Immunization Schedule

Immunizations protect your child against several serious, life-threatening infectious diseases. Your child should have "shots" according to the schedule recommended for your province, state, or country. For more specific information, contact your child's physician, or the local public health nurse for your community.

The following is the recommended schedule of immunizations during childhood:

Routine schedule for children beginning immunization in early infancy (starting at 2 months of age), August 2011.

• DTap-IPV: Diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, and inactivated polio virus vaccine
  
• HB: Hepatitis B vaccine
  
• Hib: Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine
  
• HPV-4: Human papillovirus vaccine (HPV-4)
  
• Inf: Seasonal influenza vaccine
  
• Men-C-ACYW: Meningococcal conjugate ACYW-135 vaccine
  
• Men-C-C: Meningococcal conjugate C vaccine
  
• MMR: Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine
  
• MMRV: Measles, mumps, rubella, varicella vaccine
  
• Pneu-C: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
  
• Rot-1: Rotavirus oral
  
• Tdap: Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (Tdap)/inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV)
  
• Var: Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine

Descriptions of immunizations

DTap-IPV: Diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, and inactivated polio virus vaccine

Immunization against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, or whooping cough, is important, since all of these diseases can be deadly. Whooping cough is a very dangerous disease, especially for young babies. The risk of suffering and death caused by whooping cough is far greater than the possible side effects of the vaccine. A child who has not been immunized against pertussis has a one in 3000 chance of getting whooping cough. In contrast, a child who received the vaccine has a one in two million chance of having neurological damage with the vaccine. The risk of children getting pertussis increases if fewer children are immunized. The polio vaccine protects children from this now rare but crippling disease. The inactivated polio vaccine is now recommended for all polio doses.

For more information, see "Tetanus" and "Pertussis."

MMR: Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine

Outbreaks of measles in high schools and colleges are happening again. These diseases are nearly gone from Canada. However, they will come back if children are not fully vaccinated.

For more information, see "Measles," "Mumps," and "Rubella."

Hib: Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine

Haemophilus influenzae is a type of bacteria that causes several life-threatening diseases in young children such as meningitis, epiglottitis, and pneumonia. Before the vaccine was available, a large number of children developed  H. influenzae meningitis each year. Some died and others became mentally retarded, blind, or deaf, or developed cerebral palsy as a result of the disease. Because of the vaccine,  H. influenzae type B infection is now uncommon. The Hib vaccine does not protect against pneumonia and meningitis caused by viruses.

For more information, see "Haemophilus Influenzae Type B Vaccine."

HB: Hepatitis B vaccine

Vaccination against hepatitis B prevents this type of hepatitis and the severe liver damage that can occur 20 or 30 years after a person is first infected. A significant number of adults die each year from hepatitis-related liver cancer or cirrhosis. The younger the person is when the infection occurs, the greater the risk of serious problems.

Var: Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine

This vaccine is 70% to 90% effective in preventing chickenpox. If vaccinated children get chickenpox, they have a much milder form of the disease. By being vaccinated, you can reduce the chance of missed work and school, skin infections, medical costs, and getting shingles later in life.

For more information, see "Chickenpox (Varicella)."

Pneu-C: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine

Pneumococcal infections are serious bacterial infections that may cause pneumonia, bloodstream infections, and meningitis. The pneumococcal vaccine protects against the seven types of pneumococcal bacteria that cause most of these serious diseases. The vaccine also prevents a small percentage of ear infections caused by pneumococci.

Routine use of pneumococcal vaccine is now recommended for babies and toddlers. Some older children with serious illnesses, such as sickle cell anemia, may also benefit from the vaccine.

Men-C-C: Meningococcal conjugate C vaccine

Immunization for this serious, life-threatening infection is offered in infancy.

Men-C-ACYW: Meningococcal conjugate ACYW-135 vaccine

Students in Grade 7 are eligible to receive a single dose of this vaccine. Students who were eligible in Grade 7 and have not yet received the vaccine are eligible for a single dose of Men-C-ACYW.

Inf: Seasonal influenza vaccine

Healthy children age six to 23 months are encouraged to get the influenza vaccine if possible because they are at a greater risk of getting severely ill or needing to go to the hospital because of the flu. The influenza vaccine is also recommended each year for children ages six months and older if they have certain medical risk factors. The vaccine can also be given to anyone wanting immunity. Talk to your health care provider for more information.

For more information, see "Influenza (Flu)."

HPV-4: Human papillovirus vaccine (HPV-4)

Girls ages nine to 13 years of age may receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine as this virus can lead to the development of cervical cancer later in life.

For more information, see "Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and Genital Warts" and "Human Papilloma Virus (HPV): What You Need to Know"

Rot-1: Rotavirus oral

Rotavirus is a condition that causes diarrhea. Vaccines active against rotavirus became available at the beginning of 2006. One rotavirus vaccine is a live vaccine that is administered in two oral doses, one to two months apart. The other vaccine is a live vaccine that is administered in three oral doses four to 10 weeks apart. Your child’s physician will be able to provide information about the availability of these vaccines and discuss vaccination for your child.

Other vaccines

Hepatitis A vaccine

The hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for children and teenagers in selected geographic regions, and for certain people at high risk. Talk to your health care provider or local public health department for more information.

For more information, see "Hepatitis A."