Vaccine Catch-Up Quick Reference

Routine schedule and minimum catch-up intervals for children and adolescents. Verify current CDC recommendations before administering.

Schedules change annually. Confirm at cdc.gov/vaccines before dosing.

Vaccine	Doses	Routine	Catch-up < 7 y	Catch-up 7–18 y	Notes
Hepatitis B HepB	3	Birth, 1–2 mo, 6–18 mo	1→2: ≥4 wk. 2→3: ≥8 wk (and ≥16 wk after dose 1). Min age dose 3: 24 wk.	Same intervals; complete 3-dose series.	—
Rotavirus RV	2 or 3 (brand-dependent)	2, 4 (± 6) mo	Max age first dose 14 wk 6 d. Max age any dose 8 mo 0 d. Do NOT start after 15 wk.	Not indicated.	Strict age limits — do not initiate after 15 wk 0 d.
DTaP DTaP	5	2, 4, 6, 15–18 mo, 4–6 y	1→2: 4 wk. 2→3: 4 wk. 3→4: 6 mo (and ≥12 mo old). 4→5: 6 mo.	Use Tdap for first catch-up dose, then Td/Tdap. See Tdap row.	—
Tdap / Td Tdap	1 adolescent booster	11–12 y	N/A (use DTaP).	1 Tdap dose, then Td/Tdap every 10 y. If never fully DTaP: Tdap → Td (or Tdap) at 4 wk → Td (or Tdap) at 6 mo.	—
Haemophilus influenzae b Hib	3 or 4 (brand-dependent)	2, 4, (6) mo, 12–15 mo booster	Complex — see CDC catch-up. Not indicated ≥5 y in healthy children.	Only if asplenia, HIV, HSCT, or complement deficiency.	—
Pneumococcal conjugate PCV15/20	4	2, 4, 6, 12–15 mo	Doses needed depend on age at first dose. Generally not indicated ≥5 y unless high-risk.	Only if high-risk (asplenia, immunocompromise, cochlear implant).	—
Inactivated poliovirus IPV	4	2, 4, 6–18 mo, 4–6 y	1→2: 4 wk. 2→3: 4 wk. 3→4: 6 mo (and ≥4 y for final dose).	Complete series if unvaccinated; no doses after 18 y routinely.	—
MMR MMR	2	12–15 mo, 4–6 y	1→2: ≥4 wk (if given before age 4).	1→2: ≥4 wk.	Live vaccine — avoid pregnancy 4 wk after dose.
Varicella VAR	2	12–15 mo, 4–6 y	1→2: ≥3 mo (if <13 y).	1→2: ≥4 wk (if ≥13 y).	Live vaccine — avoid pregnancy 4 wk after dose.
Hepatitis A HepA	2	12–23 mo (two doses ≥6 mo apart)	1→2: ≥6 mo.	1→2: ≥6 mo.	—
Influenza (annual) IIV / LAIV	1–2 per season	Yearly ≥6 mo	First season <9 y: 2 doses ≥4 wk apart.	≥9 y: 1 dose per season.	—
HPV HPV	2 or 3	Start at 9–12 y	N/A.	Age <15 at first dose: 2 doses (0, 6–12 mo). Age ≥15 or immunocompromised: 3 doses (0, 1–2, 6 mo).	—
Meningococcal ACWY MenACWY	2	11–12 y, booster 16 y	Only if high-risk (asplenia, complement deficiency, travel).	Complete both doses. If first dose ≥16 y, booster not needed unless high-risk.	—
Meningococcal B MenB	2 (shared clinical decision, 16–23 y)	Optional 16–23 y	Only if asplenia or complement deficiency.	Shared clinical decision; give both doses (brand-specific interval).	—
COVID-19 COVID	Per current CDC schedule	Age- and product-specific	Follow current CDC schedule at cdc.gov/vaccines.	Follow current CDC schedule at cdc.gov/vaccines.	Schedule changes frequently — verify before dosing.

Hepatitis B

HepB

Doses: 3

Routine: Birth, 1–2 mo, 6–18 mo

<7 y catch-up: 1→2: ≥4 wk. 2→3: ≥8 wk (and ≥16 wk after dose 1). Min age dose 3: 24 wk.

7–18 y catch-up: Same intervals; complete 3-dose series.

Rotavirus

Doses: 2 or 3 (brand-dependent)

Routine: 2, 4 (± 6) mo

<7 y catch-up: Max age first dose 14 wk 6 d. Max age any dose 8 mo 0 d. Do NOT start after 15 wk.

7–18 y catch-up: Not indicated.

Strict age limits — do not initiate after 15 wk 0 d.

DTaP

Doses: 5

Routine: 2, 4, 6, 15–18 mo, 4–6 y

<7 y catch-up: 1→2: 4 wk. 2→3: 4 wk. 3→4: 6 mo (and ≥12 mo old). 4→5: 6 mo.

7–18 y catch-up: Use Tdap for first catch-up dose, then Td/Tdap. See Tdap row.

Tdap / Td

Tdap

Doses: 1 adolescent booster

Routine: 11–12 y

<7 y catch-up: N/A (use DTaP).

7–18 y catch-up: 1 Tdap dose, then Td/Tdap every 10 y. If never fully DTaP: Tdap → Td (or Tdap) at 4 wk → Td (or Tdap) at 6 mo.

Haemophilus influenzae b

Hib

Doses: 3 or 4 (brand-dependent)

Routine: 2, 4, (6) mo, 12–15 mo booster

<7 y catch-up: Complex — see CDC catch-up. Not indicated ≥5 y in healthy children.

7–18 y catch-up: Only if asplenia, HIV, HSCT, or complement deficiency.

Pneumococcal conjugate

PCV15/20

Doses: 4

Routine: 2, 4, 6, 12–15 mo

<7 y catch-up: Doses needed depend on age at first dose. Generally not indicated ≥5 y unless high-risk.

7–18 y catch-up: Only if high-risk (asplenia, immunocompromise, cochlear implant).

Inactivated poliovirus

IPV

Doses: 4

Routine: 2, 4, 6–18 mo, 4–6 y

<7 y catch-up: 1→2: 4 wk. 2→3: 4 wk. 3→4: 6 mo (and ≥4 y for final dose).

7–18 y catch-up: Complete series if unvaccinated; no doses after 18 y routinely.

MMR

Doses: 2

Routine: 12–15 mo, 4–6 y

<7 y catch-up: 1→2: ≥4 wk (if given before age 4).

7–18 y catch-up: 1→2: ≥4 wk.

Live vaccine — avoid pregnancy 4 wk after dose.

Varicella

VAR

Doses: 2

Routine: 12–15 mo, 4–6 y

<7 y catch-up: 1→2: ≥3 mo (if <13 y).

7–18 y catch-up: 1→2: ≥4 wk (if ≥13 y).

Live vaccine — avoid pregnancy 4 wk after dose.

Hepatitis A

HepA

Doses: 2

Routine: 12–23 mo (two doses ≥6 mo apart)

<7 y catch-up: 1→2: ≥6 mo.

7–18 y catch-up: 1→2: ≥6 mo.

Influenza (annual)

IIV / LAIV

Doses: 1–2 per season

Routine: Yearly ≥6 mo

<7 y catch-up: First season <9 y: 2 doses ≥4 wk apart.

7–18 y catch-up: ≥9 y: 1 dose per season.

HPV

Doses: 2 or 3

Routine: Start at 9–12 y

<7 y catch-up: N/A.

7–18 y catch-up: Age <15 at first dose: 2 doses (0, 6–12 mo). Age ≥15 or immunocompromised: 3 doses (0, 1–2, 6 mo).

Meningococcal ACWY

MenACWY

Doses: 2

Routine: 11–12 y, booster 16 y

<7 y catch-up: Only if high-risk (asplenia, complement deficiency, travel).

7–18 y catch-up: Complete both doses. If first dose ≥16 y, booster not needed unless high-risk.

Meningococcal B

MenB

Doses: 2 (shared clinical decision, 16–23 y)

Routine: Optional 16–23 y

<7 y catch-up: Only if asplenia or complement deficiency.

7–18 y catch-up: Shared clinical decision; give both doses (brand-specific interval).

COVID-19

COVID

Doses: Per current CDC schedule

Routine: Age- and product-specific

<7 y catch-up: Follow current CDC schedule at cdc.gov/vaccines.

7–18 y catch-up: Follow current CDC schedule at cdc.gov/vaccines.

Schedule changes frequently — verify before dosing.

Red flags / contraindications

Anaphylaxis to a prior dose or vaccine component → do not repeat
Moderate/severe acute illness with fever → defer
Pregnancy → no live vaccines (MMR, VAR, LAIV)
Severe immunocompromise → no live vaccines
Guillain-Barré within 6 wk of prior flu vaccine → precaution
Recent IVIG/blood product → defer MMR/VAR (interval depends on product)

Live vaccines: MMR, VAR, LAIV, Rotavirus, Yellow fever, BCG. Avoid in pregnancy and severe immunocompromise.

For licensed clinician reference only. This content is a quick-reference aid and is not medical advice. Verify every dose, indication, contraindication, and interaction against current manufacturer labeling and authoritative guidelines (AAP, CDC, IDSA, Sanford Guide, LactMed) before prescribing. The authors and publisher accept no liability for clinical decisions made using this tool.