Prevention Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers
Prevention Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers
Here are the screening tests and immunizations for infants from birth to age 2. Although you and your health care provider may decide that a different schedule is best for your baby, this plan can guide your discussion.
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Screening
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Who needs it
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How often
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APGAR (a test to determine how well an infant tolerated the birthing process and is adapting to his or her new environment)
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All newborns
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One minute and five minutes after birth
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Congenital hypothyroidism
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All newborns
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Before leaving hospital or 2 to 4 days of age
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Hearing loss
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All newborns
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Before leaving hospital or at 1 month
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Elevated lead levels
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All year-old infants* and children age 2 who are at average or increased risk
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Yearly
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Iron-deficiency anemia
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All infants between 6 and 12 months* and children ages 1 to 5 years who are at average or increased risk
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Yearly
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Newborn screenings (some states require 29 or more tests for infections and disorders)
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All newborns
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Before leaving hospital
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Phenylketonuria
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All newborns
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Before leaving hospital
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Prevention of dental caries
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Children ages 6 months to 5 years whose primary water source is deficient in fluoride
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At routine exams; first dental visit recommended at 1 year
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Sickle cell disease
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Newborns
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Birth to 2 months
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Visual impairments
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Children younger than 5 years
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At well-child/routine exams
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Immunization
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Who needs it
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How often
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Hepatitis B vaccine (monovalent)
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All infants
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At birth, between 1 and 2 months, and a final dose at 6 to 18 months
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Diphtheria
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All infants
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At 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months, and a booster at 4 to 6 years
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Tetanus toxoids
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All infants
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At 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months, and a booster at 4 to 6 years
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Acellular pertussis
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All infants
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At 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months, and a booster at 4 to 6 years
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Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate
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All infants
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At 2 months and 4 months; additional doses may be required, based on which vaccine your doctor uses
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Inactivated poliovirus
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All infants
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At 2 months, 4 months, 6 to 18 months (and a booster at 4 to 6 years)
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Pneumococcal (conjugate)
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All infants
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At 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and at 12 to 15 months
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Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
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All infants
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First dose between 12 and 15 months (and the second dose at 4 to 6 years, or before starting kindergarten)
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Chickenpox (varicella)
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Those infants who have not contracted chickenpox
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Between 12 and 15 months (and the second dose at 4 to 6 years)
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Flu (seasonal); trivalent inactivated influenza
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All infants
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At 6 months, and then annually when the flu vaccine becomes available in the community; the first year your child gets this vaccine two doses are required up until 8 years of age
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Hepatitis A
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All infants
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At ages 12 to 23 months, with a second dose at least six months after the first dose
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Rotavirus
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All infants
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At 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months (must be started before 14 weeks, 6 days of age)
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*Screening guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics
All other screening guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
Immunization schedule from the CDC
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