Your Baby's First Vaccines

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The vaccination schedule starts at two months of age

Vaccines protect your baby against serious, life-threatening infectious diseases
The routine vaccine schedule is designed to protect your baby when they’re most at risk for certain diseases. A delay or gap in getting these vaccines leaves them vulnerable.
In Ontario, 2 month old babies get:
- DTaP-IPV-Hib, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type b
  - This is an intramuscular injection into your baby’s thigh
- Pneu-C-13, which protects against 13 types of pneumococcal bacteria
  - This is an intramuscular injection into your baby’s thigh
- Rot-1, which protects against rotavirus
  - This is an oral vaccine, given as a liquid for your baby to drink
All three vaccines are given in the same visit
- Vaccines given at the same time work just as well together with no increase in side effects
- When your baby gets their routine vaccines on time, you will have fewer trips to the doctor and your baby will have fewer periods of discomfort
- Your healthcare provider gives these vaccines
- Rotavirus is usually first
- One injected vaccine is usually given in each thigh
Your healthcare provider may recommend other vaccines if your baby is at high risk

The next set of routine vaccines are at 4 months, 6 months, 12 months, etc., based on the publicly funded schedule

The number and types of vaccines given on each visit is different
Some of these may be new for your baby, others may be boosters of vaccines your baby has already received
It is important to stay up-to-date with vaccinations

We recommend the flu vaccine each year in the fall

This is for children 6 months and older
Children six months to two years old can get their flu shot from a doctor or nurse practitioner. Children under two years old cannot get a flu shot at a pharmacy.
The first time a child less than 9 years old gets the flu vaccine, they will need 2 doses 4 weeks apart
If your child is 9 and older, or has had the flu vaccine before, they only need 1 dose each year

What if my baby was born premature?

Premature babies in stable condition should be vaccinated based on their chronological age
Premature babies receive less antibodies from their mothers, and are more likely to get sick
- Especially babies born at less than 28 weeks gestation
- Vaccinations can protect them from preventable illnesses
Vaccines are effective and should not be delayed

Reporting your baby’s vaccinations

All vaccines need to be reported to Public Health
Your baby's health care provider is not required to do this for you
Use the personal immunization record (yellow card) to keep track of your baby's vaccinations
Keep your baby’s yellow card in a safe place with other valuable documents, such as birth certificates, health cards and passports

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