Older children and teens need vaccines too!
Recommended Immunizations for Birth Through 6 Years Old, United States, 2025
Talk to your child’s health care provider for more guidance if:
- Your child has any medical condition that puts them at higher risk for infection or is pregnant.
- Your child is traveling outside the United States. Visit CDC Travelers’ Health for more information.
- Your child misses any vaccine recommended for their age or for babies and young children.
What diseases do these vaccines protect against?
| Vaccine-Preventable Disease | Disease Complications | Number of Vaccine Doses |
|---|---|---|
| HPV (Human papillomavirus)
Contagious viral infection spread by close skin-to-skin touching, including during sex
|
Genital warts and many types of cancers later in life, including cancers of the cervix, vagina, penis, anus, and throat | 2 or 3 doses |
| Tetanus (Lockjaw)*
Infection caused by bacterial spores found in soil and dust everywhere; spores enter the body through wounds or broken skin
|
Seizures, broken bones, difficulty breathing, death |
1 dose at age 11-12 years
Additional doses if missed childhood doses
1 dose for dirty wounds |
| Diphtheria*
Illness caused by a toxin produced by bacteria that infects the nose, throat, and sometimes skin.
|
Swelling of the heart muscle, heart failure, coma, paralysis, death |
1 dose at age 11-12 years
Additional doses if missed childhood doses |
| Pertussis (Whooping Cough)*
Contagious bacterial infection of the lungs and airway; spread through air and direct contact
|
Infection of the lungs (pneumonia), death; especially dangerous for babies |
1 dose at age 11-12 years
Additional doses if missed childhood doses
1 dose every pregnancy |
| Meningococcal**
Contagious bacterial infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord or the bloodstream; spread through air and direct contact
|
Loss of arm or leg, deafness, seizures, death |
2 doses
Additional doses may be needed depending on medical condition or vaccine used. |
| Influenza (Flu)
Contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, and sometimes lungs; spread through air and direct contact
|
Infection of the lungs (pneumonia), sinus and ear infections, worsening of underlying heart or lung conditions, death |
1 dose each year
2 doses in some children aged 6 months through 8 years |
| COVID-19
Contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, or lungs; may feel like a cold or flu. Spread through air and direct contact
|
Infection of the lungs (pneumonia); blood clots; liver, heart or kidney damage; long COVID; death | 1 or more doses of the current COVID-19 vaccine depending on health status. For more information: www.cdc.gov/covid/hcp/vaccine-considerations/index.html |
| Mpox
Contagious viral infection spread through close, often skin-to-skin contact, including sex; causes a painful rash, fever, headache, tiredness, cough, runny nose, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes
|
Infected sores, brain swelling, infection of the lungs (pneumonia), eye infection, blindness, death | 2 doses |
| Dengue
Viral infection spread by bite from infected mosquito; causes, fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, rash, joint pain, body ache, nausea, loss of appetite, feeling tired, abdominal pain
|
Severe bleeding, seizures, shock, damage to the liver, heart, and lungs, death | 3 doses |