The first well-baby visit feels like a lot to take in — and then: the shots. Vaccines are among the most extensively studied medical interventions in history and are safe, effective, and critical for protecting your child.
The recommended first-year schedule includes: Hepatitis B at birth; DTaP, Hib, IPV, PCV, and RV at 2 and 4 months; additional doses at 6 months; and MMR, Varicella, and Hepatitis A at 12 months.
Common side effects — soreness, mild fever, fussiness — are normal immune responses that resolve within 1–3 days. Serious adverse events are extremely rare. The connection between vaccines and autism has been definitively rejected by multiple large studies involving millions of children. The original 1998 Wakefield paper was retracted due to ethical violations and data fraud.
If you have questions about the vaccine schedule, your pediatrician is your best resource.
