Children need a series of routine vaccinations starting from birth until the age of 16 years to protect them from dangerous diseases such as: hepatitis B, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, influenza, and meningitis.
The doctor will provide you with a vaccination card containing the type and timing of each vaccine. Here is an overview of the basic immunization schedule:
- At birth: hepatitis B vaccine + BCG (for tuberculosis) + polio (if required).
- At 2, 4, and 6 months: DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) + polio + Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type B) + hepatitis B + rotavirus + pneumococcal vaccine.
- 12–18 months: MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) + varicella + hepatitis A + booster doses of DTaP, Hib, and pneumococcal vaccines.
- 4–6 years: booster doses of DTaP + polio + MMR + varicella.
- At 11 years: Tdap booster + HPV vaccine (human papillomavirus) + meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY).
- At age 16: second dose of meningococcal vaccine.