2-10 years or older in high risk groups complement deficiency or functional asplenia. 11-12 years (or 13-18 years) if not previously vaccinated.

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) #1 – females age 11-12 years (minimum age: 9 years. Prevents cervical cancer & genital warts.
• HPV #2 – 2 months after 1st dose.
• HPV #3 – 6 months after 1st dose.

These are general guidelines and the range of acceptable times for giving these vaccines may vary. Details can be found at the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/child-schedule.htm.

Other vaccines may be prescribed by your pediatrician based on risk factors.

If you will be traveling outside the country, contact your physician regarding special vaccines that are recommended for the area in which you will be traveling.

Any dose not given at the recommended age should be given as a "catch-up" immunization at any subsequent visit when indicated and feasible.