Newborn Vaccine Schedule: What Shots Your Baby Gets and Why

Most parents know there will be shots, but the first one catches almost everyone off guard: your baby is less than a day old, still in the hospital, and the nurse comes in with a syringe. No appointment reminder, no parent class — just the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine, right there in the delivery room.

That moment is the start of a schedule that runs through the first two years of life. Here is what the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends, vaccine by vaccine and visit by visit — with the reasoning behind each one, sources checked where they were cited, and what to expect once your baby has that little round bandage on their thigh.

01The first shot: hepatitis B at birth

The AAP strongly recommends that all medically stable newborns weighing at least 2,000 grams (about 4 lbs 6 oz) receive the first hepatitis B dose within 24 hours of birth. Hepatitis B is a viral infection that can cause serious liver damage, liver cancer, and death — and newborns are particularly vulnerable because they can be exposed to the virus during delivery even if their mother does not know she is infected.

The numbers explain the urgency. According to HealthyChildren.org (AAP), 90% of infants infected with hepatitis B at birth go on to develop chronic infection — and 25% of babies with chronic hepatitis B will eventually die from it. The vaccine, given within 24 hours, is over 95% effective at preventing the disease. When the full three-dose series is completed, 98% of healthy infants achieve full immunity.

The second dose comes at 1 to 2 months old — often at the 2-month well-child visit — and the third between 6 and 18 months. Babies born to mothers who are hepatitis B-positive receive both the vaccine and a separate injection of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (a concentrated dose of protective antibodies) within 12 hours of birth.

02The 2-month visit: the big appointment

The 2-month well-child visit is the heaviest vaccine appointment of your baby's first year. At this visit, according to HealthyChildren.org, babies typically receive first doses of five vaccines — often six, counting the second hepatitis B dose.

Five vaccines in one visit can feel overwhelming, but there is a clear reason the schedule is built this way — which the section on timing below covers. The short version: giving multiple vaccines at a single visit is safe, and getting protected early is the whole point.

03The 4-month visit: booster doses

At 4 months, your baby gets a second round of the same vaccines from the 2-month visit: DTaP, Hib, IPV, PCV, and rotavirus. These are not different vaccines — they are booster doses. The AAP schedule spaces the doses out because some vaccines require multiple doses before the immune system builds lasting protection, and the right interval between doses is determined by research into how long each dose's protection lasts and when the next dose works best.

04The 6-month visit and beyond

The 6-month visit brings third doses of DTaP, Hib, and PCV — and the third hepatitis B dose if not already given. The flu vaccine is also recommended starting at 6 months, given once every fall. Babies receiving the flu shot for the very first time need two doses at least four weeks apart, because their immune systems have never encountered influenza before. After that first year, one annual dose is enough.

The COVID-19 vaccine is also recommended by the 2026 AAP schedule beginning at 6 months old.

05The 12-month visit and the second year

Around the first birthday, a new set of vaccines joins the schedule. HealthyChildren.org lists the key additions at 12 to 15 months:

• MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) — protects against measles, which can cause pneumonia, encephalitis (brain inflammation), and deafness, as well as mumps and rubella. Two doses are needed, the first around 12 to 15 months and the second at 4 to 6 years.
• Varicella (chickenpox) — two doses, typically at 12 to 15 months and again at 4 to 6 years.
• Hepatitis A — two doses given six months apart, starting between 12 and 23 months.
• Final Hib and PCV doses — for most babies, the 12-to-15-month visit wraps up these series.

06RSV protection for newborns

RSV — respiratory syncytial virus — is, as the 2026 AAP schedule notes, the leading cause of hospitalization for babies before their first birthday. Protection comes through one of two routes: a vaccine given to the pregnant parent during pregnancy, which passes protective antibodies to the baby before birth, or a monoclonal antibody injection called nirsevimab (brand name Beyfortus) given to the baby at or shortly after birth during RSV season. Your pediatrician can advise on which option applies based on the timing of your delivery and local availability.

07Why the timing is deliberate

The vaccine schedule is not designed for convenience — it is designed to match your baby's biology. According to HealthyChildren.org, vaccine timing is based on two things: when a child's immune system responds most effectively to each vaccine, and the earliest point when protection is actually needed. Newborns carry some antibodies passed through the placenta during pregnancy, but that borrowed protection fades in the first months of life. The vaccines are timed to fill in as that early immunity disappears.

Delaying or spacing out vaccines extends the window when your baby is unprotected. The AAP is direct about this: delaying doses "leaves your child vulnerable during the time when they need protection the most." Hib and pneumococcal disease, for instance, almost always strike in the first two years of life — which is precisely why protection starts at 2 months, not later.

08What to expect after the shots

Reactions after vaccines are common and almost always mild. According to the AAP immunization reactions guide, the most common responses are:

• Soreness, redness, or swelling at the injection site — typical within 24 hours and lasting 3 to 5 days. For DTaP specifically, mild soreness at the site can linger up to 7 days. Gently massaging the area a few times a day can help, as can a warm wet cloth applied for 10 minutes.
• Fever — usually starts within 24 hours and lasts 1 to 2 days. A low-grade fever of 100 to 102°F does not require medication. For a fever above 102°F, the AAP says acetaminophen may be given for comfort.
• Fussiness, crying, or restless sleep — common and caused mostly by soreness at the shot site. The AAP notes these usually resolve within 24 to 48 hours without any treatment.
• Drowsiness or a decreased appetite — also normal and temporary.

09Multiple shots at one visit are safe

Many parents worry that so many vaccines at once could overwhelm a baby's immune system. According to MedlinePlus (NIH), vaccines do not overload children's immune systems — healthy babies encounter thousands of germs every day, and vaccines expose them to only weakened or inactivated forms, which is a small fraction of what their immune system handles routinely. The AAP notes that the research supporting the safety of giving multiple vaccines in one visit is extensive, and twelve national medical organizations formally endorse the schedule.

10A note on the 2026 schedule

In 2026, the AAP's recommended immunization schedule and the schedule published by the CDC diverged. The CDC removed several vaccines from its routine recommendations for children. The AAP responded by stating that the CDC's changes "depart from longstanding medical evidence" and that it will continue publishing its own evidence-based guidance. Twelve major medical organizations representing over one million clinicians formally endorse the AAP schedule. The vaccines described in this article reflect the AAP's recommendations — the ones your pediatrician is most likely following. If you have questions about what schedule your practice uses, ask at your next visit.

11What else happens at well-child visits

Vaccine appointments do not exist in isolation. Well-child visits are also when your pediatrician tracks your baby's growth, checks their development, and answers whatever has come up since the last time. Our newborn basics guide covers what those first weeks look like overall, and the first twelve weeks guide walks through what to expect at each milestone along the way.

If you are still in the planning phase, our free week-by-week planner includes reminders for well-child visits and what to bring, so the first appointment does not catch you off guard — only the bandage does.

Questions parents actually ask

Newborn Weeks is planning help, not medical advice — always follow your own doctor, midwife, or pediatrician.