At the 15-month well-child visit, your child may receive up to six routine vaccines: DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough), Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b), pneumococcal conjugate, MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella), varicella (chickenpox), and hepatitis A. Depending on timing and what was already given at 12 months, some of these may have been administered earlier or may be split across visits. Seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccines may also be offered.
Core Vaccines at 15 Months
The CDC’s recommended immunization schedule lists several vaccines in the 12-to-15-month window. Some families complete most of these at the 12-month visit, while others spread them out. Here’s what falls due by 15 months:
- DTaP (4th dose): Protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis). This is the fourth shot in a five-dose series that started at 2 months. The recommended window for this dose is 15 through 18 months.
- Hib (3rd or 4th dose): Protects against a type of bacterial meningitis. Whether this is dose 3 or dose 4 depends on which brand your child received earlier in infancy. The booster is recommended at 12 through 15 months, given at least 8 weeks after the previous Hib shot.
- Pneumococcal conjugate (4th dose): Protects against pneumococcal bacteria, which can cause ear infections, pneumonia, and meningitis. This final dose in the four-dose series is recommended at 12 through 15 months. Your child will receive either PCV15 or PCV20.
- MMR (1st dose): Protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. The first dose is given at 12 through 15 months, with a second dose at 4 through 6 years.
- Varicella (1st dose): Protects against chickenpox. Like MMR, the first dose is given at 12 through 15 months. Some pediatricians use a combination vaccine called MMRV, which covers measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella in a single shot.
- Hepatitis A (1st dose): Protects against a liver infection spread through contaminated food or water. The first dose is given sometime between 12 and 23 months, with a second dose at least 6 months later.
Vaccines That May Also Be Given
A few additional vaccines can overlap with the 15-month visit depending on your child’s history and the time of year.
Polio (IPV): The third dose of the inactivated polio vaccine is typically given at 6 through 18 months. If your child hasn’t received it yet, the 15-month visit is a common time to catch up.
Influenza: If flu season is underway, your pediatrician will likely offer the flu vaccine. Children under 9 who are getting the flu shot for the first time need two doses, spaced at least four weeks apart. After that first year, one dose annually is enough.
COVID-19: A COVID vaccine may be offered based on your child’s previous doses and your pediatrician’s recommendation. This falls under shared clinical decision-making, meaning it’s discussed rather than automatically administered.
RSV antibody (nirsevimab): This is not a traditional vaccine but a protective antibody injection against respiratory syncytial virus. It’s recommended for children 8 through 19 months old heading into their second RSV season if they didn’t receive it as infants.
How Many Shots to Expect
The total number of injections depends on what your child already received at 12 months and whether your pediatrician uses combination vaccines. If all the vaccines listed above are due at the same visit, your child could receive four to six shots. Using the MMRV combination (which replaces separate MMR and varicella shots) reduces that count by one.
Many pediatric offices spread the 12- and 15-month vaccines across both visits to reduce the number of needles at once. If your child got MMR, varicella, and hepatitis A at 12 months, for example, the 15-month visit might only include DTaP, Hib, and the pneumococcal booster. Talk to your pediatrician about what’s already been given and what’s still outstanding.
Common Side Effects
Most reactions are mild and resolve within a few days. Soreness, redness, or swelling at the injection site is the most common side effect across all of these vaccines. A low-grade fever is also typical, especially after DTaP, pneumococcal, and MMR shots.
After DTaP specifically, some children become fussy, tired, or lose their appetite for a day or two. The MMR and varicella vaccines can sometimes cause a mild rash about a week or two after the shot. The pneumococcal vaccine may also cause temporary irritability and muscle aches. These reactions are signs the immune system is responding, not signs of illness.
What If Your Child Is Behind
If your child missed earlier doses, the 15-month visit is a good time to catch up. Vaccine series don’t need to be restarted no matter how much time has passed between doses. Your pediatrician will check your child’s immunization record and figure out which shots are needed based on minimum intervals between doses. For example, the final hepatitis B dose requires at least 16 weeks after the first dose and can’t be given before 24 weeks of age, while polio doses need at least 4 weeks between them for children under 4.
Catching up often means a few extra shots at one visit, but it gets your child back on track without repeating any doses they’ve already had.