Here is the latest immunization chart for the first 6 months of a baby’s life. However, do note that this isn’t a government vaccination chart, so this should only be used for reference. Contact your pediatrician for more information. Make sure you complete all the important vaccinations in a timely manner so as to protect your baby’s future, and protect the world at large.
At birth – Unless baby has an unusually low birth weight, the Hepatitis B vaccine should be administered within the first 24 hours. The reason it is given at birth is that if a newborn baby contracts it, it can become a chronic condition lasting a lifetime, or lead to complications that would lead to death. It is also possible that mother passes it onto baby (perinatal infection).
1–2 months – Second dose of Hepatitis B vaccine should be given a month or two after the first dose
2 months - DTaP: Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine – first dose
Hib: Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine – first dose
IPV: Inactivated poliovirus vaccine – first dose
PCV: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine – first dose
RV: Rotavirus vaccine – first dose
4 months - DTaP: Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine – second dose
Hib: Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine – second dose
IPV: Inactivated poliovirus vaccine – second dose
PCV: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine – second dose
RV: Rotavirus vaccine – second dose
6 months - DTaP: Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine – third dose
Hib: Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine – third dose (depends on brand of vaccine used earlier)
IPV: Inactivated poliovirus vaccine – third dose
PCV: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine – third dose
RV: Rotavirus vaccine – third dose (depends on brand of vaccine used earlier)
Influenza – First dose (will need to be taken every year going forth)
A vaccination is when an injection is administered into the body to produce immunity to a specific disease. Immunization is the end result of vaccination; when the body is protected against a specific disease due to the vaccination.
However, often times, these terms are used interchangeably with one another.
Vaccines provide protection against infectious diseases by helping the immune system fight viruses off. Vaccines themselves contain dead or weakened bacteria/viruses that are fought off by the immune system. Once the weakened bacteria enter the body, the immune system learns to fight it off without the host actually experiencing any symptoms of the dead virus. The body makes antibodies so that if the same disease comes into contact in the future, the body will be better-equipped to fight it off.
Some vaccines need to be given more than once (booster vaccines) whereas other vaccines are only effective for a short period of time (flu shots). Immunization is important in gradually killing off a disease (like Polio, which is almost non-existent now) as herd immunity ensures that the disease can’t be spread around like earlier.
Immunization is going to play an integral part in your child’s early years. Hence, it is only natural that you still might have a few questions. We have tried to answer the most common questions down below.