Recommendations and Guidelines:

2012 Child & Adolescent Immunization Schedules
for persons aged 0-6 years, 7-18 years, and "catch-up schedule"

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NOTE: As the various versions and formats are updated they will be added to this page.

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2012 Schedules

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Each year, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) reviews the recommended adult immunization schedule to ensure that the schedule reflects current recommendations for licensed vaccines.

Vaccination providers are being advised to use all three schedules (Figure 1, Figure 2, and Figure 3) and their respective footnotes together and not separately.

Changes to the previous schedules include the following:

• Updates to Figure 1 “Recommended immunization schedule for persons aged 0 through 6 years”):
  • Quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) purple bar has been extended to reflect licensure of MCV4-D (Menactra) use in children as young as age 9 months.
  • A wording change has been introduced in the hepatitis A (HepA) vaccine yellow bar; wording now states, “Dose 1.” A new yellow and purple bar has been added to reflect HepA vaccine recommendations for children aged 2 years and older.
• Guidance is provided for administration of hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine in infants with birthweights <2,000 grams and ≥2,000 grams. Clarification is provided for doses after administration of the birth dose of HepB vaccine.
• Rotavirus (RV) vaccine footnotes have been condensed.
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine footnotes have been condensed, and use of Hiberix for the booster (final) dose has been clarified. Guidance for use of Hib vaccine in persons aged 5 years and older in the catch-up schedule has been updated.
• Pneumococcal vaccine footnotes have been condensed.
• Guidance is provided for use of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine in infants aged 6 through 11 months. Footnotes in the catch-up schedule have been condensed.
• HepA vaccine footnotes have been updated to clarify that the second dose of HepA vaccine should be administered 6–18 months after dose 1.
• MCV4 footnotes have been updated to reflect recent recommendations published in MMWR.
• Influenza vaccine footnotes have been updated to provide guidance on live, attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) contraindications.
• Influenza vaccine footnotes also have been updated to clarify dosing for children aged 6 months through 8 years for the 2011–12 and 2012–13 seasons.
• Figure 2 (“Recommended immunization schedule for persons aged 7 through 18 years”) has been updated to include number of doses for each vaccine. Information regarding the recommended age (16 years) for the booster dose of MCV4 has been added.
• Tdap vaccine recommendations for children aged 7 through 10 years have been updated.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine footnotes have been updated to include routine recommendations for vaccination of males.
• Varicella (VAR) vaccine footnotes have been condensed.
• Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) footnotes have been updated to include upper age limit for routine vaccination. IPV footnotes in the catch-up schedule have been condensed, and relevant wording added to Figure 3 (“Catch-up immunization schedule for persons aged 4 months through 18 years who start late or who are more than 1 month behind”).
• In the catch-up immunization schedule, HepA vaccine and HepB vaccine footnotes have been removed. Relevant wording has been added to Figure 3.
• MCV4 vaccine has been added to Figure 3 along with corresponding footnotes.

Presentation Graphics

These images are only the chart portions of the immunization schedule and are provided for use in PowerPoint Presentations:

• 2012 jpg image 1 [.jpg - 159KB] (chart only - birth to 6 years) NEW
• 2012 jpg image 2 [.jpg - 189KB] (chart only - 7 to 18 years) NEW
• 2012 jpg image 3 [.jpg - 226KB] (catch-up chart - 4 mos. to 18 yrs.) NEW

Vaccination Screening Form

It can sometimes be difficult to understand or keep track of exactly which vaccines your child needs. Use the following form to help you understand what vaccines might be important for your child. Questions on the form help you and your doctor decide which vaccines are needed and when to get them. You can print the form, fill it out, and take it with you to the office the next time you see the doctor.

• Print version of screening questionnaire [79KB - 2 pages]
  Technical content reviewed by the CDC
• Also available in multiple languages including Spanish
  Technical content reviewed by the CDC

Past Childhood Immunization Schedules

Beginning in 1995, a "harmonized" childhood schedule, approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has been published annually.

• 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 (Jan-Jun)
• 2004 (Jul-Dec) | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997
• 1996 | 1995

Prior to 1995, the childhood schedule was published periodically, as part of the ACIP's General Recommendations. 

• 1994(.jpg) | 1989(.jpg) | 1983(.jpg)

See also:

• History of the Vaccine Schedule
  Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Vaccine Education Center

Related Topics

• Child immunization flyers and brochures 
• Blank vaccine record forms
• Vaccines in delay or shortage
• Vaccines for teens and college students
• Standards for Immunization Practices
  • for children and adolescents 
  • for adults

*MMWR--Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report