Immunization Schedule

The following recommended immunizations and the timing of them will often coincide with your well-baby visits.

Age -> Immunizations
Birth -> 1st Hepatitis B
2 Months -> 2nd Hepatitis B, 1st DTP/DTaP, 1st Hib, 1st polio
4 Months -> 2nd DTP/DTaP, 2nd Hib, 2nd polio
6 Months -> 3rd Hepatitis B, 3rd DTP/DTaP, 3rd Hib
12 Months -> MMR, VAR (recommended between 12 and 18 months), 4th Hib
15 Months -> 4th DTP/DTaP, 3rd polio
4-6 Years -> 5th DTP/DTaP, 4th polio, MMR

Abbreviations Used:
DTP Diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis
DtaP Diphtheria/tetanus/acellular pertussis
Hib Haemophilus influenza type b
MMR Measles/mumps/rubella
TD Tetanus/diphtheria
VAR Varicella (chicken pox)

A note about the Hepatitis B vaccine: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations remain unchanged from this schedule for infants born to women who have tested positive for hepatitis B and women not tested for hepatitis B during pregnancy. The timing of hepatitis B vaccination has been a controversial topic because of concerns about the presence of the mercury-based vaccine preservative thimerosol.

For full-term infants born to mothers who have tested negative for hepatitis B, vaccination should be delayed until six months of age if a thimerosal-free vaccine is unavailable. Hepatitis B immunization for premature infants born to hepatitis B negative mothers should be deferred until an infant reaches the size and developmental level of a full-term six-month-old if a thimerosal-free vaccine is unavailable.

Parents should speak to their healthcare provider regarding the benefits and risks of vaccines containing thimerosol. According to the AAP, the larger risks of not vaccinating children far outweigh any known risk of exposure to thimerosol-containing vaccines. Thimerosal-free vaccines will be widely available in the future. Parents should also check with their healthcare provider to find out if hepatitis A immunization is recommended in their state.

Source: http://parenting.ivillage.com