Babies get more vaccines in their first year than at almost any other point in life, because that's when they're most vulnerable to diseases the vaccines protect against. The exact schedule - which vaccines, and exactly when - varies by country, so this is a general overview rather than a specific schedule to follow.
Note: This is general information, not medical advice, and not a specific vaccination schedule. Your pediatrician or local health authority provides the official schedule for where you live - use that as your source of truth, not this article.
Why the First-Year Schedule Looks So Busy
Newborns are born with some immunity passed from their mother, but that protection fades over the first months of life - right around the time babies start being more exposed to the world. Vaccines are timed to build a baby's own protection as that early immunity wears off, often as combination shots that protect against several diseases at once to reduce the number of separate injections.
A General First-Year Overview
| Roughly when | What typically happens |
|---|---|
| At birth | Some countries give a first dose before hospital discharge |
| Around 2 months | First round of routine infant vaccines, often combined |
| Around 4 months | Second round, continuing the same series |
| Around 6 months | Third round, plus seasonal vaccines in some countries |
| Around 12 months | Additional vaccines often begin around this age |
Specific vaccine names, combinations, and exact ages differ between countries and even between regions. Your pediatrician's office or local health ministry/department publishes the schedule that actually applies to your baby.
What's Normal After a Vaccine
Mild reactions are common and generally resolve on their own within a day or two: soreness or redness at the injection site, mild fever, fussiness, or sleepiness. These are typically signs the immune system is responding, not a sign anything went wrong.
When to Call Your Doctor After a Vaccine
Call your pediatrician if you notice: a fever in a baby under 3 months (always an emergency at that age), a fever that's unusually high or lasts more than a couple of days, swelling that keeps growing, difficulty breathing, or a baby who seems unusually limp or hard to console. These are uncommon, but worth checking promptly.
Keeping Track of Vaccines
Between well-baby visits, travel, and switching pediatricians, it's easy to lose track of exactly what your baby has had and when. A record you and your family can both check saves you from guessing at the next appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do babies need so many vaccines in the first year?
Early maternal immunity fades over the first months of life, right as babies are most vulnerable - vaccines are timed to build the baby's own protection during that window.
Is it normal for a baby to have a mild fever after a vaccine?
Yes, a mild fever, soreness, or fussiness for a day or two is common and generally a sign the immune system is responding normally.
Where can I find my baby's official vaccine schedule?
Your pediatrician's office or local health authority publishes the specific schedule for your country, which can differ from general overviews like this one.
Related Reading
Vaccine records, kept in one place
Milli lets your family keep encrypted vaccine records alongside medicine reminders and health event logs, shared across everyone caring for your baby - so the record travels with you, not just one parent's memory.