Childhood Vaccine Information

Vaccine	Dosage / Timing	Disease Characteristics	Benefits of Vaccination	Vaccine Risks	Public Health Impact
Chickenpox (Varicella)	Two doses Dose 1: 12 to 15 months old Dose 2: 4 to 6 years old	Chickenpox is a contagious virus that spreads through direct and airborne contact. Chickenpox can cause infected blisters, bleeding problems, brain swelling (encephalitis), lung infection (pneumonia), and death.	Vaccination is over 99% effective at preventing chickenpox.	Most people experience minor or no side effects. The most common side effects of the chickenpox vaccine are: Sore arm, redness, or rash at injection site Fever Allergic reaction (rarely)	Before the vaccine, chickenpox made over 4 million people sick every year. This vaccine has reduced disease by over 97%. In 2017, there were only 8,297 cases of chickenpox.
HPV (Human Papillomavirus)	Two or three doses depending on age when first dose is given. Before 15th birthday, two doses recommended: Dose 1: 11 to 12 years old Dose 2: 6 to 12 months after Dose 1 After 15th birthday, three doses recommended: Dose 1: when possible Dose 2: 1 to 2 months after Dose 1 Dose 3: 6 months after Dose 1	HPV is a common virus that spreads easily through intimate skin-to-skin contact. People of all genders can get HPV and spread it to others. Most people with HPV don’t show any symptoms and don’t realize they have it. For some people, the virus can cause painless growths or bumps around the genitals (genital warts). Some types of HPV can cause cancer, most commonly cervical cancer in women and mouth/throat cancer in men. In the U.S., at least 35,900 people get cancer caused by HPV each year.	Vaccination prevents over 90% of cancers caused by HPV.	Most people experience minor or no side effects. The most common side effects of the HPV vaccine are: Soreness, redness or swelling at injection site Fever or headache	Since HPV vaccination was first recommended in 2006, infections with high-risk HPV types have dropped 88% among teen girls and 81% among young adult women.
MMR	Two doses Dose 1: 12 to 15 months old Dose 2: 4 to 6 years old	Measles is a very contagious disease with symptoms including high fever, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes, and rash that starts on the face at the hairline and moves down the body (3-5 days after first symptoms start.) About 1 in 5 people with measles become hospitalized. In severe cases, it can cause brain swelling (encephalitis), lung infection (pneumonia), complications in the brain 7-10 years after infection, and death. Mumps cause pain and swelling in the salivary glands. Other symptoms include puffy cheeks, swollen jaw, trouble talking and chewing, earache, and fever. In rare cases, mumps can cause inflammation of tissue surrounding the spinal cord (meningitis), brain swelling (encephalitis), swelling of testicles or ovaries, deafness, and death. Rubella is a contagious viral disease. Common symptoms include low-grade fever, sore throat, and rash. It can be especially dangerous for pregnant women, sometimes causing miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, and birth defects.	Two doses of the vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles and rubella, and 88% effective against mumps. Vaccinated people who get mumps have much milder symptoms.	Most people experience minor or no side effects. The most common side effects of the MMR vaccine are: Sore arm or redness at injection site Fever Mild rash Temporary pain and joint stiffness	Before vaccination was available, 3 to 4 million people got measles every year in the U.S. This led to 48,000 hospitalizations, 1,000 cases of brain swelling (encephalitis), and 400 to 500 deaths a year. Since the introduction of the vaccine in 1963, measles cases have reduced by 99%. Since the mumps vaccination program began in 1967, mumps cases have decreased in the U.S. by 99%. Before the rubella vaccination program began in 1969, rubella was a common and widespread infection in the U.S. Today, fewer than 10 U.S. cases are reported each year.
Hepatitis A	Two doses Dose 1: 12 to 23 months old Dose 2: 6 months after Dose 1	Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection that’s spread through contaminated feces (poop). It can cause mild to severe illness. Symptoms rarely show in children. However, some may develop: Yellowing of their skin or mucous membranes (Jaundice) Loss of appetite Upset stomach Throwing up Stomach pain Fever Dark urine Light-colored stools Diarrhea Joint pain Fatigue	Vaccination is nearly 100% effective at preventing the disease.	No serious side effects have been reported from the hepatitis A vaccine. The most common side effect is soreness at the injection site.	Since the vaccine was first recommended in 1995, cases of hepatitis A in the United States have declined by 97%.
Hepatitis B	Three doses Dose 1: at birth Dose 2: 1 to 2 months old Dose 3: 6 to 18 months old	Hepatitis B is a liver infection that spreads through body fluids like blood, semen, and others. Some people are only sick for a few weeks, while others, such as babies who get infected, can develop chronic or lifelong infection, cirrhosis of the liver, and death. Children are often asymptomatic. However, they may develop: Fever Fatigue Loss of appetite Nausea Vomiting Abdominal pain Dark urine Clay-colored stool Joint pain Yellowing of their skin or mucous membranes (jaundice)	Three doses the of vaccine protects more than 90% of people against the disease.	No serious side effects have been reported from the hepatitis B vaccine. The most common side effect is soreness at the injection site.	Since the vaccine was first recommended in 1991, cases of hepatitis B in children have declined by more than 95%.
Rotavirus	Two doses or three doses, depending on the brand* Dose 1: 2 months old Dose 2: 4 months old Dose 3: 6 months old *Rotarix=two doses RotaTeq=three doses	Rotavirus is a contagious disease spread through oral contact with infected objects, food, or hands. It's especially dangerous for infants and young children. Children infected by rotavirus can develop: Watery diarrhea Vomiting This may cause dehydration resulting in: Decreased urination Dry mouth and throat Dizziness Crying with few or no tears Unusual sleepiness or fussiness Death	7 out of 10 babies who complete a rotavirus vaccine series are protected from all rotavirus infections. 9 out of 10 are protected from severe rotavirus.	Most people experience minor or no side effects. The most common side effects of the rotavirus vaccine are: Irritability Mild/temporary diarrhea or vomiting	Since the vaccine was introduced in 2006, rotavirus infection has declined by almost 90%. Before the vaccine, rotavirus was the leading cause of severe diarrhea in this age group.
DTaP/Tdap	Five doses (three doses plus two boosters) Note: The childhood vaccine is referred to as DTaP. The adolescent/adult vaccine is referred to as Tdap. DTaP Dose 1: 2 months old Dose 2: 4 months old Dose 3: 6 months old Dose 4: 15 to 18 months old Dose 5: 4 to 6 years old Tdap Preteens 11 to 12 years old should get Tdap vaccine to boost immunity. Pregnant people should also get a Tdap vaccine in the beginning of the 3rd trimester to protect babies from whooping cough in the first few months of life.	Diphtheria is a highly contagious respiratory and skin disease. Respiratory diphtheria spreads through direct or airborne contact with bacteria. It can cause weakness, sore throat, mild fever, swollen glands in the neck, and gray coating in the nose and throat. Diphtheria skin infections spread through infected open sores. More serious complications include inflammation of the heart muscle, respiratory failure, pneumonia, and death. Tetanus is a bacterial disease that occurs when skin wounds get infected with Clostridium tetani, a bacteria found in soil, dust, and manure. Tetanus can be very serious, causing difficulty swallowing and breathing, muscle spasms, lockjaw, broken bones, and death. Pertussis is an extremely contagious bacterial disease that spreads through direct or airborne contact. Infected babies may turn blue or purple and struggle to breathe, whereas teens may show milder symptoms similar to a common cold. Teens who haven’t been vaccinated may have more severe coughing fits and health implications later in life including lung infections (pneumonia) and death.	A complete series of 5 doses of the DTaP vaccine provides 98% protection in the first year after the last dose. After 5 years, it protects about 71%. Tdap vaccine provides 70% protection in the first year and decreases significantly after four years.	Most people experience minor or no side effects. The most common side effects of the DTaP vaccine are: Soreness or swelling at injection site Fever Fussiness Feeling tired Loss of appetite Vomiting Rarely, seizures, non-stop crying, or high fever over 105°F may occur The most common side effects of the Tdap vaccine are: Pain, redness, or swelling at injection site Mild fever Headache Feeling tired Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomachache	Diphtheria used to be a major cause of illness and death among children. Thanks to the vaccine, it’s now nearly unheard of in the U.S. Before the tetanus vaccine, states reported between 500 and 600 cases each year. Today, tetanus is uncommon in the United States, with an average of 30 reported cases a year. Before the pertussis vaccine, 200,000 children got sick and up to 9,000 died each year in the U.S. After the vaccine was introduced, whooping cough cases reached an all-time low in the 1970s.
Hib	Three or four doses depending on the brand Dose 1: 2 months old Dose 2: 4 months old Dose 3: 6 months old Dose 4: 12 to 15 months old Children 2 to 18 years old with certain medical conditions may need more doses.	Hib is a contagious bacterial disease that mainly spreads through airborne or direct contact. It can also enter the blood, causing severe infections. The infection can stay in the nose or throat showing no symptoms. However, more serious symptoms can occur, including infection of the fluid around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis), intellectual disability, life-threatening infection that can block the windpipe and lead to serious breathing problems (epiglottis), lung infection (pneumonia), and death.	A complete series provides more than 95% protection against the disease.	Most children experience minor or no side effects. The most common side effects of the Hib vaccine are: Fever Redness, warmth, or swelling at the injection site	Before vaccination was available, this disease made 20,000 people sick a year. The vaccine has reduced cases by 99%.
Pneumococcal	Four doses Dose 1: 2 months old Dose 2: 4 months old Dose 3: 6 months old Dose 4: 12 to 15 months old Children 2 to 18 years old with certain medical conditions may need more doses.	Pneumococcal disease is a bacterial infection that spreads through direct or airborne contact. The bacteria can remain in the nose and throat causing no symptoms. However, if bacteria enter the bloodstream, it can cause stiff neck, fever, headache, eye sensitivity to light, confusion, lung infection (pneumonia), infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis), and death.	Vaccination is 97% effective in children against invasive disease.	Most children experience minor or no side effects. Some common side effects of the pneumococcal vaccine are: Redness, swelling, pain, or tenderness at the injection site Fever Loss of appetite Irritability Feeling tired Headache Muscle aches or joint pain Chills	Since the introduction of the vaccine, invasive pneumococcal disease has decreased by 95% in children under 5 years old.
Polio	Four doses Dose 1: 2 months old Dose 2: 4 months old Dose 3: 6 to 18 months old Dose 4: 4 to 6 years old	Polio is a disabling and life-threatening disease caused by the poliovirus. It spreads person to person through contact with contaminated feces. Most infected children don’t show any symptoms. However, some experience flu-like symptoms in the first 2 to 5 days of infection. In serious cases, it can cause infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis), paralysis or weakness of the arms and legs that may be permanent, and death. Children who are not vaccinated against polio, behind on the recommended vaccination schedule, or traveling to countries with higher polio risk should refer to the accelerated vaccine schedule.	Two doses of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) are 90% effective or more against paralytic polio; three doses are 99% to 100% effective.	Most children experience minor or no side effects. The most common side effects of the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) are: A sore spot with redness, swelling, or pain at the injection site	Polio was once one of the most feared diseases. Thanks to vaccination, polio has been eliminated in the United States.
Meningococcal	Two doses (one dose plus booster) Note: The MenACWY vaccine protects against meningococcal bacteria A, C, W, and Y. The MenB vaccine protects against meningococcal bacteria B. MenACWY Dose 1: 11 to 12 years Booster: 16 years old Children between 2 months and 10 years old may need to get the MenACWY vaccine if they are at higher risk. MenB Teens, preferably 16 to 18 years old, may get 2 doses of the MenB vaccine. Dose 1: 16-18 years Dose 2: at least 6 months later Certain teens should get the MenB vaccine if they are higher risk.	Meningococcal disease is any illness caused by Neisseria meningitidis bacteria. It’s spread person-to-person through saliva. Illnesses caused by these bacteria are often severe and deadly, causing infections of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) and bloodstream infections (septicemia).	MenACWY vaccines are 69% effective and MenB vaccines are over 84% effective in teens.	The most common side effects of the MenACWY vaccine are: Redness or soreness where the vaccine was given Muscle pain Headache Tiredness The most common side effects of the MenB vaccine are: Redness, soreness, or swelling at the injection site Tiredness Headache Muscle or joint pain Fever or chills Nausea or diarrhea	The vaccines have decreased rates of all meningococcal disease types in the United States.
Flu	Dose 1 at 6 months old, then once a year after Dose 1. DOH recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone aged six months and older, including pregnant and nursing people. It’s best to get vaccinated in September or October before flu season starts. However, vaccination should continue throughout the season as long as flu viruses are circulating. Depending on the individual, doctors may recommend additional doses per year.	Influenza is a contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, and sometimes lungs that spreads through airborne or direct contact with the virus. It can be especially dangerous for older people, young kids, pregnant people, and people with certain health conditions. Common symptoms include: Fever or feeling feverish/chills (not everyone with the flu will have a fever) Cough Sore throat Runny or stuffy nose Muscle or body aches Headaches Fatigue Vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children) Serious complications include infection of the lungs (pneumonia), sinus and ear infections, worsening of underlying heart or lung conditions, and death.	The flu vaccine can prevent getting sick with the flu entirely or reduce the severity of illness. While vaccine effectiveness varies year to year, recent studies show vaccination reduces the risk of flu by 40% to 60% during seasons when most circulating flu viruses are well-matched to the flu vaccine. Because the influenza virus and vaccine are constantly changing, it’s important to get vaccinated every year.	Most people experience minor or no side effects. The most common side effects of the flu vaccine include: Soreness, swelling, and redness at the injection site Fever	A recent study estimated that flu vaccination reduced the risk of flu-related ER and urgent care visits by almost half and hospitalizations by more than a third among U.S. adults during the 2022-2023 season.
COVID-19	One or more doses, depending on previous vaccinations and if they have a weakened immune system. Everyone 6 months and older is recommended to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine.	COVID-19 most often causes respiratory symptoms similar to a cold, flu, or pneumonia. Appearing 2-14 days after exposure to the virus, symptoms may include: Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Fatigue Muscle or body aches Headache New loss of taste or smell Sore throat Congestion or runny nose Nausea or vomiting Diarrhea Most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms, but those with certain conditions can experience severe illness, chronic illness, or death.	The COVID-19 vaccine was estimated to be about 40% effective against hospital admission and 79% effective against mechanical ventilation or death during the 2024-2025 respiratory season.	Some people experience no side effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccine; however, many people do. Side effects are normal signs your body is building protection against COVID-19. Common symptoms include: Soreness, redness, or swelling at the injection site Fatigue Headache Muscle pain Chills Fever Nausea In extremely rare cases with specific groups, more serious side effects such as anaphylaxis or inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) can occur. Data shows that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the risk of myocarditis.	From December 2020 through November 2022, it’s estimated that the U.S. COVID-19 vaccination program prevented more than 18.5 million additional hospitalizations and 3.2 million additional deaths. While the virus has not been completely eradicated, the COVID-19 vaccine dramatically improved the national health emergency, officially ending it in the U.S. on May 11, 2023.
RSV	One or more doses, depending on risk Note: there are two RSV antibody products that can help prevent severe RSV disease in infants and young children: nirsevimab (Beyfortus) and clesrovimab (ENFLONSIA). Nirsevimab is recommended for: Children younger than 8 months born during RSV season or entering their first RSV season Some children aged 8 through 19 months who are at increased risk for severe RSV disease and entering their second RSV season Clesrovimab is recommended only for: Children younger than 8 months born during RSV season or entering their first RSV season	RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious. Infants are more likely to develop severe RSV and need hospitalization. Appearing 4 to 6 days after getting exposed to the virus, symptoms may include: Runny nose Less appetite Coughing Sneezing Fever Wheezing Very young babies may only have the following symptoms: Irritability Decreased activity Eating or drinking less Difficulty breathing	Nirsevimab is 90% effective at keeping infants from being hospitalized with RSV.	The most common side effects of the RSV immunization include: Pain Redness and swelling at injection site Fatigue Fever Headache Nausea Diarrhea Muscle or joint pain	Immunizations have reduced RSV infections, which currently cause 50,000 to 80,000 hospitalizations and 100 to 300 deaths in children under 5 years old each year.

For more information about flu vaccines, visit FluFreeWA.org.

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