Understanding Childhood Vaccine Schedule Options

On the website AskDrSears.com, Dr. Sears offers his alternative vaccine schedule. "My main worry about [the CDC's] schedule is that there really hasn't been enough research on the various chemicals and ingredients in many vaccines to prove that they are 100 percent safe," he says. "It has also been my experience that giving five or six vaccines at a time can increase the likelihood of a severe reaction."

He says his alternative schedule won't overwhelm young immune systems, but it still provides complete vaccine protection.

2 months
Rotavirus
DTaP

3 months
PCV
Hib

4 months
Rotavirus (second dose)
DTaP (second dose)

5 months
PCV (second dose)
Hib (second dose)

6 months
Rotavirus (third dose)
DTaP (third dose)

7 months
PCV (third dose)
Hib (third dose)

9 months
Polio
Influenza (and given every year until at least 19 years old)

12 months
Polio (second dose)
Mumps (separated from MMR)

15 months
PCV (fourth dose)
Hib (fourth dose)

18 months
DTaP (fourth dose)
Varicella

2 years
Rubella (separated from MMR)
Polio (third dose)

2 1/2 years
Hep B
Hep A

3 1/2 years
Hep B (second dose)
Measles (separated from MMR)

4 years
DTaP (fifth dose)
Polio (fourth dose)

5 years
MMR (second dose of each vaccine)

6 years
Varicella (second dose)

12 years
HPV

12 years, 2 months
HPV (second dose)

13 years
HPV (third dose)
MCV4