Immunization Schedule Basics

By VeriScorePrep Team · 5 min

Vaccines are among the most evidence-based and impactful interventions in pediatrics. We memorize the routine schedule to identify lags and advocate for on-time protection.

Key milestones

• Birth: Hepatitis B.
• 2, 4, 6 months: DTaP, IPV, Hib, PCV, Rotavirus, Hepatitis B.
• 12–15 months: MMR, Varicella, Hib, PCV.
• 4–6 years: DTaP, IPV, MMR, Varicella boosters.
• 11–12 years: Tdap, HPV, meningococcal.
• Annual: Influenza from 6 months.

Contraindications

A true contraindication is rare — severe allergic reaction to a prior dose or component, encephalopathy following pertussis, pregnancy with live vaccines, or markedly immunocompromised status with certain live vaccines. A mild illness, low-grade fever, or current antibiotic use is not a contraindication.

Common parental concerns

Listen first. Address fears directly: the MMR-autism link has been thoroughly disproven; "too many vaccines overwhelm the immune system" misunderstands how the immune system works; thimerosal was removed from childhood vaccines years ago.