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Is it safe for my child to get multiple vaccines at once while their body is still developing?

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Common Questions-children playing with a ball

Yes. Getting multiple recommended vaccines at once is safe for your child. Additionally, combination vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective. Infants’ and children’s immune systems are used to being busy. In fact, their immune systems are in learning mode. Children’s immune systems are always working to fight off germs they are exposed to, like when they play, eat, and touch objects in their daily environment. Their immune systems fight off up to 6,000 different types of germs in their everyday life.source: 1 That is a lot more than the 320 antigens your child will be exposed to by the age of 2 when they follow the vaccine schedule.source: 2 (Antigens are the substances in vaccines, such as pieces of germs, that cause an immune response in order to give your child protection against disease.source: 2)

Key Evidence

  • It is safe for children to get multiple vaccines at once. Scientists look at the effects of giving different combinations of vaccines. Many childhood vaccines are safely given at the same time. Multiple studies show that giving certain vaccines at the same time is as safe as giving them separately.source: 2,source: 3 The recommended vaccines have been shown to be as effective in combination as they are individually.source: 2 Both the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend getting all routine childhood vaccines on time.source: 4,source: 5
  • Combination vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective. Combination vaccines have two or more vaccines combined into one single shot. Combination vaccines have been in use in the United States since the mid-1940s. An example of a combination vaccine is the MMR vaccine. This vaccine provides antigens that help the immune system to protect against measles, mumps, and rubella.source: 6
  • Infants and young children are at high risk for severe disease. The vaccine schedule works to protect young children from serious illness or even death if they get certain diseases. The immune system is capable of handling multiple antigens from different vaccines at once.source: 2,source: 7
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Common Questions-doctor vaccinating adolescent

A Deeper Dive: Safety considerations

ACIP meets at least three times a year to discuss vaccine recommendations. This discussion includes the age when infants and children should get a certain vaccine and how safe and effective the vaccine is when given at that age.source: 8 Additionally, thanks to scientific advances over the past 30+ years, the number of antigens present in vaccines has gone down, from about 3,000 to about 320 antigens.source: 1,source: 2,source: 9 Scientific data show that getting more than one vaccine at once does not cause any long-term health problems. Sometimes, certain combinations of vaccines given at once can increase the chances of fever or other side effects, like a sore arm. These side effects generally go away on their own after a few days. If you have concerns, please discuss them with your child's doctor.source: 2

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More information

Still have questions? Talk to your child's doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.

Sources

  1. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): Child Immunization Schedule: Why Is It Like That?
  2. CDC: Multiple Vaccines at Once
  3. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: Too Many Vaccines? What You Should Know
  4. CDC: Timing and Spacing of Immunobiologics
  5. AAP: AAP Issues Policy Statement on Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule for 2023
  6. CDC: Combination Vaccines
  7. AAP: Multiple Vaccinations at One Time
  8. CDC: Who Sets the Immunization Schedule?
  9. CDC: Reasons to Vaccinate
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