The US's routine childhood schedule protects against 18 diseases (see the full United States schedule). Doses your child has already had abroad almost always count - the job on arrival is to get them recorded and fill any gaps.
Your first weeks in the US
- Every state sets its own list of vaccines required for school and most childcare, and the rules on exemptions differ from state to state. Ask your new school or your state health department which records they need before enrolment.
- Children aged 18 and under who are uninsured, underinsured or eligible for Medicaid can get recommended vaccines at no cost through the federal Vaccines for Children (VFC) program.
- Pediatricians fill gaps using the CDC catch-up schedule, so doses already given abroad are counted where they meet the minimum ages and intervals.
- Bring your child's written vaccination record with vaccine names, dates and batch numbers if you have them. If it is not in English, a translation helps.
Coming from: United Kingdom · India. Another country? Use the comparison tool.
🇬🇧 Coming from the UK
The US's routine schedule covers a disease that the UK's does not: Hepatitis A. Depending on your child's age, these may be offered as catch-up doses.
Both countries cover diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio and Hib and more, but at different ages, so a course started in the UK is finished on the US's timetable.
Bring the "red book" (Personal Child Health Record).
Side by side: the UK and the US ages for each disease
| Disease | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 🇺🇸 United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria | 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 18 months, 3 years 4 months, 14 years (school year 9) | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months, 4 to 6 years, 11 to 12 years | |
| Tetanus | 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 18 months, 3 years 4 months, 14 years (school year 9) | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months, 4 to 6 years, 11 to 12 years | |
| Whooping cough | 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 18 months, 3 years 4 months | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months, 4 to 6 years, 11 to 12 years | |
| Polio | 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 18 months, 3 years 4 months, 14 years (school year 9) | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 4 to 6 years | |
| Hib | 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 18 months | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 12 to 15 months | |
| Hepatitis B | 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 18 months | Birth, 1 to 2 months, 6 months | |
| Pneumococcal disease | 16 weeks, 1 year (12-13 months) | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 12 to 15 months | |
| Rotavirus | 8 weeks, 12 weeks | 2 months, 4 months | |
| Measles | 1 year (12-13 months), 18 months, 3 years 4 months | 12 to 15 months, 4 to 6 years | |
| Mumps | 1 year (12-13 months), 18 months, 3 years 4 months | 12 to 15 months, 4 to 6 years | |
| Rubella | 1 year (12-13 months), 18 months, 3 years 4 months | 12 to 15 months, 4 to 6 years | |
| Chickenpox | 1 year (12-13 months), 18 months, 3 years 4 months | 12 to 15 months, 4 to 6 years | |
| Meningococcal B | 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 1 year (12-13 months) | 16 years | |
| Meningococcal C | 14 years (school year 9) | 11 to 12 years, 16 years | |
| Meningococcal A, W, Y | 14 years (school year 9) | 11 to 12 years, 16 years | |
| HPV | 12 to 13 years (school year 8) | 11 to 12 years | |
| Flu | 2 years to school Year 11 (annually) | 6 months | |
| Hepatitis A Only in the US | - | 12 to 15 months, 15 to 18 months | Only in the US |
From each country's official schedule. Combination vaccines mean one injection can count for several diseases. Full United Kingdom schedule.
🇮🇳 Coming from India
The US's routine schedule covers 7 diseases that India's does not: Mumps, Chickenpox, Meningococcal B, Meningococcal C, Meningococcal A, W, Y, Flu and Hepatitis A. Depending on your child's age, these may be offered as catch-up doses.
India also routinely vaccinates against Tuberculosis (BCG) and Japanese encephalitis, which the US does not give every child. Keep the record of those doses - they still count.
Both countries cover diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio and Hib and more, but at different ages, so a course started in India is finished on the US's timetable.
Bring the Mother and Child Protection (MCP) card.
Side by side: India and the US ages for each disease
| Disease | 🇮🇳 India | 🇺🇸 United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria | 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks, 16 to 24 months, 5 to 6 years, 10 years, 16 years | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months, 4 to 6 years, 11 to 12 years | |
| Tetanus | 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks, 16 to 24 months, 5 to 6 years, 10 years, 16 years | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months, 4 to 6 years, 11 to 12 years | |
| Whooping cough | 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks, 16 to 24 months, 5 to 6 years | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months, 4 to 6 years, 11 to 12 years | |
| Polio | Birth, 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks, 16 to 24 months | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 4 to 6 years | |
| Hib | 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 12 to 15 months | |
| Hepatitis B | Birth, 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks | Birth, 1 to 2 months, 6 months | |
| Pneumococcal disease | 6 weeks, 14 weeks, 9 to 12 months | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 12 to 15 months | |
| Rotavirus | 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks | 2 months, 4 months | |
| Measles | 9 to 12 months, 16 to 24 months | 12 to 15 months, 4 to 6 years | |
| Mumps Only in the US | - | 12 to 15 months, 4 to 6 years | Only in the US |
| Rubella | 9 to 12 months, 16 to 24 months | 12 to 15 months, 4 to 6 years | |
| Chickenpox Only in the US | - | 12 to 15 months, 4 to 6 years | Only in the US |
| Meningococcal B Only in the US | - | 16 years | Only in the US |
| Meningococcal C Only in the US | - | 11 to 12 years, 16 years | Only in the US |
| Meningococcal A, W, Y Only in the US | - | 11 to 12 years, 16 years | Only in the US |
| HPV | 14 years (girls) | 11 to 12 years | |
| Flu Only in the US | - | 6 months | Only in the US |
| Tuberculosis (BCG) Only in India | Birth | - | Only in India |
| Hepatitis A Only in the US | - | 12 to 15 months, 15 to 18 months | Only in the US |
| Japanese encephalitis Only in India | 9 to 12 months, 16 to 24 months | - | Only in India |
From each country's official schedule. Combination vaccines mean one injection can count for several diseases. Full India schedule.
- United States - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / ACIP
- CDC - Vaccines for Children program
- United Kingdom - NHS / UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
- India - Ministry of Health and Family Welfare - Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)
United States schedule last checked 2026-09-09. How we check.
General information, not medical advice. Your new doctor or nurse will advise on your own child, including any vaccines for health conditions or travel.
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