Vaccines at 6 Months

a six-month-old baby, healthy thanks to the 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

At 6 months old, your baby is ready for another round of vaccines, including their first flu shot. As your little one continues to grow and develop, help protect them from these potentially serious diseases.

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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

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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

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

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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

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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

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Rotavirus can be very dangerous, even deadly for babies and young children. Doctors recommend that your child get two or three doses of the Rotavirus vaccine (depending on the brand).

See Related: Rotavirus vaccination

Additional protection for your baby during RSV season

Babies who are 6 months old should receive an RSV immunization (if not previously received) to protect them against severe RSV disease.

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.

Infants younger than 8 months old during RSV season (typically fall through spring) should get a one-dose RSV immunization to protect them against RSV. This dose should be given shortly before or during the RSV season.

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