CDC Vaccine Information

In 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified 28 diseases children, adolescents and adults can be vaccinated against. They have published three different vaccine schedules for age groups birth to 6 years, 7 to 18 years and over 18 years.

Birth to 6 years

• The CDC recommends children birth to 6-years-old should get 12 different types of vaccines. Hepatitis B and the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis combination vaccine are the first two suggested for newborns.

7 to 18 years

• Adolescents from 7- to 18-years-old should get the meningococcus, tetanus and papillomavirus vaccines, and the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis combination vaccine if they have not already had it. The CDC also recommends the influenza vaccine for this age group because the flu is highly contagious in school settings.

Over 18 years

• Adults over age 18 should get the influenza vaccine every year and those over 65 should get the pneumococcal and zoster vaccines. The CDC recommends that if the individual has not had the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis combination vaccine, hepatitis A or B, papillomavirus, the measles, mumps and rubella combination vaccine or varicella, it is not too late after age 18.