It's really important to stay up to date with your vaccinations as an adult. And if you're a parent, it is also really important to stay up to date with your child's vaccinations as well. Why? Because vaccinations prevent deaths and debilitation from diseases. Staying on a vaccination schedule throughout childhood is essential because it helps provide protection before children are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases. Vaccines are rigorously tested to ensure that they are safe and effective for kids (and adults) to receive at the recommended ages. Vaccinating children at the proper time will prevent outbreaks of diseases like measles, polio, hepatitis B, mumps, and more. In fact, the more people that receive a specific vaccine, the greater potential of developing "herd immunity" in that community, which protects everyone- even vulnerable people who cannot safely receive the vaccine like the highly immunocompromised, the very elderly, or infants not yet eligible for certain vaccines. Most people will have to be vaccinated to enter daycares, school systems, or colleges, as vaccines are a requirement for attendance. Below is a guide for the vaccines a person will need at each stage of life:
Birth- 2 years old
Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine at 12 through 15 months
Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccine at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 15 through 18 months
Flu vaccine every year by the end of October, if possible, starting at 6 months
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine: At 2 months, 4 months, 6 months (if needed), and 12 through 15 months
Hepatitis A vaccine at 12 through 23 months and a second dose 6 months following the first dose
Hepatitis B vaccine shortly after birth, at 1 through 2 months, and at 6 through 18 months
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine at 12 through 15 months; but if traveling abroad, infants 6 through 11 months old should have one dose of MMR vaccine
Pneumococcal (PCV13) vaccine at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 12 through 15 months
Polio (IPV) vaccine at 2 months, 4 months, and 6 through 18 months
Rotavirus (RV) vaccine: At 2 months and 4 months (for Rotarix brand); or 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months (for RotaTeq brand)
3-10 years old
Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine at 4 through 6 years
Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccine at 4 through 6 years
Flu vaccine every year by the end of October, if possible
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine at 4 through 6 years
Polio (IPV) vaccine at 4 through 6 years
11-18 years old
Flu vaccine every year by the end of October, if possible
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine at 11 through 12 years and a second dose 6-12 months following the first dose
Meningococcal conjugate vaccine at 11 through 12 years and at 16 years
Serogroup B meningococcal vaccine may be given at 16 through 23 years
Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine: At 11 through 12 years
COVID-19 before entering college
18+ years
Everyone should get a flu vaccine every year before the end of October, if possible
Adults need a Td vaccine every ten years.
Healthy adults 50 years and older should get the shingles vaccine.
Adults 65 years or older need one dose of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine followed by one dose of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Adults younger than 65 years who have certain health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or HIV should also get one or both of these vaccines, too.
Adults may need other vaccines based on their health conditions, jobs, lifestyles, or travel habits. You can find a great vaccination assessment tool on the CDC's website by clicking here.
If your child goes off of their vaccine schedule, it's important to call your family care provider or your child's pediatrician to get them caught back up. Your provider will be able to help you catch up and ensure that you stay on course for all future vaccines. If you need to catch up with any of your adult vaccines, you can do so by making an appointment at any of our MCB Family Care Clinics! We have locations in Eufaula, Hurtsboro, and Louisville and are always accepting new patients! Learn more about what our MCB Family Care Clinics have to offer by clicking here.