How is this vaccine given?
This vaccine is injected into a muscle. Your child will receive this injection in a doctor's office or clinic setting.
This vaccine is given in a series of shots. The first shot is usually given when the child is 2 months old. The booster shots are then given at 4 months and 6 months of age, and again at 12 to 15 months of age.
For children who do not start this series of shots before 15 months of age, the vaccine is usually given as a one-time injection. Unless your doctor's tells you otherwise, you will not need a booster vaccine.
Your child's individual booster schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow your doctor's instructions or the schedule recommended by the health department of the state you live in.
Your doctor may recommend treating fever and pain with an aspirin free pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, and others) when the shot is given and for the next 24 hours. Follow the label directions or your doctor's instructions about how much of this medicine to give your child.
It is especially important to prevent fever from occurring in a child who has a seizure disorder such as epilepsy.