Health Maintenance Guidelines: Birth to 17
Learn about the checkups, screenings and vaccines your child needs from birth through adolescence.
Guidelines
Checkups
Screening and Tests
Immunizations
Counseling and Evaluation Topics
Individualized/Patient-Clinician Shared Decisions
Checkups
Babies and toddlers need checkups at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 months. Children should have annual doctor visits from ages 2-17, including a checkup at 30 months.
Checkups
Babies and toddlers need checkups at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 months. Children should have annual doctor visits from ages 2-17, including a checkup at 30 months.
Screening and Tests
- Blood pressure: Checked annually age 3+.
- Chlamydia and gonorrhea: Checked yearly for sexually active females ages 16 to 24 years.
- HIV: Testing starts at age 15 and older. Screening can start younger for anyone high risk.
- Obesity: Monitoring begins at age 6.
- Syphilis: Age 15 and older; start younger if at risk.
- Vision: Checked at least once between ages 3 to 5 years.
Immunizations
Two-month series of vaccines can be given as early as 6 weeks.
- COVID-19: All eligible ages should receive the recommended vaccine dose and schedule per CDC, WCHA, AAP, AAFP and California Department of Health (CDPH) guidelines.
- Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (Tdap or Td)
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- HPV (human papillomavirus): Ages 11 to 14 years should receive a two-dose series (can begin as early as age 9). Ages 15 to 26 should receive a three-dose series.
- Influenza: Children 6 months to younger than 9 years old who have not received at least two doses of flu vaccine in their lifetime need two doses of flu vaccine spaced at least four weeks apart. Afterward, only one annual dose of flu vaccine is needed.
- MMR (Measles, mumps and rubella)
- Polio
- Pneumococcal: For patients under 19 years, either PCV20 or PCV15 can be used to complete vaccination according to currently recommended schedules.
- Rotavirus
- Varicella (chickenpox)
Counseling and Evaluation Topics
- Anxiety: Starts at age 8.
- Depression: Starts at age 12.
- Domestic violence: Starts at age 12.
- Sexually transmitted infections: Starts at age 11.
- Skin cancer: Starts at age 6.
- Tobacco use and vaping: Starts at age 11.
Individualized/Patient-Clinician Shared Decisions
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV): Discuss at age 9
- Meningococcal B vaccine: Can be given ages 16 to 23
[MUSIC PLAYING]
TANYA NAUENBERG: Immunizations are
very important for our preteen and teenage children
to help protect their health now and long into the future.
Two critical vaccinations for teens
are the HPV vaccine and the flu shot.
Human PapillomaVirus, or HPV, is a common virus
that can lead to six types of cancer later in life.
Studies show the HPV vaccine is highly effective
and gives your child close to 100%
protection from HPV-related cancers.
The fact that we have a vaccine that
can help safeguard our children from cancer is truly amazing.
The American Academy of Pediatrics
and the California Department of Public Health
recommends the HPV vaccine for girls and boys starting
at age 11 to 12, but it can be given as early as age 9.
By vaccinating as early as age 9,
we ensure kids are protected well before any exposure
to the virus.
Another vaccine that's important for young teens
is the annual flu shot.
The flu can be particularly severe for teens,
leading to missed school and affecting their ability
to participate in sports and other activities.
In rare cases, it can lead to hospitalization.
The AAP and the CDPH recommends everyone age 6 months and older
get a flu shot every year.
And the flu vaccination is especially
crucial for teens with chronic health conditions like asthma
or diabetes.
Parents often have questions about how vaccines are tested
to make sure they're safe.
Vaccines, including those for HPV and flu,
are researched and tested extensively for safety
before being approved.
Findings from vaccine safety monitoring systems
and scientific studies have shown both vaccines have
an excellent safety record.
At your vaccine appointment, let us
know if your child is anxious about shots
and what helps them feel calmer.
We want to help in any way we can.
To prevent fainting, your child should
sit or lie down while getting a vaccine
and for 15 minutes after.
We also find distraction works well.
Your teen is welcome to bring their mobile device
or listen to their favorite music during the vaccination.
If you have any questions about vaccinations for your child,
please don't hesitate to ask your care team.
We're here to answer any questions you may have
and to help you make informed decisions.
Working together, we can help keep
our children and our community healthy and safe.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
TANYA NAUENBERG: Immunizations are
very important for our preteen and teenage children
to help protect their health now and long into the future.
Two critical vaccinations for teens
are the HPV vaccine and the flu shot.
Human PapillomaVirus, or HPV, is a common virus
that can lead to six types of cancer later in life.
Studies show the HPV vaccine is highly effective
and gives your child close to 100%
protection from HPV-related cancers.
The fact that we have a vaccine that
can help safeguard our children from cancer is truly amazing.
The American Academy of Pediatrics
and the California Department of Public Health
recommends the HPV vaccine for girls and boys starting
at age 11 to 12, but it can be given as early as age 9.
By vaccinating as early as age 9,
we ensure kids are protected well before any exposure
to the virus.
Another vaccine that's important for young teens
is the annual flu shot.
The flu can be particularly severe for teens,
leading to missed school and affecting their ability
to participate in sports and other activities.
In rare cases, it can lead to hospitalization.
The AAP and the CDPH recommends everyone age 6 months and older
get a flu shot every year.
And the flu vaccination is especially
crucial for teens with chronic health conditions like asthma
or diabetes.
Parents often have questions about how vaccines are tested
to make sure they're safe.
Vaccines, including those for HPV and flu,
are researched and tested extensively for safety
before being approved.
Findings from vaccine safety monitoring systems
and scientific studies have shown both vaccines have
an excellent safety record.
At your vaccine appointment, let us
know if your child is anxious about shots
and what helps them feel calmer.
We want to help in any way we can.
To prevent fainting, your child should
sit or lie down while getting a vaccine
and for 15 minutes after.
We also find distraction works well.
Your teen is welcome to bring their mobile device
or listen to their favorite music during the vaccination.
If you have any questions about vaccinations for your child,
please don't hesitate to ask your care team.
We're here to answer any questions you may have
and to help you make informed decisions.
Working together, we can help keep
our children and our community healthy and safe.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
1 / 2
1 / 2
[MUSIC PLAYING]
TANYA NAUENBERG: Immunizations are
very important for our preteen and teenage children
to help protect their health now and long into the future.
Two critical vaccinations for teens
are the HPV vaccine and the flu shot.
Human PapillomaVirus, or HPV, is a common virus
that can lead to six types of cancer later in life.
Studies show the HPV vaccine is highly effective
and gives your child close to 100%
protection from HPV-related cancers.
The fact that we have a vaccine that
can help safeguard our children from cancer is truly amazing.
The American Academy of Pediatrics
and the California Department of Public Health
recommends the HPV vaccine for girls and boys starting
at age 11 to 12, but it can be given as early as age 9.
By vaccinating as early as age 9,
we ensure kids are protected well before any exposure
to the virus.
Another vaccine that's important for young teens
is the annual flu shot.
The flu can be particularly severe for teens,
leading to missed school and affecting their ability
to participate in sports and other activities.
In rare cases, it can lead to hospitalization.
The AAP and the CDPH recommends everyone age 6 months and older
get a flu shot every year.
And the flu vaccination is especially
crucial for teens with chronic health conditions like asthma
or diabetes.
Parents often have questions about how vaccines are tested
to make sure they're safe.
Vaccines, including those for HPV and flu,
are researched and tested extensively for safety
before being approved.
Findings from vaccine safety monitoring systems
and scientific studies have shown both vaccines have
an excellent safety record.
At your vaccine appointment, let us
know if your child is anxious about shots
and what helps them feel calmer.
We want to help in any way we can.
To prevent fainting, your child should
sit or lie down while getting a vaccine
and for 15 minutes after.
We also find distraction works well.
Your teen is welcome to bring their mobile device
or listen to their favorite music during the vaccination.
If you have any questions about vaccinations for your child,
please don't hesitate to ask your care team.
We're here to answer any questions you may have
and to help you make informed decisions.
Working together, we can help keep
our children and our community healthy and safe.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
TANYA NAUENBERG: Immunizations are
very important for our preteen and teenage children
to help protect their health now and long into the future.
Two critical vaccinations for teens
are the HPV vaccine and the flu shot.
Human PapillomaVirus, or HPV, is a common virus
that can lead to six types of cancer later in life.
Studies show the HPV vaccine is highly effective
and gives your child close to 100%
protection from HPV-related cancers.
The fact that we have a vaccine that
can help safeguard our children from cancer is truly amazing.
The American Academy of Pediatrics
and the California Department of Public Health
recommends the HPV vaccine for girls and boys starting
at age 11 to 12, but it can be given as early as age 9.
By vaccinating as early as age 9,
we ensure kids are protected well before any exposure
to the virus.
Another vaccine that's important for young teens
is the annual flu shot.
The flu can be particularly severe for teens,
leading to missed school and affecting their ability
to participate in sports and other activities.
In rare cases, it can lead to hospitalization.
The AAP and the CDPH recommends everyone age 6 months and older
get a flu shot every year.
And the flu vaccination is especially
crucial for teens with chronic health conditions like asthma
or diabetes.
Parents often have questions about how vaccines are tested
to make sure they're safe.
Vaccines, including those for HPV and flu,
are researched and tested extensively for safety
before being approved.
Findings from vaccine safety monitoring systems
and scientific studies have shown both vaccines have
an excellent safety record.
At your vaccine appointment, let us
know if your child is anxious about shots
and what helps them feel calmer.
We want to help in any way we can.
To prevent fainting, your child should
sit or lie down while getting a vaccine
and for 15 minutes after.
We also find distraction works well.
Your teen is welcome to bring their mobile device
or listen to their favorite music during the vaccination.
If you have any questions about vaccinations for your child,
please don't hesitate to ask your care team.
We're here to answer any questions you may have
and to help you make informed decisions.
Working together, we can help keep
our children and our community healthy and safe.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
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