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What is a Vaccine Schedule?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

A vaccine schedule is a list of recommended vaccines, accompanied with recommendations for the intervals at which they should be administered. In most countries, vaccine schedules are broken into childhood schedules, covering children from birth to age six, followed by adolescent schedules, which cover people up to the age of 18, and then catch-up or adult schedules, which list the vaccines which periodically need to be re-administered in adults to ensure that they remain effective. Most clinics, public health organizations, and pediatricians have vaccine schedules readily available for reference, and groups like the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control also make vaccine schedules public on their web sites.

When determining a vaccine schedule, several factors are considered. The first is the age at which particular vaccines are safe, and the intervals at which vaccines need to be repeated. Some vaccines require a series of vaccinations, for example, before they will take effect, while others, such as tetanus, need “boosters” periodically. The second is the conditions in the country where someone lives; in a country with a high incidence of yellow fever, for example, the yellow fever vaccine is routinely recommended.

Oral vaccines.
Oral vaccines.

Finally, medical professionals consider availability and affordability of vaccines, especially in developing countries. In nations where people might have trouble affording vaccines, a limited vaccine schedule may be recommended to ensure that people receive at least basic vaccines, with optional additions for those who can afford them.

A childhood vaccine schedule typically includes: diphtheria, polio, measles, mumps, pertussis, rubella, hepatitis B, tetanus, influenza, rotavirus, and haemophilus influenzae. For children who have not had chicken pox, varicella vaccines are sometimes recommended, and in some regions, children are also vaccinated for tuberculosis. These vaccinations start at a very young age, and continue through age six in developed countries, where vaccines are readily available and generally affordable.

A vaccine schedule describes at what age people should receive certain immunizations.
A vaccine schedule describes at what age people should receive certain immunizations.

An adolescent vaccine schedule includes boosters for some childhood vaccines, along with meningoccocal disease, especially for people who are traveling to college. In some regions, the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine is recommended for young women, and adolescents are also strongly encouraged to get travel shots when they venture to a country with an incidence of diseases they may not have been vaccinated against.

Keeping record of vaccinations can help ensure boosters are taken when due.
Keeping record of vaccinations can help ensure boosters are taken when due.

Adults are typically encouraged to get boosters of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) combo vaccine, along with the tetantus, diphtheria, and pertussis (TDP) vaccine. Adults who have not had chicken pox may also get varicella shots, along with vaccines for conditions like HPV. Finally, an adult vaccine schedule also includes recommended travel vaccinations for various regions of the world.

A typical vaccine schedule for young children includes vaccines for diphtheria, polio, measles, mumps, pertussis, rubella, hepatitis B, tetanus, influenza and rotavirus.
A typical vaccine schedule for young children includes vaccines for diphtheria, polio, measles, mumps, pertussis, rubella, hepatitis B, tetanus, influenza and rotavirus.

Your doctor should keep a record of all of the vaccines you and your children have received in your lifetimes, and it is a good idea to keep a copy of your immunization records. Most doctors also try to keep up with their vaccine schedules, and they will inform you when you are due for a new round of vaccinations.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon45366

Could you help me to ascertain that how long mild reaction of DPT exists. my baby got vaccinated for DPT and 11 days after the vaccination she had fever with mild seizures (doctors referred it as atypical fbrile seziures.) But i have doubts regarding their diagnosis. All reports infact EEG, CSF culture, blood reports are normal except a UTI has been detected. And the doctors prescribe Amikacin, monocef (cephachor-500 mg twice a day to 1 and half year baby) for five days. still she has fever and seizures. Could you tell me the reason behind the same and also its prevention/cure?

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    • Oral vaccines.
      By: JoLin
      Oral vaccines.
    • A vaccine schedule describes at what age people should receive certain immunizations.
      By: oksun70
      A vaccine schedule describes at what age people should receive certain immunizations.
    • Keeping record of vaccinations can help ensure boosters are taken when due.
      By: alexskopje
      Keeping record of vaccinations can help ensure boosters are taken when due.
    • A typical vaccine schedule for young children includes vaccines for diphtheria, polio, measles, mumps, pertussis, rubella, hepatitis B, tetanus, influenza and rotavirus.
      By: stalnyk
      A typical vaccine schedule for young children includes vaccines for diphtheria, polio, measles, mumps, pertussis, rubella, hepatitis B, tetanus, influenza and rotavirus.
    • Adults must follow a vaccine schedule to make sure their vaccines are still effective and up to date.
      By: Remains
      Adults must follow a vaccine schedule to make sure their vaccines are still effective and up to date.
    • Children must be up-to-date on vaccines before starting school.
      By: Ilike
      Children must be up-to-date on vaccines before starting school.