KidTOPICS: Immunization and Test Schedule

The development and administration of effective immunizations represents the biggest medical advance of the past century. Pediatricians have played a key role in these advances. Immunizations are VERY IMPORTANT and parents must make every effort to comply with the recommendations of their pediatrician in ensuring their children receive their shots on time. The AAP/ACIP have developed guidelines for effective scheduling of immunizations, which most pediatricians follow. Please review this schedule with your own pediatrician.

Vaccine Information Statements (published by the CDC)

Every parent that has their child immunized at any public or private facility MUST read the Center for Disease Control publication called a "Vaccine Information Statement" or VIS.  Each type of immunization has its own VIS. You may review each of them here (they are Adobe Acrobat .pdf files and require Acrobat Reader to view; they may take a few seconds to download):

	DTaP - Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine for infants and children through kindergarten age
	TdaP - Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine for children 11 and older as well as adults
	HIB - Haemophilus Influenza type B bacteria
	Hepatitis A virus
	Hepatitis B virus
	Influenza Shot and Influenza Nasal Vaccine- changes each year, so you need one each year!
	Meningococcus OR Menactra Vaccine - causes bacterial meningitis
	MMR - Measles, Mumps, Rubella (German Measles)
	Pneumococcal - Prevnar (the "ear infection" shot) for ALL infants and the OLDER POLYSACCHARIDE given to children with certain health issues.
	Polio inactivated - the current standard "polio shot."
	Td - Diphtheria and Tetanus, "adult" form which has recently been replaced by the above-mentioned TdaP vaccine for most adults.
	Varivax - Chicken Pox
	HPV - Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine (Gardasil) - for age 9 and over (girls AND boys), 3 shots over a 6 month period

2012

Birth to Age 6 years Vaccine Schedule

Age 7-18 years Vaccine Schedule

YourPediatrician.com Immunization and Routine Test Schedule (2012)
Follows 2012 AAP/ACIP guidelines

Please recheck this listing regularly as recommendations often change

X - due at this time.   

F - this is an "iron" test, recommended at age 14 in Females only (because of menstrual blood loss).

H - recommended in High-risk children.

This schedule adheres to the CURRENT recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Please understand that there are numerous options to the above schedule strategy. This is the one of many variations that the AAP/ACIP recommends. Discuss your child's schedule with your own pediatrician, as there are numerous acceptable schedules.

Steven J. Halm, DO, FAAP, FACP
Founder, President YourPediatrician.com, Inc

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