Vaccines at 6 Months

Protect your baby against 14 potentially serious diseases before 2 years old with vaccines.

What vaccines will my baby get?

At 6 months of age, your baby should receive vaccines to protect them from the following diseases:

Diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis) (DTaP) (3^rd dose)
Haemophilus influenzae type b disease (Hib) (3^rd dose)
Polio (IPV) (3^rd dose)
Pneumococcal disease (PCV13) (3^rd dose)
Rotavirus (RV) (3^rd dose)
Influenza (Flu) (every year)

After vaccination

Sometimes children have mild reactions from shots, such as pain at the injection site, a rash, or a fever. These reactions are normal and will soon go away.

Read the Vaccine Information Sheet(s) your child’s doctor gave you to learn about side effects your child may experience.
Offer breastmilk and liquids more often. It is normal for some children to eat less during the 24 hours after getting vaccines.
Pay extra attention to your child for a few days. If you see something that concerns you, call your child’s doctor.

Treat mild reactions from vaccines:

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.

Important developmental milestones

Get tips to prepare for your baby’s well-child visits.

By 6 months, most babies:

Know familiar faces
Respond to own name
Bring things to mouth
Roll over in both directions
String vowels together when babbling (“ah”, “eh”, “oh”)

Following the vaccine schedule

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Family Physicians, and American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommend children receive all vaccines according to the recommended vaccine schedule.