The Vaccine Schedule Explained: What to Expect at Every Age

This period covers most of the vaccine series children will receive in their lifetime. In general terms, it includes the Hepatitis B series (starting at birth), and rounds of DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis), polio (IPV), Hib, pneumococcal (PCV), and rotavirus vaccines at the 2, 4, and 6-month visits, followed by MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), varicella (chickenpox), and Hepatitis A, typically introduced between 12 and 15 months. Seasonal flu vaccine is also recommended annually starting at 6 months. Your child’s exact schedule can vary slightly based on catch-up needs or specific health history, which your pediatrician will always review with you at each visit.

Before starting kindergarten, most states – including Illinois – require booster doses of several core vaccines: DTaP, polio (IPV), MMR, and varicella. These boosters reinforce the immunity built in infancy right as children enter group settings where exposure risk increases. This is exactly the visit our Passport to Kindergarten physicals are built around, combining required vaccines with the school entry paperwork your district will ask for.

Adolescence brings its own vaccine milestones: Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) booster and the first dose of the meningococcal vaccine typically at age 11–12, HPV vaccine (recommended starting at age 11–12, though it can be given as early as 9), and a meningococcal booster around age 16. These vaccines protect against risks that specifically increase during the teen years, and are typically discussed at annual well visits during this stage.

If your child has missed doses or is behind schedule for any reason, catch-up is almost always possible – pediatricians follow established catch-up schedules that get children protected without simply restarting the entire series. Bring whatever records you have to your next visit, and our team will help you build a plan to get back on track.