We understand that bringing your child in for a shot certainly isn’t fun for anyone, but keeping your child updated on vaccines is one of the most effective ways to protect them against serious and potentially life-threatening diseases. As soon as your child is born, they will begin to get a series of vaccines, which they will continue to get until they reach adulthood. Here’s everything you need to know about getting your child immunizations, including when to have them vaccinated and which vaccinations they will need at what age.

Getting Your Child Immunized

The CDC is your go-to for all accurate and updated information regarding childhood vaccines. They offer a variety of charts for kids 18 years old and younger that can easily help you determine what vaccines your child needs to get and at what age. Throughout your child’s first 18 years of life, they will receive a series of vaccinations including:

Hepatitis A & B
DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough)
Hib (meningitis, epiglottitis, and pneumonia)
Meningococcal (for bacterial meningitis)
Polio
MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella)
Pneumococcal (pneumonia, ear infections, and meningitis)
Varicella (chickenpox)

Your child may also want to get the influenza virus once a year to protect themselves and their family members from the flu.

The Safety and Efficacy of Childhood Immunizations

We understand that some parents may be on the fence about vaccines. There is a lot of misinformation out there and it can lead parents to avoid certain vaccines that could put their child at risk for more serious health problems. While some immunizations can cause minor side effects these are so minor compared to the repercussions of not having your child vaccinated.