Pediatric vaccine schedule mnemonics for the vaccinations given to children ages 0-6 years.
In preparation for NCLEX and nursing lecture exams, you will want to know the recommended vaccines given to children at various ages, such as birth, 2, 4, 6, 12-18 months, and 4-6 years. There are a LOT of vaccines to remember!!
Therefore, what is the easiest way to memorize the immunization schedule for the pediatric population for your nursing exams? A Mnemonic!
This article will give you some mnemonics to help you memorize the vaccine schedule. Each mnemonic I’ve created includes the age category and its vaccines.
Don’t forget to take the quiz that contains pediatric immunization NCLEX questions.
NCLEX Review Lecture on Pediatric Vaccines
Pediatric Vaccine Schedule for Ages 0-6 Years
Birth:
Hepatitis B (1st dose)
**Remember the B in hepatitis B vaccine to know that this is the ONLY vaccine given at birth.
2 months:
Hepatitis B (2nd dose)
DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis)….1st dose
Hib (haemophilus influenzae type B)….1st dose
Polio…1st dose
PCV (pneumococcal conjugate vaccine)….1st dose
RV (rotavirus)….1st dose
4 months:
DTaP (2nd dose)
Hib (2nd dose)
Polio (2nd dose)
PCV (2nd dose)
RV (2nd dose)
6 months:
Hepatitis B (3rd dose)
DTap (3rd dose)
Hib (3rd dose)
Polio (3rd dose)
PCV (3rd dose)
RV (3rd dose)
*Influenza (yearly)
***The same vaccines are given at 2 and 6 months. Four months has the same vaccines as 2 and 6 months BUT Hepatitis B is NOT given at 4 months. Therefore, if you can remember all the vaccines given at 2 and 6 months and remember Hepatitis B is not given at 4 months, you have knocked out a lot of vaccines to remember.
Mnemonic: “Two 6-month-old pediatric policies discussed rejecting his HepB at 4 months.”
Two 6-month-old: age category
Pediatric: pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)
Policies: Polio
Discussed: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP)
Rejecting: Rotavirus (RV)
His: haemophilus influenzae type b (HIB vaccine)
HepB: Hepatitis B vaccine
Last part of the mnemonic lets you know that the HepB is included at 2 and 6 months BUT is rejected at 4 months!
12-18 months:
DTaP (4th dose)
Hib (4th dose)
PCV (4th dose)
MMR (1st dose)
Varicella (1st dose)
Hepatitis A (2 dose series….given at 12 months and 18 months)
*Influenza (yearly)
Mnemonic: “His 12-18 dispatched mump vaccinations helped people.
His: haemophilus influenzae type b (HIB vaccine)
12-18: age category
Dispatched: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP)
Mump: measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
Vaccinations: Varicella
Helped: Hepatitis A
People: pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)
4-6 years old:
DTaP (5th dose)
Polio (4th dose)
MMR (2nd dose)
Varicella (2nd dose)
*Influenza (yearly)
Mnemonic: “Police dispatched 4-6 -year-old mump vaccinations.”
Police: Polio
Dispatched: DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis)
4-6-year-old: age category
Mump: MMR
Vaccinations: Varicella
References: