Well-Child Visits and Immunizations
Group Health recommends you bring your child in regularly to see their doctor to help keep your child healthy. During these visits your child's doctor will give any vaccines that are due, check your child's growth and development, and test vision and hearing starting at age 3.
Vaccines protect your child by immunizing him or her against certain diseases. Many of these vaccines protect your child for life. Some vaccines will be given as one shot (dose) or a series of shots (two or more doses). When available, we might give your child vaccines that are combined together in one shot.
For your child to be completely immunized against a disease, he or she must get all the recommended doses. There have been outbreaks of serious diseases in children who did not get fully immunized.
Also see: Common Questions About Immunizations
Some vaccines are required before your child can go to daycare or school. Washington and Idaho provide the following information on immunization requirements:
If you have a record of your child's immunizations, please bring it with you to your child's appointment. That way we can make sure we have the most up-to-date information.
Even if your child isn't due for vaccines, be sure to bring him or her in for a well-child visit. These visits give your child's doctor a chance to find and treat any concerns early. It's also a good time for you to ask any questions you have about your child's health.
Visit and Immunization Chart
This chart lists important vaccines and tests as well as recommended well-child visits. In addition to these vaccinations, we recommend all children from 6 months to 5 years old get a flu vaccine every fall.
| Age | Recommended Vaccines, Tests, and Office Visits |
|---|---|
| Birth |
Newborn blood screen Hepatitis B (Hep B) |
| 3-5 days | Well-child visit |
| 7-14 days | Well-child visit |
| 2 months | Well-child visit DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis) Hep B Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) PCV7 (pneumococcal conjugate) Rotavirus (given by mouth) IPV (polio) |
| 4 months | Well-child visit DTaP Hib PCV7 Rotavirus (given by mouth) IPV |
| 6 months | Well-child visit DTaP PCV7 Hib, if needed Rotavirus (given by mouth) IPV |
| 9 months | Well-child visit Hep B |
| 12 months | Well-child visit MMR (measles, mumps, rubella); not before first birthday Hepatitis A (Hep A); not before first birthday Varicella (chickenpox); not before first birthday |
| 15-18 months | Well-child visit DTaP Hib PCV7 Any 12-month immunizations not already given |
| 2 years | Well-child visit Hep A |
| 3 years | Well-child visit Vision screen Hearing screen |
| 4 years | Well-child visit |
| 5 years | Well-child visit DTaP IPV Varicella MMR, if not already given |
| 6 years | Well-child visit |
| 8 years | Well-child visit |
| 11 years | Well-child visit Tdap booster (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) MCV4 (meningococcal conjugate) Girls: HPV (human papillomavirus) in three doses, all to be given within 6 months |
| 12 years | Well-child visit |
| 13 years | Well-child visit Varicella blood test, if vaccine not given and no history of chickenpox |
| National guidelines allow some variation in the timing of well-child visits and immunizations. Some clinics will have a schedule that is different than the one above. Children who miss vaccinations on this schedule can get caught up at older ages. | |
We recommend a well-visit each year for everyone from age 11 to 21 years. To make sure your child doesn't miss a visit, make the appointment one to two months before your child's birthday. If your child needs a sports or camp physical, you can schedule an annual well-visit at the same time.
For information about teen appointments, see the Teen Health section. Youths aged 13 to 21 should fill out a Preventive Care Visit questionnaire (PDF) for teens before the annual visit.
Glossary
Newborn blood screen
The newborn blood screen uses a few drops of blood to test your baby for a number of conditions. We look for these conditions early so we can treat them before they lead to serious health problems. If we don't treat certain conditions in time they can cause a lifelong disability, and in some cases might even lead to a child's death. You can find more information about these conditions from your state health department.
DTaP
The DTaP immunization is given as a series of five shots. It protects against three diseases:
- Diphtheria can damage the heart, kidneys, and nerves. About one person in 10 who gets diphtheria will die from it.
- Tetanus (lockjaw) causes severe muscle spasms that make it hard to breathe. Tetanus happens when the tetanus bacteria infects a wound. About six people in 10 who get tetanus will die from it.
- Pertussis (whooping cough) causes severe coughing. It can also cause convulsions, brain damage, and death. Very young children are at the greatest risk of complications due to pertussis.
Tdap
Protection from the DTaP vaccines can fade over time. To keep immunity strong, adolescents and adults need booster vaccinations. Tdap is used as a booster vaccine for adolescents and adults to protect against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough). Pertussis can cause death in infants up to 6 months old. For this reason, anyone who has regular contact with an infant younger than 6 months old should receive a Tdap booster.
Hepatitis A
The hepatitis A vaccine is given in two doses. It protects against hepatitis A, which can cause severe liver problems.
Hepatitis B
The hepatitis B vaccine is given in three doses. It protects against hepatitis B, which can damage the liver, cause liver cancer, and lead to death.
Hib
The Hib vaccine protects from Haemophilus influenzae type b, which causes severe infections of the brain, blood, joints, bones, skin, and throat. It most often affects children younger than 5 years old.
HPV
The HPV (human papillomavirus vaccine) is given in three doses. It protects against diseases caused by the four types of HPV covered by the vaccine. These types can cause genital warts and precancers of the cervix, vulva, and vagina.
IPV
IPV protects against polio, a severe crippling disease. About one person in 10 who gets polio will die from it.
MMR
MMR is a combination immunization that protects against three diseases:
- Measles, which cause fever and rash. It also can cause convulsions, deafness, and blindness.
- Mumps, which cause fever and swelling of glands in the throat. It also can cause deafness, brain damage, and sterility in males.
- Rubella (German measles), which usually causes only a mild illness in children but is very easy to catch. If a pregnant woman gets infected with rubella, it can cause miscarriage or birth defects in her unborn child.
MCV4
MCV4 protects against meningitis, which is an infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord and causes blood infections.
PCV7
PCV7 protects against infection from the pneumococcal bacteria, which can cause ear infections, meningitis, blood infections, and pneumonia. Pneumococcal infections can be serious and may lead to death.
Rotavirus
Rotavirus is a virus that causes severe diarrhea in infants and young children. It may also cause fever and vomiting. The vaccine is given in three doses orally (by mouth). The doses are recommended at 2, 4, and 6 months of age. The first dose should be given between 6 and 12 weeks. The series should be complete by 32 weeks.
Varicella
Varicella vaccine is given in two doses. It protects against chickenpox, a potentially dangerous illness that may lead to death. If your child has had chickenpox, he or she might already be immune and may not need to be vaccinated. Discuss this with your child's doctor.
Immunization Records
You can view your child's immunization records online by signing up for parental access to MyGroupHealth. The online records are available for children from birth through age 12 who get care at a Group Health medical center. If you are a new Group Health member, please bring your child's immunization record to your first visit so we can add these to your child's Group Health record.
You can get a Lifetime Immunization Record card to track your child's immunizations. Ask your child's health care team for a copy or contact the Resource Line.
Getting Help
Always call if you have any concerns about your child's health. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911. For other health concerns, call your health care provider during office hours. After office hours or on weekends, contact the Consulting Nurse Service.
Group Health
Reviewed 08/27/2009