Guidance reviewed through the Pennsylvania Medical Society.
Pennsylvania-focused
Information and resources relevant to people across the Commonwealth.
Evidence-based
Based on trusted medical and public health sources.
Current
Based on current vaccine guidance and recommendations.
Vaccine Resources for Parents & Patients
What to Ask Your Child's Doctor
Your child’s pediatrician or health care provider is the best source of information concerning your child’s vaccines. Protect your family, know the facts.
Yes. Vaccines are very safe. The United States has a long-standing vaccine safety system that ensures vaccines are as safe as possible. The most common side effects are very mild, like soreness where the shot was given, fussiness, and low-grade fever.
Vaccines are effective in preventing infectious diseases that once harmed or killed many infants, children and adults. Side effects continue to most always be mild and go away in a few days. The disease-prevention benefits of getting vaccines are much greater than the possible side effects for almost all children.
Serious side effects are rare, such as severe allergic reactions, and doctors and clinic staff are trained to deal with them.
Children receive vaccinations early because they are susceptible to diseases at a young age. The recommended American Academy of Pediatrics vaccination schedule begins early in life to protect infants and children before they come into contact with life-threatening diseases.
Young children have the highest risk of having a serious case of disease that could cause hospitalization or death. Delaying or spreading out vaccine doses leaves your child unprotected during the time when they need vaccine protection the most. Some diseases can be very serious when a baby gets them, and some diseases almost always occur during a certain point in a child’s life.
Depending on the vaccine, your child will need more than one dose to build high enough immunity to help prevent disease or to boost immunity that fades over time. Your child may also receive more than one dose to make sure they are protected if they did not get immunity from a first dose, or to protect them against germs that change over time, like flu. Getting every recommended dose of each vaccine provides your child with the best protection possible.
Babies may get some temporary protection from mom during the last few weeks of pregnancy, but only for diseases to which mom is immune. Breastfeeding may also protect your baby temporarily from minor infections, like colds. These antibodies do not last long, leaving your baby vulnerable to disease.
Some vaccine-preventable diseases, like pertussis (whooping cough) and chickenpox, still remain in the U.S. On the other hand, other diseases vaccines prevent are no longer common in this country because of vaccines. Travelers can unknowingly bring these diseases into the U.S., and if the community is unprotected, the diseases could quickly spread. The relatively few cases that the U.S. may currently have could very quickly become tens or hundreds of thousands of cases without the protection given by vaccines. With adequate vaccination rates, most of these types of outbreaks can be prevented. But if vaccination rates drop, “imported” cases of preventable diseases can begin to spread again.
Yes. State law and regulations require children to be vaccinated in order to attend school in Pennsylvania; however, not all CDC recommended vaccines are required.
For attendance in all grades in a Pennsylvania school, children need the following vaccines:
4 doses of tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (1 dose on or after the 4th birthday)
4 doses of polio (4th dose on or after 4th birthday and at least 6 months after previous dose given) *
2 doses of measles, mumps, rubella
3 doses of hepatitis B
2 doses of varicella (chickenpox) or evidence of immunity
*A fourth dose is not necessary if the third dose was administered at age 4 years or older and at least 6 months after the previous dose
If the child does not have at least one dose of the above vaccines on the first day of school, or a medical or religious/philosophical exemption, they may be denied admission into school.
If the child does not have all the doses listed above, needs additional doses, and the next dose is medically appropriate, the child must receive that dose within the first five days of school, they may be excluded from school risk exclusion.
For attendance in 7th grade in a Pennsylvania school, children need the following vaccines.
1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap)
1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) If the child does not have the above vaccines on the first day of 7th grade, or a medical or religious/philosophical exemption, they may be denied admission into school.
For attendance in 12th grade in a Pennsylvania school, children need the following vaccines.
1 dose of MCV - If one dose was given at 16 years of age or older, that shall count as the 12th grade dose.
If the child does not have the above vaccines on the first day of 12th grade, or a medical or religious/philosophical exemption, they may be denied admission into school.
Respiratory illnesses are caused by viruses like COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). They can make anyone sick, but the following populations have a higher risk of severe illness from respiratory illnesses:
Children younger than 2 years old
People who are pregnant
People with underlying medical conditions such as asthma, cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic lung diseases, chronic liver diseases, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, heart diseases, HIV, obesity, and smoking
People with weakened immune systems such as those undergoing cancer treatment, organ transplant recipients, and those receiving immunosuppressive therapy
The following vaccines are recommended for respiratory illnesses
COVID-19
recommended for everyone age 6 months and older
Influenza (flu)
recommended for everyone age 6 months and older
RSV
all infants younger than 8 months (children 8-19 months with certain risk factors should also be vaccinated)
pregnant people between 32-36 weeks of gestation
What to Ask Your Doctor
Your family physician or primary care provider is the best source of information concerning your vaccines. Protect yourself and your family, know the facts.
Adults need to keep their vaccinations up to date because immunity from childhood vaccines can wear off over time. You are also at risk for different diseases as an adult. And for some diseases, like whooping cough, vaccinated adults can prevent the disease from spreading and protect children who are too young or unable to be vaccinated. Vaccination is one of the most convenient and safest preventive care measures available.
The CDC recommends all adults should get a flu vaccine every year and be up-to-date with their Td/Tdap which protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough). After receiving an initial Td/Tdap dose, a booster is required every 10 years. Depending on age, health conditions, vaccine history, and other factors, you may need additional vaccines such as:
For people with certain chronic health conditions like diabetes, asthma, or heart disease, it is even more important to be up to date on vaccines because they are at increased risk for complications from certain vaccine-preventable diseases like flu and pneumonia.
It is safe for people who are taking prescription medications to get vaccines. There are, however, other factors that may make it unsafe for some people to get certain vaccines, such as allergy to a vaccine or a certain vaccine ingredient. Also, live vaccines should not be given to people with certain health conditions. That is why it’s important to talk with your doctor to determine which vaccines are recommended for you.
Getting recommended vaccines before or while you are pregnant helps protect both you and your baby from potentially serious diseases that can make you and your baby very sick.
During pregnancy you should be vaccinated against whooping cough, flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Depending on other risk factors and travel plans, other vaccines may be recommended during pregnancy.
Live virus vaccines, such as the MMR and chickenpox, should not be given during pregnancy.
Respiratory illnesses are caused by viruses like COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). They can make anyone sick, but the following populations have a higher risk of severe illness from respiratory illnesses:
Adults 65 years and older
People who are pregnant
People with underlying medical conditions such as asthma, cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic lung diseases, chronic liver diseases, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, heart diseases, HIV, obesity, and smoking
People with weakened immune systems such as those undergoing cancer treatment, organ transplant recipients, and those receiving immunosuppressive therapy
The following vaccines are recommended for respiratory illnesses
COVID-19
recommended for everyone age 6 months and older
Influenza (flu)
recommended for everyone age 6 months and older
RSV
pregnant people between 32-36 weeks of gestation
all adults 75 years and older (adults 60-74 with certain risk factors should also be vaccinated)
Helpful Tools and Schedules
Use these trusted tools to find vaccine schedules, Pennsylvania
school requirements and information for specific situations.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this Q&A is based on source material that was pulled from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the PA Department of Health. It was verified for accuracy as of September 2026. Please note that medical knowledge and guidelines are constantly evolving, and it’s always best to consult directly with a healthcare professional for the most up-to-date advice.
