Healthy living means playing an active role in managing your
own health and taking advantage of the preventive care available
through your health insurance plan and primary care physicians.
The information provided here is intended as a guideline for
basic preventive health screenings, check-ups, and immunizations.
These guidelines are based on recommendations published by the
US Preventive Services Task Force, American Academy of Pediatrics,
and government statutes.
The single most important step you can take to protect your child
from serious childhood illnesses is timely immunization. It's
a process that involves several steps. The chart below outlines
standard preventive screenings, immunizations, and parent education
tips.
You can use this guide to plan your child's immunizations.
If your child has missed any of the recommended vaccinations,
consult your pediatrian for advice. It is also important to remember
that the following chart is a recommended plan only. Each child
is unique and may require a different immunization schedule or
more frequent primary care visits. If you have any questions or
concerns, please consult your physician.
Birth to age 2
Ages 2 to 6
Ages 7 to 12
Ages 13 to 18
Regular visits - at birth, two weeks, and two, four,
six, nine, 12, 15, and 18 months
Screenings
- Erythrocyte protoporphyrin (lead poisoning) at nine to 12
months
- Head circumference
- Height and weight
- Hematocrit and hemoglobin once during infancy, one to nine
months, and usually at nine months
- Infant metabolic screening (T4, TSH, phenylalanine blood tests),
phenylketonuria (PKU) at three to six days old
- Visual and hearing evaluation at six months (subjective)
Immunizations
- DTP (diphtheria, tetanus [lockjaw], pertussis [whooping cough])
at two, four, and six months, and 15 to 18 months
- HBV (Hepatitis B vaccine) at birth, one to two months, and
six to 18 months
- Hib (Haemophilus influenza type B) at two, four, and
six months, and 12 to 18 months
- MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) at 12 to 15 months
- OPV (oral polio vaccine) at two, four, and 12 to 18 months
- Varicella zoster vaccine at 12 to 18 months
Parent education/responsibility
- Development
- Nutrition - breastfeeding, iron-rich foods
- Injury prevention - child safety seats, smoke detectors,
poison control telephone number
- Discipline, behavior
- Sleep habits
- Effects of passive smoke
- Dental health - baby bottle tooth decay
- Safe sun exposure
Annual physicals
- Additional visits at your physician's discretion
Screenings
- Eye examination for amblyopia strabismus from three to five
years of age
- Visual and hearing evaluation from four to six years of age
(objective)
- Height, weight, and blood pressure
- Urinalysis from five years of age
Immunizations
- DTaP or DTP (diphtheria, tetanus [lockjaw], pertussis [whooping
cough]) once from four to six years of age
- MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) from four to six years of age
- OPV (oral polio vaccine) once from four to six years of age
Parent education/responsibility
- Dental health
- Diet and exercise
- Injury prevention - seat belts, bicycle safety helmets,
storage of toxic chemicals and matches, poison control phone
numbers, smoke detectors
- Development, discipline, behavior
- Safe sun exposure
Annual physicals
- Additional visits at your physician's discretion
Screenings
- Height, weight, and blood pressure
- Urinalysis from 11 to 21 years of age
Immunizations (make-up)
- Hepatitis B vaccine from 11 to 12 years of age
- Second MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) from 11 to 12 years of
age
(acceptable alternative for second dose if not given at age four
to six)
- TD (tetanus-diphtheria booster) from 11 to 16 years of age
and once every 10 years thereafter
Parent/patient education/responsibility
- Bicycle safety helmets, seat belts, and smoke detectors
- Dental health, good health habits
- Diet and exercise
- Injury prevention - storage of firearms
- Prevention of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use
- Discipline, behavior
- Safe sun exposure
Annual physicals
- Or at your physician's discretion
Screenings
- Medical history
- Sexual practices
- Physical activity
- Tobacco, alcohol, and drug use
Physical examination
- Height, weight, and blood pressure
- Urinalysis once every year from 11 to 21 years of age
Parent/patient education/responsibility
- Dental health
- Injury prevention
- Diet and exercise
- Social history
- Seat belts
- Sexual practices
- Prevention and cessation of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use
- Safe sun exposure
Laboratory/diagnostic procedures
- Pap smear for sexually active females (or for females on oral
contraceptives for non-contraceptive indications)
Immunizations
- TD (tetanus-diphtheria booster) from 11 to 16 years of age
and once every 10 years thereafter
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