WELL-CHILD CHECKUP AND IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE

The following outlines the typical checkup and immunization schedule. There may be circumstances which call for slightly different administration of vaccines based on vaccine availability, your child’s health or other factors. Your doctor will discuss an immunization schedule for your child. 

Complete information on vaccines including frequently asked questions, immunization schedules, effectiveness and safety is available at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  and at Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia .

Please click here to see our Immunization Policy. 

Key:

• Hep B = hepatitis B. Protects against bloodborne viral infection of the liver. Total of 3 shots.

• DTaP = diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis. Protects against diphtheria, a bacterial respiratory illness, tetanus, a bacterial infection commonly known as lockjaw, and pertussis, a bacterial infection commonly known as whooping cough. Total of 5 doses.

• IPV = inactivated polio vaccine. Protects against polio, a viral infection which can cause childhood paralysis. Total of 4 doses.

• Hib = Haemophilus influenzae type B. Protects against bacterial infection which can cause pneumonia, meningitis or other invasive infections. Total of 4 doses.

• Pneumo =Pneumococcal = protects against 20 serotypes of pneumococcal bacterial which can cause otitis, pneumonia, meningitis or other invasive infections. Total of 4 doses.

• Rota = rotavirus. Protects against viral gastrointestinal infection causing vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration. Total of 3 doses by mouth.

• Hep A = hepatitis A. Protects against viral foodborne infection of the liver. Total of 2 doses.

• MMR = measles, mumps, rubella. Protects against childhood viral infections. Total of 2 doses.

• Varicella = chickenpox. Protects against childhood viral infection. Total of 2 doses.

• MMRV = measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox. Protects against childhood viral infection. (combo vaccine).

• TdaP = tetanus, diptheria and pertussis booster. See DTaP above. Booster every 5-10 years starting at 11 years of age.

• Meningitis ACWY = Meningitis serogroups A, C, W, and Y. Protects against bacterial infection causing meningococcal meningitis. Total of 2 doses

• Meningitis B = Meningitis serogroup B. Protects against bacterial infection causing meningococcal meningitis. Total of 2 or 3 shots depending on interval between doses.

• HPV = human papilloma virus. Protects against sexually transmitted viral infection of the female cervix, male genitalia, or throat known to cause cancer and genital warts. Total of 2 doses if series started before 15 years of age or 3 doses if started over 15.

• Flu = Influenza –  Protects against influenza and reduces the risk of serious infection and  death caused by influenza. First time vaccination under 9 years old requires 2 doses, 4 weeks apart and then annually.  Over 9 years old 1 dose annually.

• COVID = SARS-COVID 19 Pfizer/BioNTech- Protects against SARS-COVID-19 and reduces the risk of serious infection and  death caused by SARS-COVID-19.  Under 5 years old requires 3 doses and then 1 dose annually.  Five and over 1 dose annually.

Nirsevimab (RSV shot for infants):

• Given first RSV season (Oct-April)

• All infants less than 8 months of age are eligible unless mom received RSV vaccine during pregnancy more than 2 weeks prior to delivery

• Certain high risk populations are eligible for vaccine again during 2nd RSV season

• Reduces risks of severe disease by 80% and hospitalization by 90%

• Not a vaccine but a dose of antibodies specifically against RSV

Immunization Policy

At Monument Avenue Pediatrics, the health and safety of all our patients is our top priority. We believe vaccines are a crucial component of maintaining that health and protecting our community, especially our most vulnerable patients. Our office follows the immunization schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This schedule is based on decades of safety and effectiveness data. Reducing and eliminating the symptoms and complications of vaccine-preventable illnesses is one of the most important roles we have as pediatricians. 

After careful consideration and in alignment with the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) we have updated our vaccine policy, effective May 1, 2025.

Effective May 1, 2025, we require all patients to adhere to the AAP recommended immunization schedule. This policy is in place to ensure the safety of all children in our practice, including those too young to be vaccinated, with compromised immune systems, on chemotherapy or vaccine non-responders.

Our practice will not accept new families who do not vaccinate their children. Established patients who are behind on required vaccines will be given sufficient notice and time to bring their children up to date. Patients who are behind on the required vaccines will be given one month to begin to comply with our vaccine policy. If your child is behind we will provide counseling and easy access to get your child current on his or her vaccines.

If your child has a medical condition that requires a modification of the standard AAP vaccine schedule, in consultation with our infectious disease colleagues, we will discuss the appropriate vaccine schedule for your child.  Non-medical exemptions are not accepted. These include religious-belief, personal-belief, and philosophically-based exemptions. 

Resources:

We encourage you to review the following resources for more information about vaccines:

• AAP Immunization Schedule

• CDC Vaccines Website

• Immunize.org

• Vaccine Education Center