US childhood vaccination schedule
The vaccines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for babies, children and teenagers, by age. Based on the AAP Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule 2026.
Vaccines by age
Ages are the recommended windows. Your pediatrician often combines doses in one visit. See AAP and CDC schedules for why the US has two.
| Age | Vaccine | Protects against |
|---|---|---|
| Birth | Hepatitis B (within 24 hours) RSV antibody (nirsevimab or clesrovimab), in the first RSV season | Hepatitis B RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) |
| 1 to 2 months | Hepatitis B, 2nd dose | Hepatitis B |
| 2 months | DTaP Hib Polio (IPV) Pneumococcal (PCV) Rotavirus (drops by mouth) | Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough Hib Polio Pneumococcal infections Rotavirus |
| 4 months | DTaP, Hib, IPV, PCV and rotavirus, 2nd doses | As at 2 months |
| 6 months | DTaP, 3rd dose PCV, 3rd dose Hib and rotavirus, 3rd dose (depending on brand) Flu vaccine, every year from now on COVID-19, 2 doses (6 to 23 months) | As at 2 months Influenza COVID-19 |
| 6 to 18 months | Hepatitis B, 3rd dose IPV, 3rd dose | Hepatitis B Polio |
| 12 to 15 months | Hib booster PCV booster MMR Chickenpox (varicella) | Hib Pneumococcal infections Measles, mumps, rubella Chickenpox |
| 12 to 23 months | Hepatitis A, 2 doses 6 months apart | Hepatitis A |
| 15 to 18 months | DTaP, 4th dose | Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough |
| 4 to 6 years | DTaP, 5th dose IPV, 4th dose MMR, 2nd dose Chickenpox, 2nd dose | Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio Measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox |
| 9 to 12 years | HPV, 2 doses 6 to 12 months apart | Cancers and genital warts caused by HPV |
| 11 to 12 years | Tdap MenACWY | Tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough Meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y |
| 16 years | MenACWY booster | Meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y |
RSV: babies under 8 months get the antibody in their first RSV season, unless the mother had the RSV vaccine during pregnancy. Flu: children under 9 who get the flu vaccine for the first time need 2 doses, 4 weeks apart. MenB is offered from 16 years after a discussion with your pediatrician (shared clinical decision-making). Children with certain health conditions may need extra vaccines.
AAP and CDC schedules
Since 2025 the US has two childhood schedules that differ in some areas: the AAP schedule and the federal CDC schedule.
Where they differ
For example, the AAP recommends COVID-19 vaccination for all children aged 6 to 23 months and 2 HPV doses from 9 to 12 years. The CDC schedule leaves COVID-19 to a shared decision with your doctor and recommends 1 HPV dose at 11 to 12 years.
Which one this page uses
This page and VaxFile follow the AAP schedule. Ask your pediatrician which schedule their practice follows.
School and childcare
Each state decides which vaccines are required for childcare and school, and which exemptions are allowed. Check your state's health department website.
Not sure what your child has had? Ask your pediatrician. Many states also keep an immunization registry your pediatrician can check.
Moving to the US with children
- Find a pediatrician early, ideally one in your health insurance network, and book a first visit.
- Bring your child's vaccination records from abroad, with an English translation if needed.
- Childcare and schools ask for an immunization record, often on a state form your pediatrician fills in. Start this before enrolment.
- Your pediatrician compares your records with the US schedule and gives catch-up doses.
- Common differences: the US gives hepatitis B at birth, hepatitis A, chickenpox, and a yearly flu vaccine from 6 months, but no MenB for babies.
Moving away from the US
- Moving to the UK? See moving from the US to the UK.
- Moving to Germany? See moving from the US to Germany.
- Ask your pediatrician, or your state's immunization registry, for a printed immunization record before you leave.
- Keep any school or childcare immunization forms. They list every vaccine with dates.
- Your new country may schedule vaccines differently. For example, the UK, Germany and Spain vaccinate babies against MenB, and many European countries don't routinely give hepatitis A or a yearly flu vaccine.
Questions
Are vaccines required in the US?
There is no national vaccine requirement. Each state requires certain vaccines for childcare and school, and allows exemptions that differ by state.
Are childhood vaccines free in the US?
Most health insurance plans cover routine childhood vaccines. Children who are uninsured or on Medicaid may get free vaccines through the federal Vaccines for Children (VFC) program.
What if my child had vaccines in another country?
Take the records to your pediatrician. They check them against the US schedule, enter them in your child's record and give any missing doses.
Why are there two US schedules?
After changes to federal vaccine recommendations in 2025, the American Academy of Pediatrics published its own schedule. The AAP and CDC schedules now differ for some vaccines, such as COVID-19 and the number of HPV doses.
Keep track with VaxFile
VaxFile shows your child's US schedule, reminds you of upcoming doses, and keeps records from every country you've lived in. Free on iOS and Android.
Sources: AAP, immunization schedule 2026 (policy statement) · AAP, immunization schedule · Primary Care Alliance, AAP vs CDC 2026
This page summarises the AAP schedule for information only. It isn't medical advice. Your pediatrician decides which vaccines your child needs.
Last checked against the official sources: 6 October 2026.