Vaccination Schedule: Keeping Your Baby Protected

At Birth (Hospital):

• •Hepatitis B (HepB) - 1st dose

2 Months:

• •DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) - 1st dose
• •Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) - 1st dose
• •IPV (Polio) - 1st dose
• •PCV13 (Pneumococcal) - 1st dose
• •Rotavirus (RV) - 1st dose
• •Total: 5-6 shots/1 oral (busiest vaccine day!)

4 Months:

• •DTaP - 2nd dose
• •Hib - 2nd dose
• •IPV - 2nd dose
• •PCV13 - 2nd dose
• •Rotavirus - 2nd dose
• •Total: 5-6 shots/1 oral

6 Months:

• •DTaP - 3rd dose
• •Hib - 3rd dose (depending on brand)
• •IPV - 3rd dose
• •PCV13 - 3rd dose
• •Rotavirus - 3rd dose (depending on brand)
• •Hepatitis B - 3rd dose (if not given earlier)
• •Flu vaccine - 1st time (2 doses 4 weeks apart)
• •Total: 5-7 shots

12 Months (1 Year):

• •MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) - 1st dose
• •Varicella (Chickenpox) - 1st dose
• •Hepatitis A - 1st dose
• •PCV13 - 4th dose
• •Hib - Final dose (if needed)
• •Total: 4-5 shots (big visit!)

15 Months:

• •DTaP - 4th dose
• •Total: 1 shot

18 Months:

• •Hepatitis A - 2nd dose
• •Total: 1 shot

19-23 Months:

• •Catch-up for any missed vaccines
• •Flu vaccine annually

DTaP:

• •Diphtheria - throat infection that blocks breathing
• •Tetanus - "lockjaw," muscle spasms
• •Pertussis - "whooping cough," severe coughing fits

Hib:

• •Haemophilus influenzae type b
• •Meningitis, pneumonia, epiglottitis
• •Before vaccine: leading cause of bacterial meningitis

IPV (Polio):

• •Polio virus
• •Can cause paralysis
• •Eliminated in U.S. thanks to vaccines

PCV13:

• •13 types of pneumococcal bacteria
• •Pneumonia, meningitis, blood infections
• •Ear infections

Rotavirus (Oral):

• •Severe diarrhea and vomiting
• •Leading cause of hospitalization for diarrhea
• •Protects 85-98% of severe cases

Hepatitis B:

• •Liver infection
• •Can become chronic
• •Spread through blood/body fluids

MMR:

• •Measles - highly contagious, can be severe
• •Mumps - swollen glands, can cause meningitis
• •Rubella - German measles, dangerous in pregnancy

Varicella:

• •Chickenpox
• •Itchy rash, fever
• •Can be severe (pneumonia, brain inflammation)

Hepatitis A:

• •Liver infection
• •Spread through contaminated food/water
• •Can cause prolonged illness

Flu (Annual):

• •Influenza virus
• •Changes yearly (new vaccine each year)
• •Prevents serious complications

Normal Side Effects (Common):

At Injection Site:

• •Redness
• •Swelling
• •Tenderness
• •Warm to touch
• •Small lump
• •Lasts 1-3 days

General:

• •Low-grade fever (under 102°F)
• •Fussiness or irritability
• •Sleepiness or poor sleep
• •Decreased appetite
• •Mild rash (especially MMR at 7-10 days)

Managing Side Effects:

For Pain/Fever:

• •Acetaminophen (Tylenol) - ask dose
• •Ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil) after 6 months
• •Don't give aspirin
• •Cool compress on injection site
• •Move arm/leg gently

For Fussiness:

• •Extra cuddles
• •Nursing or bottle
• •Distraction
• •Normal activities
• •Usually improves in 24-48 hours

When to call your healthcare provider:

• •Fever over 104°F
• •Fever lasting more than 2-3 days
• •Severe swelling
• •Excessive crying (3+ hours)
• •Seizure (very rare)
• •Severe allergic reaction (very rare)
• •Baby seems very ill

Call 911 If:

• •Difficulty breathing
• •Swelling of face/throat
• •Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
• •Unresponsive

Before the Appointment:

• •Make sure baby is feeling well
• •Feed baby before (not hungry)
• •Bring favorite toy or comfort item
• •Dress in easy-access clothing
• •Have pain reliever at home

During the Shots:

• •Hold baby firmly
• •Stay calm (baby senses your stress)
• •Distract with toy or song
• •Nurse or bottle immediately after if possible
• •Cuddle and comfort
• •Don't apologize (you're protecting them!)

After the Appointment:

• •Monitor for side effects
• •Give pain reliever if needed (ask healthcare provider first)
• •Keep injection sites clean
• •Normal activities OK
• •Watch for serious reactions (rare)

First 24-48 Hours:

• •Expect fussiness
• •Low fever is normal
• •Extra sleep is common
• •Decreased appetite OK
• •Lots of cuddles
• •Usually back to normal by day 2-3

Is It Safe?

• •YES - extensively studied
• •Immune system can handle many antigens at once
• •Actually encounters more germs daily than in all vaccines combined
• •Combination is as safe as separate

Benefits of Giving Together:

• •Fewer office visits
• •Protected sooner
• •Less time with needles overall
• •Lower cost (fewer visits)
• •On schedule timing

Research Shows:

• •No increased side effects
• •Same effectiveness
• •Immune system not "overloaded"
• •Babies handle it well

Spacing Out:

• •Some parents prefer this
• •More visits required
• •Delays protection
• •More needle pokes overall
• •Discuss with healthcare provider if considering

Why Records Matter:

• •Daycare/school requirements
• •Travel requirements
• •Knowing what's been given
• •Tracking due dates
• •Medical records

Where to Keep Records:

• •Paper card from healthcare provider • Photo of card on phone
• •Patient portal online
• •Baby book
• •State immunization registry (automatic usually)

What to Record:

• •Vaccine name
• •Date given
• •Lot number
• •Clinic/healthcare provider • Next due date

Lost Records:

• •Ask healthcare provider for copy
• •Check state registry
• •Blood tests can check immunity
• •May need to restart series