United States vaccine schedule and calculator
The United States childhood immunization schedule is set by the CDC with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and published alongside a harmonised schedule from the American Academy of Pediatrics that pediatric practices follow.
The two schedules cover the same vaccines against the same diseases; the AAP version simply breaks some visits into narrower age bands, closer to how a practice books appointments. Most US visits are given as an age range rather than a single date, so being a few weeks either side is normal. Enter your child’s date of birth below to see the ranges as real dates.
Work out your child’s dates
Enter your child’s date of birth and every visit on the United States schedule becomes a real calendar date, with catch-up dates for anything already missed. The calculation runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded.
Stays in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
Free at government health facilities. See the full schedule
Enter a date of birth to see every visit as a real date.
Where to get them, and what they cost
Most health insurance plans must cover ACIP-recommended childhood vaccines with no copay when given by an in-network provider. For children who are uninsured, Medicaid-eligible, American Indian or Alaska Native, the federal Vaccines for Children programme provides them at no cost for the vaccine itself through participating pediatricians, community health centres and public health clinics.
The United States schedules, age by age
Every vaccine links to a plain-language page on what it protects against.
CDC childhood immunization schedule (United States)
GovernmentThe United States government's recommended childhood immunization schedule, from birth through 18 years.
| Age | Vaccines given |
|---|---|
| Birth |
|
| 1-2 months | |
| 4 months |
|
| 6 months | |
| 6 months and older |
|
| 12-23 months |
The third hepatitis B dose and third polio dose may also be completed in this window if they were not given earlier. |
| 4-6 years |
|
| 11-12 years | |
| 13-18 years |
AAP, American Academy of Pediatrics schedule
Pediatric academyThe American Academy of Pediatrics schedule, closely aligned with the CDC and used in practice.
| Age | Vaccines given |
|---|---|
| Birth |
|
| 2 months | |
| 4 months |
|
| 6 months | |
| 6 months and older |
|
| 12-15 months |
|
| 12-23 months |
|
| 15-18 months |
|
| 18-24 months |
|
| 4-6 years |
|
| 9-12 years |
|
| 11-12 years | |
| 16 years |
|
| 16-18 years |
What makes the United States schedule different
- Age ranges, not fixed dates
- The US schedule states most visits as a window, such as 12 to 23 months or 4 to 6 years. A dose given anywhere inside that window is on time. The calculator below treats the whole window as on time rather than flagging you the day after it opens.
- RSV protection at birth
- The US schedule includes an RSV antibody injection for infants entering their first RSV season. It is not a conventional vaccine: it supplies ready-made antibodies that work immediately and fade after a few months, which is what a newborn needs. If the birthing parent had the RSV vaccine in pregnancy, the baby usually does not need it as well.
- Some doses are conditional
- COVID-19 and the MenB vaccine appear on the schedule as risk-based or shared decision-making entries rather than doses every child receives. The calculator marks these as optional, and your pediatrician is the one who decides whether they apply to your child.
- School entry requirements vary by state
- Vaccination requirements for school and childcare are set state by state, not federally, and can differ from the CDC schedule in both directions. Check your state health department for the list that applies to your child’s enrolment.
United States vaccination questions
What is the difference between the CDC and AAP vaccine schedules?
- Very little in practice. They are harmonised, so the same vaccines protect against the same diseases at the same ages. The AAP publishes some visits in narrower age bands, which is closer to how a pediatric practice schedules real appointments.
Are childhood vaccines free in the United States?
- For most families the vaccine itself carries no copay, because insurers are required to cover ACIP-recommended vaccines in network. Children who are uninsured or Medicaid-eligible can get them at no cost for the vaccine through the Vaccines for Children programme, though an administration fee or office visit charge may still apply.
My child is behind the CDC schedule. Do we start over?
- Almost never. Missed doses are caught up rather than restarted. Mark what your child has already had in the calculator below and it gives the earliest valid date for each remaining dose, based on the minimum age and the minimum interval from the previous one.
Which vaccines does my child need for school in the US?
- That depends on your state, which sets its own requirements for school and childcare entry. The CDC schedule is the medical recommendation; your state health department publishes the enrolment list.
Other countries
Sources
- CDC childhood immunization schedule (United States), official schedule · CDC, 2026.
- AAP, American Academy of Pediatrics schedule, official schedule · AAP, 2026.
Information on this page is compiled from authoritative public health sources and written in TinyDose's own voice. It is intended for general understanding only. Always follow your pediatrician's guidance.
TinyDose keeps the United States schedule for your child and reminds you before every visit.
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This information is provided by TinyDose for general understanding only and is not medical advice. Vaccine names, ages and doses can vary by country, brand and individual circumstances. Always follow the guidance of your pediatrician or local health authority for your child’s vaccination schedule.
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