Childhood Vaccine Schedule by Age: Birth to 18 Years, Explained

Last updated: October 2026

The childhood vaccine schedule is a timeline of recommended immunizations from birth through age 18. Most doses are given in the first two years, with boosters at 4 to 6 years and again at 11 to 12 and 16 years. The schedule below follows the 2026 recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which the American Academy of Family Physicians has also adopted. Your pediatrician will adjust timing for your child’s health history, so use this guide to prepare questions, not to replace the visit.

What is the childhood vaccine schedule by age?

The childhood vaccine schedule starts with a hepatitis B dose at birth and ends with a meningococcal booster at 16. In between, children receive protection against 18 diseases, usually spread across well visits so no single appointment carries too many shots.

The AAP released its 2026 schedule on January 26, 2026. Twelve medical and health organizations representing more than one million clinicians formally endorsed it. [Source: HealthyChildren.org (AAP), AAP’s Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule for 2026]

Here is the routine schedule for healthy children. Age ranges show the window in which a dose is normally given. [Source: AAFP, Birth Through Age 18 Immunization Schedule]

One note on 2026. The CDC and the AAP published different versions of the schedule this year. This article follows the AAP 2026 schedule, which is the one most pediatric practices use. Ask your pediatrician if you have questions about any difference.

You can also see the practice’s own vaccination schedule page for a printable version.

What does each childhood vaccine protect against?

Each vaccine on the childhood vaccine schedule targets one or more serious infections. Many of these diseases are rare in Georgia today precisely because vaccination rates have stayed high.

The payoff is large. CDC researchers estimate that routine childhood vaccination of children born between 1994 and 2023 prevented about 508 million illnesses, 32 million hospitalizations, and 1,129,000 deaths. [Source: CDC, Health and Economic Benefits of Routine Childhood Immunizations in the Era of the Vaccines for Children Program, United States, 1994 to 2023]

• Hepatitis B: a liver infection that can become lifelong when caught in infancy.
• RSV antibody: protects young infants from severe RSV lung infections. Read more in our guide to RSV in babies.
• Rotavirus: a stomach virus that causes severe vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration in babies.
• DTaP and Tdap: diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough).
• Hib: Haemophilus influenzae type b, a cause of meningitis and bloodstream infections.
• PCV: pneumococcal disease, including pneumonia, ear infections and meningitis.
• IPV: polio, which can cause permanent paralysis.
• Influenza: seasonal flu. See when to get it in our Georgia flu shot guide.
• COVID-19: severe illness from the coronavirus, with the highest risk in the first two years.
• MMR: measles, mumps and rubella.
• Varicella: chickenpox and its complications.
• Hepatitis A: a liver infection spread through contaminated food and water.
• HPV: human papillomavirus, which causes several cancers later in life.
• MenACWY and MenB: meningococcal disease, a fast-moving infection of the blood and brain lining.

What are combination vaccines and why do pediatricians use them?

Combination vaccines bundle two or more vaccines into a single shot. They give the same protection with fewer needles, so a 2-month visit might involve two or three injections instead of five.

The CDC lists five common pediatric combinations: Pediarix (DTaP, hepatitis B, polio), Pentacel (DTaP, polio, Hib), Vaxelis (DTaP, polio, Hib, hepatitis B), Kinrix or Quadracel (DTaP, polio), and ProQuad (MMR plus varicella). The CDC notes that fewer shots may mean more children stay on time, with fewer visits and less time away from work. [Source: CDC, Combination Vaccines]

Which combination your child gets depends on what the office stocks and what doses are already complete. Every physician in the practice is board certified and can explain which product was used and why. Ask for the brand names at the visit if you like to track them at home.

What happens if my child misses a vaccine?

A missed dose does not mean starting over. The CDC catch-up schedule states that a vaccine series never needs to be restarted, no matter how much time has passed between doses. [Source: CDC, Catch-up Immunization Schedule for Children and Adolescents]

The AAP gives parents the same advice: previous doses still count, and the child simply picks up where the series left off at the next visit. [Source: HealthyChildren.org (AAP), Missed Vaccinations]

Catch-up does follow minimum spacing rules. For example, DTaP doses 1 and 2 need at least four weeks apart, and the two varicella doses need at least three months apart in young children. Your pediatrician uses these intervals to build a plan that gets your child current as quickly as is safe. Families who moved to Alpharetta or Cumming from another state or country can bring any records they have, even partial ones, and the office will fill in the gaps.

What vaccines does Georgia require for school and daycare?

Georgia requires a Certificate of Immunization, Form 3231, for every child in childcare, Pre-K, Head Start and school through 12th grade, public or private. Only a licensed Georgia physician, APRN, PA or public health official can complete the form. [Source: Georgia Department of Public Health, Immunization Requirements for School and Childcare]

The main checkpoints are kindergarten entry, 7th grade and 11th grade. Georgia DPH lists one dose of Tdap and one dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine for 7th grade and for new entrants in grades 8 through 12. Students entering 11th grade need a meningococcal booster unless their first dose was given on or after their 16th birthday.

Families who object on religious grounds file Form 2208 instead. A medical exemption is marked on Form 3231 and must be reviewed every 12 months. For dose-by-dose detail, read our Georgia school vaccination requirements guide and the back-to-school physicals checklist.

What should I expect at a vaccine visit?

Most vaccines are given during a routine well visit, so expect a growth check, a physical exam and a conversation before any shots. The nurse will confirm which doses are due, review allergies and recent illness, and go over the vaccine information sheets.

The AAP notes that the hepatitis B vaccine works best when given within 24 hours of birth, which is why the first dose usually happens in the hospital. [Source: HealthyChildren.org (AAP), AAP’s Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule for 2026] After that, doses line up with the well-visit calendar in our well-visit guide by age.

A few things make the visit easier. Bring your child’s immunization record and insurance card. Dress babies in clothing that opens easily at the legs, and dress older kids in short sleeves. Breastfeeding, a pacifier, or a favorite toy during the shot can calm an infant, and a calm parent usually means a calmer child. If your child is sick with a fever that day, call ahead. Mild colds are usually fine, but your pediatrician decides case by case.

What are common vaccine side effects and when should I call?

Most children have no reaction or only mild ones. The CDC lists soreness, redness or swelling at the injection site, low fever, fussiness, tiredness and loss of appetite as the most common effects, and says most go away within a few days. [Source: CDC, Possible Side Effects from Vaccines]

A few vaccines have their own patterns. MMR and varicella can cause a mild rash a week or two later. Rotavirus carries a small risk of intussusception, a bowel blockage, at roughly 1 in 20,000 to 1 in 100,000 infants, so watch for severe crying with vomiting in the week after that dose. The CDC describes the chance of a severe allergic reaction as very remote.

Call your pediatrician if a fever climbs higher than you expected, lasts beyond a couple of days, or comes with unusual drowsiness or inconsolable crying. Our child fever guide explains what to watch for by age. Hives, swelling of the face, or trouble breathing in the minutes after a shot is an emergency. Call 911. For anything in between, same-day sick visits are available every day at all four offices, and secure video visits work well when you want a quick look at a rash.

How Sun Pediatrics can help

Sun Pediatrics cares for children from birth through 18 at four North Atlanta offices: Marietta, East Cobb, Alpharetta and Cumming. Every physician is board certified, and the practice follows the AAP schedule for every age.

Vaccines are part of wellness and preventive care visits, starting with newborn services in the first week of life. The office completes Form 3231 for school and daycare, prints GRITS records, and builds catch-up plans for new patients. The practice accepts Medicaid and most insurance plans, and a Saturday clinic runs 9:00 to 12:00 on the first and third Saturday for families who cannot come during the week.

To schedule a well visit or vaccine appointment, request an appointment online or call 678-501-5601.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to give several vaccines at one visit?

Yes. The childhood vaccine schedule is built around giving multiple vaccines together, and combination products like Pentacel and Vaxelis exist for exactly that reason. The CDC notes that fewer shots at each visit helps more children finish their series on time. Spacing shots out leaves a child unprotected longer and adds visits. If you are anxious about a particular visit, say so. Your pediatrician can explain what each dose does and how your child’s immune system handles them together. Our post on choosing a vaccine-friendly pediatrician covers what to ask.

Does my baby need the RSV shot if I got the RSV vaccine during pregnancy?

Usually not. The AAFP schedule recommends the infant RSV antibody for babies under 8 months in their first RSV season when the mother did not receive the RSV vaccine, when her status is unknown, or when she got it less than 14 days before delivery. Babies whose mothers were vaccinated between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy typically have enough antibody for the season. Some high-risk children aged 8 to 19 months get a dose going into their second season. Your pediatrician will review your prenatal records at the newborn visit and tell you which path applies.

Can my child get the HPV vaccine before age 11?

Yes. The schedule allows HPV vaccination to start at age 9, with routine dosing at 11 to 12. Children who start before their 15th birthday need only two doses, given 6 to 12 months apart. Those who start at 15 or older need three doses. Starting earlier often means fewer shots and less stress, because 9 and 10 year olds tend to tolerate vaccines well. Many families pair the first dose with the 4th or 5th grade well visit. Teens entering 7th grade in Georgia also need Tdap and MenACWY, so ask about combining visits. Our guide to teen and adolescent care walks through what changes after age 11.

What if my child’s records are from another country?

Bring everything you have, in any language. Doses with a documented date generally count, and the office matches them to the U.S. schedule using the CDC catch-up tables. If a record is missing or unreadable, your pediatrician may repeat a dose or order a blood test to check immunity. Your pediatrician will explain which option fits your child. Georgia schools and daycares cannot accept foreign records in place of Form 3231, so plan this visit before enrollment. Families in Cumming and Alpharetta can request an appointment online, and the staff will let you know which records to upload ahead of time.

This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Contact your pediatrician for care specific to your child.