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April 24-30 was recently recognized as World Immunization Week by the World Health Organization (WHO), so it’s a good time for parents to remember the importance of vaccines to protect children against disease.
 
Vaccination is a highly effective and easy way to help keep your family healthy. All vaccines are tested to ensure they are generally safe and effective for children to receive at the recommended ages. On-time vaccination throughout childhood helps provide immunity before children are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases.  

Although babies are born with immune systems that can fight most germs, there are some deadly diseases they can’t handle because their immune systems are not fully developed. That’s why they need vaccines to strengthen their immune system. Vaccines can prevent infectious diseases that once killed or harmed many infants, children, and adults—such as measles and whooping cough.  

Vaccines on the immunization schedule are specially formulated to be given at certain points in children's development for their peak effectiveness and safety. Children age five and older may also receive a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as other regularly scheduled immunizations.  

Recommended immunization schedule for 2022  

At birth

• Hepatitis B 
• 1-2 months
• Hepatitis B 

2 months

• Rotavirus
• DTaP (protects against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus)
• Hib (protects against Haemophilus influenzae  type b)
• PCV 13 (protects against pneumococcus)
• IPV (protects against polio) 

4 months

• Rotavirus
• DTaP (protects against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus)
• Hib (protects against Haemophilus influenzae  type b)
• PCV 13 (protects against pneumococcus)
• IPV (protects against polio) 

6 months

• Rotavirus
• DTaP (protects against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus)
• Hib (protects against Haemophilus influenzae  type b)
• PCV 13 (protects against pneumococcus)
• Flu vaccine 

12-15 months

• Hib (protects against Haemophilus influenzae  type b)
• PCV 13 (protects against pneumococcus)
• MMR (protects against measles, mumps, rubella)
• Varicella (protects against chickenpox) 
• 12-23 months
• Hepatitis A – a second dose should be given 6 months after the first dose 

15-18 months

• DTaP (protects against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus)  

4-6 years

• DTaP (protects against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus)
• IPV (protects against polio)
• MMR (protects against measles, mumps, rubella)
• Varicella (protects against chickenpox)
• Covid vaccine is approved for 5 years and older. 

You can find the detailed recommended immunization schedule in chart form, as well as more information about vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases, here.