Getting childhood vaccines on time matters. If children don’t have their shots, they are at higher risk of getting some serious diseases. They could also spread those diseases to their friends and family.

Don’t Delay

Now’s the time to catch up on vaccines, before the busy back-to-school rush.

Children need vaccines to stay healthy, from when they are babies to their teens. Getting vaccines on time during childhood is vital. It gives immunity before children are exposed to diseases. And children must get some vaccines before they can go to school.

Children in the U.S. get vaccines that protect them from more than a dozen diseases, including:

• Measles
• Polio
• Tetanus
• Diphtheria
• Pertussis (whooping cough)

Most of these diseases are now at their lowest levels in history, thanks to years of immunization. But children still die each year in the U.S. from diseases that can be prevented by vaccines. They are a vital part of children’s preventive care and help stop disease outbreaks.

Why Are Vaccines Given at Young Ages?

The diseases that childhood vaccines are meant to prevent are most likely to happen when children are young. That’s also when the chance of complications is greatest. That makes early vaccination — sometimes starting shortly after birth — essential. If you put off vaccines until a child is older, it might be too late.

Are Vaccines Safe for Young Children?

Yes, vaccines are safe. Vaccines go through years of safety testing by the Food and Drug Administration to make sure they are safe. Many of them work by exposing the body to a very small amount of weak or dead versions of germs or viruses. The immune system then builds up resources to fight those bugs in the future. Vaccines have slowed or stopped the spread of polio, measles, mumps and other serious diseases.

The most common side effects are often very mild, such as pain or swelling at the shot site.

Do Vaccines Cause Autism?

Researchers have not found a link between autism and childhood vaccines. The study that started the talk years ago was retracted.

When to Get Vaccines

The CDC recommends that children and teens get their shots at certain ages:

Infant to 2 years: Starting vaccines from birth can help protect your child against hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hib,  pneumococcal disease, polio, flu, measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox.

3 to 6 years: Continue with vaccines that protect against polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox. Also continue with yearly flu shots.

7 to 13 years: Preteen vaccines can help protect against HPV, meningitis, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. Also continue with yearly flu shots.

14 to 18 years: Getting recommended vaccines, including a meningitis shot, and a yearly flu shot through age 18 can help your teen stay healthy.

Talk to Your Doctor

Ask your child’s doctor about vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine. It’s best to get the facts you need from a medical professional you can trust. Don’t make health choices based on stories you’ve seen on TV or the internet or heard from other parents.

Find More Information in Our Wellness Guidelines

We offer Wellness Guidelines each year that include specific recommendations for preventive care, immunizations and screenings for adults and children. Check out the Wellness Guidelines to find out what preventive care you and your family need to stay healthy.

Sources: Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule by Age,  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024; Meningococcal Vaccination: What Everyone Should Know,  CDC, 2023; Children’s Vaccines: The Basics,  WedMD, 2024; Childhood Vaccines,  MedlinePlus, 2024; Reasons to Vaccinate,  CDC, 2024

 Originally published 5/26/2021; Revised 2022, 2023, 2024