I suspect that many of you are tired of me opining on the humongous rise in autism over the last fifty years, and so in this piece I am not going to mention ‘autism’ at all.
However, there are some things that you need to decide for yourself.
From Townhall:
“After pharmaceutical companies were given complete legal immunity for vaccines from product liability lawsuits by legislation through the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act in 1986, the childhood vaccine schedule exploded, going from the three I got as a kid in the 40s-50s to the present 76 doses of 18 different vaccines by the time a child reaches age 18 today.”
If the health of our children were improving, then many would be cheering the onslaught of vaccines that children now get … but the health of our children is not improving.
I was not aware of how many vaccines children get these days, so I thought that the following list would be illustrative, and thus everyone can decide for themselves. Too much, too little, or just right?
From the Iowa Clinic:
Recommended Vaccination Schedule for Children
Your kids will get more than 50 shots before they enter adulthood. That’s a lot of needles! This chart outlines which vaccines are recommended at each age. Or skip to your child’s age below to learn which immunizations are necessary and why.
Birth
The shots start before you even get out of the hospital. Newborns receive a hepatitis B vaccine to protect against liver infection.
Two Months
Your child gets a second hepatitis B shot as early as one month, but no later than two months. But that’s just the beginning. Two-month-old babies also get immunized for:
* Rotavirus — A common cause of diarrhea, rotavirus is a highly contagious virus that can easily spread between children. Instead of a shot, the vaccine is given in oral drops.
* Diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (DTaP) — One-shot protects against these three common diseases caused by bacteria. Both pertussis, also known as whooping cough, and diphtheria can cause breathing problems in children.
* Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) — Before the vaccine, Hib disease was a common cause of bacterial meningitis in kids under five years old. The vaccination effectively eliminated 99 percent of cases.
* Pneumococcal conjugate — Pneumococcal disease can cause infections in the ear, blood, lungs, brain and spinal cord. Children two and under are at the most risk.
* Inactivated poliovirus — There hasn’t been a new case of polio in the United States in 35 years — thanks to vaccinations. It’s important to keep it that way to prevent this crippling infectious disease from coming back.
Four Months
At four months, babies get a second dose of rotavirus, DTaP, Hib, pneumococcal and poliovirus to continue building their immunity.
Six Months
Third DTaP, Hib, pneumococcal and polio vaccinations are given to children six months old. They may also get a third hepatitis B shot any time between six months and 18 months.
12 Months
There are a handful of vaccinations recommended once your child turns one. They get fourth doses of DTaP, Hib and pneumococcal. They also get their first immunizations for:
* Influenza — The flu shot protects against the expected flu strains that year. Your child will get a flu shot sooner if flu season begins before their first birthday.
* Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) — This one-shot protects against three potentially serious viral diseases.
* Varicella — Chickenpox is a highly contagious virus that can be serious in infants under the age of 12 months, which is why they cannot be vaccinated until they turn one.
* Hepatitis A — An infection of the liver, hepatitis A is rarely serious, but can be hard to shake. Symptoms can last a long time or come back after several months.
18 Months
When your child turns one-and-a-half, they catch up on any immunizations they missed in the first 18 months. Some shots, like DTaP, require six months in between vaccinations. Depending on when your appointments are scheduled, your pediatrician may hold off on certain vaccines until this point. They will also get the second dose of hepatitis A to complete the series.
Then they get a much-needed break from all the shots.
Four to Six Years
Between the ages of four and six, your kid gets their final DTaP, polio, MMR and chickenpox vaccines.
11 to 12 Years
After another long break, the vaccination schedule picks up again. Your child is immunized for:
* Tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) — The naming order isn’t the only difference from the DTaP shot. The Tdap vaccine boosts immunity for these three diseases in the time since the final DTaP vaccine. This version is designed for adolescents and adults and is repeated every 10 years.
* Meningococcal — Meningococcal disease is a severe bacterial infection that attacks the lining of the brain and spinal cord. It’s commonly spread between 11- and 12-year-olds and is a more recent addition to the vaccination schedule.
* Human papillomavirus (HPV) — HPV is the virus that causes cervical cancer. Your child, boy or girl, should receive three doses over the course of six months to prevent this virus.
16 Years
Sixteen is a milestone year for your child. It marks the end of their childhood vaccination schedule! They receive a second dose of meningococcal to end that series
Whew!
You decide, “Too much, too little, or just right?”
6/5/25