Conceptos básicos: Descripción general

Vaccines (also called shots or immunizations) help protect children from serious diseases. Getting your child vaccinated also protects other people in your community who may not be able to get vaccines.

Vaccines work best when children get them at certain ages. Making sure your child gets vaccinated on schedule helps keep them healthy.

It’s important for your child to get all recommended vaccines.

Getting all recommended vaccines will help protect your child from diseases that can be dangerous or even deadly, including:

• Measles
• Whooping cough (pertussis)
• Chickenpox
• Hepatitis A and B

Many vaccines require more than 1 dose. For the best protection, your child needs to get every recommended dose of each vaccine. If your child misses a dose, they may not be protected.

It’s important for every child to get vaccinated.

Gracias a las vacunas, muchas enfermedades infantiles graves que antes eran comunes ahora son raras. Sin embargo, las bacterias y los virus (gérmenes) que causan estas enfermedades aún existen.

Each child who isn’t vaccinated can get sick themselves — or spread those germs to other people.

When does my child need these vaccines?

Children need to get different vaccines at different ages. Doctors follow a schedule for vaccines that begins at birth.

• Use this parent-friendly vaccine schedule to find out when kids age 6 years or younger need vaccines
• If you think your child may have missed some vaccines, talk to the doctor about “catch-up” vaccines
• Doctors recommend that pre-teens ages 11 and 12 years get important vaccines, too — find out more about vaccines for pre-teens 

Ask the doctor for a list of the vaccines your child has gotten. Keep the list in a safe place — you’ll need it for school and other activities. Kids who aren’t up to date on their vaccines may not be allowed to go to certain schools. 

Lo básico: seguridad y efectos secundarios

¿Existen efectos secundarios derivados de estas vacunas?

Side effects from vaccines are usually mild and go away after a few days. The most common side effect is pain or redness where the vaccine was given. Some children don’t have any side effects at all.

Las vacunas son muy seguras.

Vaccines go through a careful testing process before doctors start giving them to people. Also, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continue to track vaccines to make sure they’re safe. The chance that a vaccine will cause a serious problem is very small.

Vaccines don’t cause autism.

Autism is a brain disorder that can cause social, communication, and behavioral issues. For example, kids with autism may have trouble talking and connecting with other people.

Some people have worried that autism could be linked to childhood vaccines. But many studies have shown that vaccines don’t cause autism.

To learn more about kids and vaccines, read these answers to common questions.

Toma medidas: Consulta a un médico.

Protect your child from serious diseases by making sure they get all recommended vaccines.

Find out which vaccines your child needs.

Talk to your child’s doctor about vaccines. Be sure your child gets:

• Any vaccines recommended for their age — learn more about which vaccines your child may still need
• A seasonal flu vaccine — everyone age 6 months and older needs to get the seasonal flu vaccine every year
• An updated COVID-19 vaccine — people age 6 months and older also need to get vaccinated for COVID

Some babies also need to get an RSV shot, depending on the time of year they were born and if their mother got an RSV vaccine during pregnancy. RSV shots for babies aren’t vaccines — but like vaccines, they help keep babies from getting sick. Ask your baby’s doctor if they need an RSV shot, and learn more about protecting your baby from RSV.

You can usually get flu and COVID vaccines and RSV shots at a health clinic, a pharmacy, or your local health department. If you’re not sure where to start, call your child’s doctor or your local health department. 

Informe al médico sobre cualquier reacción adversa.

Serious side effects after getting a vaccine — like a severe allergic reaction — are very rare. If your child or another family member has had a bad reaction to a vaccine in the past, tell the doctor before your child gets a vaccine.

Preste especial atención a su hijo durante los días posteriores a la vacunación. Si observa algo que le preocupe, llame al médico de su hijo.

Tome medidas: Costo y seguro

¿Y el costo?

Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance plans must cover recommended vaccines for kids. Depending on your insurance plan, you may be able to get your child’s vaccines at no cost to you. Check with your insurance company to find out what’s included in your plan.

Su hijo también podría ser elegible para un seguro médico gratuito o de bajo costo a través de Medicaid o del Programa de Seguro Médico para Niños (CHIP, por sus siglas en inglés). Learn more about coverage options for your family.

If you don’t have insurance, you can still get your child’s vaccines:

• Averigua si tu hijo reúne los requisitos para recibir vacunas gratuitas.
• Encuentra un programa de vacunación gratuito o de bajo costo en tu estado.
• Find a health center near you and ask about vaccines

Para obtener más información, consulta estos recursos:

• Atención preventiva gratuita para niños cubiertos por la Ley de Cuidado de Salud Asequible.
• Cómo te protege la Ley de Cuidado de Salud Asequible
• Entienda su seguro médico y cómo usarlo [PDF – 698 KB]

Take Action: Make Vaccines Less Stressful

Help make the vaccine visit easier for your child.

To help your child during their vaccine visit, you can:

• Stay calm
• Ask the doctor or nurse for tips on how to hold a young child during the shot
• Distract your child during the vaccine — like telling a joke, singing a song, or pointing to a picture on the wall
• Praise your child after the vaccine is over

Get more tips on making vaccines less stressful for you and your child.