What vaccinations are recommended for a 2-month-old infant?

Required Vaccinations for a 2-Month-Old Infant

At 2 months of age, infants should receive DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis), IPV (inactivated poliovirus), Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b), PCV (pneumococcal conjugate vaccine), RV (rotavirus), and the second dose of HepB (hepatitis B) vaccines. 1, 2

Core Vaccines at 2 Months

• DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and acellular Pertussis): First dose in a 3-dose primary series (followed by doses at 4 and 6 months), with booster doses at 15-18 months and 4-6 years 1

• IPV (Inactivated Poliovirus): First dose in a 4-dose series (followed by doses at 4 months, 6-18 months, and 4-6 years) 1

• Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b): First dose of either:

  • HbOC or PRP-T: 3-dose primary series at 2,4, and 6 months with a booster at 12-15 months 1
  • PRP-OMP: 2-dose primary series at 2 and 4 months with a booster at 12-15 months 1

• PCV (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine): First dose in a 4-dose series (at 2,4,6, and 12-15 months) 1, 3

• RV (Rotavirus): First dose in a 2 or 3-dose series depending on the brand used 2

• HepB (Hepatitis B): Second dose (first dose given at birth) in a 3-dose series 1

Combination Vaccines

Combination vaccines may be used to reduce the number of injections:

• DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB (hexavalent vaccine): Can be used for the 2-month, 4-month, and 6-month doses 1

• DTaP-IPV/Hib (pentavalent vaccine): Can be used for the 2-month, 4-month, and 6-month doses 4, 5

Special Considerations

• For American Indian and Alaska Native infants, who are at increased risk for invasive Hib disease, either monovalent PRP-OMP (2-dose series at 2 and 4 months) or DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB (3-dose series at 2,4, and 6 months) is preferred due to the substantial protection after the first dose 6

• Although an interval of 2 months between doses of Hib vaccine in the primary series is recommended, an interval of 1 month is acceptable if necessary 1

• Premature infants should be vaccinated according to the same schedule as full-term infants, beginning at chronological age 2 months (not adjusted for prematurity) 1

• All vaccines can be administered simultaneously at separate injection sites 1

Timing Considerations

• The minimum age for administration of most vaccines in the primary series is 6 weeks 1

• If the first vaccination is delayed beyond 6 months of age, a modified catch-up schedule should be followed 1

• For infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers, the second dose of HepB should be given at 1-2 months of age 1

Safety Profile

• Combination vaccines have similar safety profiles to individual vaccines, with the advantage of fewer injections and potentially fewer injection site reactions 4, 5

• Common side effects include low-grade fever and mild irritation at the injection site 5

• Higher rates of fever have been noted with some combination vaccines compared to individual vaccines, but rates of fever-related medical events remain similar 1

By following this vaccination schedule at 2 months of age, infants receive protection against multiple serious infectious diseases that could otherwise cause significant morbidity and mortality.