Screening tests and vaccines are an important part of managing your child's health. Below are guidelines for these, for children and teens from ages 2 to 18. Talk with your child's healthcare provider to make sure your child is up to date on what he or she needs.
Screening
Who needs it
How often
Chlamydia and gonorrhea infections
Sexually active females up to age 24 years
Once a year
High lead level
Children who are age 2 to 6 years
Questions to determine risk or blood tests may be done once a year
HIV
Children in this age group at risk for infection; talk with your child’s healthcare provider
At routine exams
Obesity
Children age 6 years and older
Tooth decay and other dental problems
All children in this age group
Dental exams every 6 months; fluoride supplements from age 6 months to 16 years for those with low fluoride levels in their water; fluoride varnish should be applied every 3 to 6 months; fluoride rinses may be used in children age 6 years or older, if they are able to rinse and spit
Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes
Children age 10 or over who are overweight or obese and have 2 or more additional diabetes risk factors
Every 3 years
Vision problems
Screening once between ages 3 and 5 years
Vaccines
DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis)
All children under age 7 years
Booster between ages 4 and 6 years
Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis)
All children age 7 years or older
Booster between ages 11 and 12 years
Chickenpox (varicella)
Children who have not had chickenpox
Hepatitis A
Children at risk (talk with your child’s healthcare provider) or those who didn’t have the vaccine at an earlier age
Should be fully vaccinated by age 2; if not, can have vaccine at routine visits, with second dose given at least 6 months after first dose
Hepatitis B
Children who didn’t have the vaccine at an earlier age
3-dose series: The second dose is given 4 weeks after the first dose, and the final dose is given 16 weeks after the first dose2-dose series: For children ages 11 to 15, 2 doses are given at least 4 months apart
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Children age 11 or 12 years, but may be given beginning at age 9 years through age 26
2-dose series: Ages 9 to 14 years, with second dose 6 to 12 months after the first
3-dose series: Ages 15 to 26, with the second dose given 2 months after the first dose, and the third dose given 6 months after the first dose
Inactivated poliovirus
All children
A final dose between ages 4 and 6 years
Influenza (flu)
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
Second dose between ages 4 and 6 years
Meningococcal (conjugate)
1 dose between ages 11 and 12, and a booster at age 16, or by age 18 if not vaccinated before; only 1 dose is needed if the first dose is given at age 16 years or older; high-risk children should receive a vaccine series before age 2 years
Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV13) and pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPSV23)
Healthy children between ages 18 months and 5 years may get PCV13 if not received at a younger age; high-risk children may receive PCV13 starting at age 5 years and PPSV23 starting at age 2 years
PCV13 is given before PPSV23; The timing and number of doses varies
Counseling
Depression
Children between ages 12 and 18 years
Prevention of sexually transmitted infections
Children in this age group who are sexually active
Prevention of skin cancer
Fair-skinned children starting at age 10 years
Increased physical activity
Children with diabetes or prediabetes
1 American Academy of Pediatrics
2 Those who are not up-to-date on their childhood immunizations, should receive all appropriate catch-up vaccines recommended by the CDC.