June 23, 2025
Vaccinations are an important step in preventive healthcare. These shots can help reduce the risk of contracting an illness or may reduce the severity of disease if you do get sick.
The back-to-school season is a great time to see your child’s provider for a routine checkup and to verify that your child is up to date on vaccinations. Your pediatrician or family medicine clinician can advise what your child needs, but the general guidelines below may also be helpful.
Kindergarten age
Between 4 and 6 years old, most kids finish up many of the vaccine schedules that were started in infancy. The CDC’s immunization schedule recommends this group be given:
- DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis), 5th dose
- IPV (inactivated poliovirus), 4th dose
- MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), 2nd dose
- Varicella, 2nd dose
Late elementary/early middle school
Toward the end of elementary school or the beginning of middle school, kids can begin getting a new series of vaccinations that will protect them through their teenage years and into college.
Beginning at age 9, children can initiate the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine series. HPV can cause cancers in the genital regions (both male and female) and throat cancer. If HPV vaccination is initiated prior to age 15 your child will only need 2 doses to complete their series. If HPV vaccination is delayed until 15 years or older, they will need 3 doses. Learn more about HPV.
From 11 to 12 years old, it’s recommended to get their first dose of meningococcal (MenACWY) vaccine, which protects against 4 types of bacteria that cause meningitis.
One dose of Tdap (tetanus diphtheria and acellular pertussis) vaccine is also recommended at this age.
High school
Around 16 to 17 years old, it’s recommended to get the second dose of the MenACWY meningococcal vaccine. This is especially important for students who are planning to go on to college and live in group housing, like a dormitory.
This is also the time to start the MenB 2-dose vaccine series. This protects against a distinct type of meningitis that is not covered in the MenACWY series.
Other vaccinations
COVID-19
If your child has not ever received a COVID-19 vaccine, they will start with a 2- or 3-shot series. These shots are spaced out over about 4 to 8 weeks. If your child has received a COVID-19 vaccine previously, they will only need 1 shot.
The CDC recommends an annual COVID-19 vaccine for everyone 6 months and older. It can be given at any time. It is also acceptable to receive a COVID shot and a flu shot at the same time.
Influenza
An annual flu shot reduces the risk of contracting influenza and helps decrease the severity of illness should your child become sick with the flu. The formulation of the flu shot changes each year, so it is recommended to get it every fall. The exact timing is flexible, but the shot usually becomes available in mid- to late-September, and we recommend getting it before the end of October for optimal protection during the winter months when respiratory illnesses are more prevalent.
Measles
As more cases of measles are diagnosed in our region, there is understandable concern about protecting children against it. The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is 93% effective after 1 dose and 97% effective after the recommended 2 doses. Speak with your child’s pediatrician about their vaccination recommendation for measles. Read more about measles symptoms and risk.
Medically reviewed by Tracy Jones, DO, and Lauren Arney, MD.
