Vaccines at 12 to 23 Months

laughing infant in an outdoor setting protected by vaccines

Vaccinations are safe and effective for children to receive at the recommended ages.

CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccination for everyone aged 6 months and older. If your child has not gotten vaccinated yet, talk to his or her doctor about getting it as soon as possible.

Vaccines your baby should get

As your child enters their toddler stage, they will start becoming aware of themselves and their surroundings. As a parent, make sure you are aware of their next vaccines.

Between 12 and 23 months of age, your baby should receive vaccines to protect them from the following diseases:

1^st dose of 2

Chickenpox is a very contagious disease known for its itchy, blister-like rash and a fever. Chickenpox is a mild disease for many, but can be serious, even life-threatening, especially in babies, teenagers, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.

See Related: Chickenpox vaccination

4^th dose of 5

A DTaP vaccine is the best protection from three serious diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis). All three of these diseases can be deadly for people of any age, and whooping cough is especially dangerous for babies.

See Related: DTaP vaccination

3^rd dose of 3 or 4^th dose of 4

Hib disease is a serious illness caused by the bacteria Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). Babies and children younger than 5 years old are most at risk for Hib disease. It can cause lifelong disability and be deadly. Doctors recommend that your child get three or four doses of the Hib vaccine (depending on the brand).

See Related: Hib vaccination

1^st Dose of 2

Hepatitis A can be a serious, even fatal liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Children with the virus often don’t have symptoms, but they often pass the disease to others, including their unvaccinated parents or caregivers.

See Related: HepA vaccination

3^rd dose of 3 between 6 months and 18 months

Hepatitis B is an infectious and potentially serious disease that can cause liver damage and liver cancer. If babies are infected at birth, hepatitis B can be a lifelong, chronic infection. There is no cure for hepatitis B, but the hepatitis B vaccine is the best way to prevent it.

See Related: Hepatitis B vaccination

Yearly

Flu is a respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. Flu spreads easily and can cause serious illness, especially in children younger than 5 years and children of any age with certain chronic conditions including asthma. Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every year ideally by the end of October.

See Related: Flu vaccination

1^st dose of 2

The MMR vaccine helps prevent three diseases: measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles). These diseases are contagious and can be serious.

See Related: MMR vaccination

4^th dose of 4

Pneumococcal disease can cause potentially serious and even deadly infections. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine protects against the bacteria that cause pneumococcal disease.

See Related: Pneumococcal vaccination

3^rd dose of 4 between 6 months and 18 months

Polio is a disabling and life-threatening disease caused by poliovirus, which can infect the spinal cord and cause paralysis. It most often sickens children younger than 5 years old. Polio was eliminated in the United States with vaccination, and continued use of polio vaccine has kept this country polio-free.

See Related: Polio vaccination

Additional protection your baby may need during RSV season

Children 12 to 19 months old who are at increased risk of severe RSV may be recommended to get an RSV immunization to protect them against severe RSV disease as they enter their second RSV season.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

1 Dose

RSV is a common cause of severe respiratory illness in infants and young children. Those infected with RSV can have difficulty breathing and eating and sometimes may need respiratory support or hydration in the hospital. An RSV immunization uses monoclonal antibodies to protect infants and young children from severe RSV disease. This immunization gives your baby’s body extra help to fight an RSV infection.

Children 8 through 19 months old who are at increased risk of severe RSV disease and entering their second RSV season (typically fall through spring) should get a one-dose of an RSV immunization to protect them against RSV. This dose should be given shortly before or during the RSV season.

Children 8 through 19 months who are at greatest risk for severe RSV illness include:

Children who were born prematurely and have chronic lung disease
Children with severe immunocompromise
Children with cystic fibrosis who have severe disease
American Indian and Alaska Native children

Care for your child after vaccinations

Call 911 if you think your child might be having a severe allergic reaction after leaving the vaccination site.

Give your child extra care and attention

Pay extra attention to your child for a few days. If you see something that concerns you, call your child’s doctor.

Read the Vaccine Information Sheet(s) your child’s doctor gave you to learn about side effects your child may experience.
Offer breastmilk or formula more often. It is normal for some babies to eat less during the 24 hours after getting vaccines.

Treat mild reactions

Sometimes children have mild reactions from vaccines, such as pain at the injection site or a rash. These reactions, also called side effects, are normal and will soon go away.

Use a cool, damp cloth to help reduce redness, soreness, and/or swelling at the injection site.
Reduce fever with a cool sponge bath.
Ask your child’s doctor if you can give your child a non-aspirin pain reliever.

What vaccines does my child need?

Follow the vaccine schedule

See which vaccines your child needs to stay on-track with routine vaccinations.

Birth to 6 years

7 to 18 years

Get a personalized list

Take a short quiz to get a list of vaccines your child may need based on their age, health conditions, and other factors.

Child vaccine quiz

More Information