Vaccines · 2026 schedule

Childhood and adolescent immunization schedule

Dare2Care Pediatrics follows the American Academy of Pediatrics schedule: vaccines against 18 diseases given at well visits from birth through age 18, plus a yearly flu vaccine from 6 months. Missed doses are caught up, never skipped.

Dare2Care Pediatrics follows the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended schedule (opens in new tab). The CDC schedule (opens in new tab) is linked for reference.

How the schedule works

Vaccines are given at well visits so protection arrives before exposure. Several are combined into one shot, and most visits mean two or three pokes at most. Below is what to expect at each age; your child’s record in the portal shows exactly what is due.

Why follow the schedule?

The timing is designed around when maternal antibodies fade, when diseases are most dangerous, and how many doses build lasting immunity. Spreading vaccines out leaves children unprotected during the months they are most vulnerable.

Vaccines by age

Recommended vaccines at each well-visit age
Age	Vaccines	Protects against
BirthIn the hospital	Hepatitis B · 1st dose	Hepatitis B liver infection
1–2 months	Hepatitis B · 2nd dose RSV antibody (nirsevimab) · Seasonal, Oct–Mar	Hepatitis B Severe RSV lung infection in infants
2 months	DTaP · 1st dose IPV · 1st dose Hib · 1st dose PCV · 1st dose Rotavirus · 1st dose	Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough Polio Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis Pneumococcal pneumonia and meningitis Rotavirus diarrhea
4 months	DTaP · 2nd dose IPV · 2nd dose Hib · 2nd dose PCV · 2nd dose Rotavirus · 2nd dose	Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough Polio Hib disease Pneumococcal disease Rotavirus
6 months	DTaP · 3rd dose IPV · 3rd dose (6–18 months) Hib · 3rd dose, if needed PCV · 3rd dose Rotavirus · 3rd dose, if needed Hepatitis B · 3rd dose (6–18 months) Influenza · Yearly from 6 months; 2 doses the first year COVID-19 · Per current recommendation	Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough Polio Hib disease Pneumococcal disease Rotavirus Hepatitis B Flu COVID-19
12 months	MMR · 1st dose Varicella · 1st dose Hepatitis A · 1st dose PCV · 4th dose (12–15 months) Hib · Booster (12–15 months)	Measles, mumps, rubella Chickenpox Hepatitis A Pneumococcal disease Hib disease
15 months	DTaP · 4th dose (15–18 months)	Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough
18 months	Hepatitis A · 2nd dose (6 months after the first)	Hepatitis A
4–6 yearsBefore kindergarten	DTaP · 5th dose IPV · 4th dose MMR · 2nd dose Varicella · 2nd dose	Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough Polio Measles, mumps, rubella Chickenpox
9–12 years	HPV · 2 doses, 6–12 months apart	HPV-related cancers
11–12 yearsRequired before 7th grade in Georgia	Tdap · 1 dose MenACWY · 1st dose	Tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough Meningococcal meningitis
16 yearsRequired before 11th grade in Georgia	MenACWY · 2nd dose MenB · Shared decision, 16–18 years	Meningococcal meningitis Meningococcal B
Every year	Influenza · 1 dose each fall, 6 months and older COVID-19 · Per current AAP recommendation	Flu COVID-19

Seasonal vaccines: flu, COVID-19 and RSV

Flu: every child 6 months and older, each fall, ideally by the end of October. Children under 9 need two doses the first year.
COVID-19: offered according to the current AAP recommendation for your child’s age and risk; ask at any visit.
RSV: infants entering their first RSV season (October to March) receive the long-acting antibody nirsevimab, unless the mother was vaccinated during pregnancy.

Missed a vaccine?

Missed doses are never a reason to start over. Every vaccine has a catch-up schedule with minimum intervals; bring any records you have and we will map out the fastest safe path. Children new to the United States or with records from another state are entered into the Georgia registry (GRITS).

Questions parents ask about vaccines

Do vaccines cause autism?

No. This has been studied in millions of children across many countries; the original 1998 claim was retracted as fraudulent. We are always glad to talk through any concern.

Is it safe to get several vaccines at once?

Yes. A child’s immune system handles thousands of antigens every day; the combined vaccines at a visit are a tiny fraction of that, and giving them together means fewer visits and earlier protection.

What side effects should I expect?

A sore leg or arm, mild fever and fussiness for a day or two are common and mean the immune system is responding. Serious reactions are extremely rare; call us if a fever is high or lasts more than two days.

Can my child get vaccines if they have a cold?

A mild illness without fever is not a reason to delay. We may postpone for a high fever or moderate illness so that side effects are not confused with the illness.

Bring your records

Vaccines given elsewhere count. Bring or upload your child’s immunization record so we can keep one complete history in the portal.