At Elm Street Pediatrics, we follow the national immunization guidelines set forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control (ACIP/ CDC), and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).  You can see their links here, with current information on the various vaccines, side effects, schedules, and much more.  The CDC website also has a nice section on frequently asked questions (FAQ).

Please note that these vaccine recommendations apply to otherwise healthy children.  If your child has a serious or chronic medical illness, different recommendations may apply.  Please discuss these situations directly with your provider. 

We also understand that you may have some concerns about following this schedule, or that you may wish to proceed more slowly than this schedule recommends.  We at Elm Street Pediatrics will do our best to educate you about the vaccines, their risks, and their benefits.  We will work with you in order to provide your family with a safe and effective vaccine schedule that you are comfortable with for your children.
 

• 1 month old: Hepatitis B #2 (assuming #1 given in hospital following birth)
  
• 2 months: Pentacel (DTaP, Hib, IPV) #1, Prevnar (Pneumococcal) #1, Rotavirus #1*
  
• 4 months: Pentacel (DTaP, Hib, IPV) #2, Prevnar (Pneumococcal) #2, Rotavirus #2*
  
• 6 months: Pentacel (DTaP, Hib, IPV) #3, Prevnar (Pneumococcal) #3, Rotavirus #3*
  
• 9 months: Hepatitis B #3
  
• 12-18 months: Prevnar #4, MMR #1, Varicella #1, Hib #4, DTaP #4
  
• 12-24 months old: Hepatitis A #1**
• 2-3 years old: Hepatitis A#2**
• 4-5 years old: IPV #4, DTaP #5, MMR #2, Varicella #2***
• 11-12 years old: Tdap
• 11-14 years old: Meningococcal vaccine ("meningitis shot"), Gardasil (HPV)#1-3****
• 16-18 years old: Meningococcal vaccine #2
  
• >20 years old: Tdap every 10 years*****

Footnotes from above:
*: Rotavirus, an oral vaccine, is recommended by the ACIP but not required; it is up to you and your provider if you choose to administer this vaccine.
**: Hepatitis A is recommended by the ACIP but not required by schools; it is up to you and your provider when and if you choose to administer this vaccine.
***: Varicella booster shot is recommended at this age by the ACIP but not required by schools; it is up to you and your provider when you choose to administer this vaccine.
****: HPV vaccine is recommended for both girls and boys.  It has become regular practice for girls to get the vaccine.  Some boys have received it, and others have not.  This is up to you and your provider to discuss.
*****: Tetatus boosters, in the form of Tdap, are recommended every ten years.  Assuming the previous dose was at age 11, the next one is due at age 21, and every ten years thereafter.

At Elm Street Pediatrics, we participate in the Illinois Vaccines for Children Program (VFC).  Under this program through the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, if you are on public insurance or your insurance does not cover vaccines, we will provide you with vaccines for your child.  You will only be responsible for the charge for the administration of the vaccine; the vaccine itself is free.  Please ask us if you have questions about this, or if you feel you may qualify for participation in the VFC program.