Vaccines at 7 to 10 Years
Updated recommendations for meningococcal and mpox vaccination were voted on at the October 25-26, 2023 ACIP meeting. The content on this page will be updated to align with the new recommendations.
Vaccinations are safe and effective for children to receive at the recommended ages.
CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccination for everyone aged 6 months and older. If your child has not gotten vaccinated yet, talk to his or her doctor about getting it as soon as possible.
Vaccines your child should get
Your child may be learning to become more independent at this stage. As they develop friendships and become more social, the flu vaccine can keep your child from getting sick with flu and missing school days with their friends.
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
2 doses
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common virus that can cause several cancers in men and women. Although typically given to children ages 11-12 years, the HPV vaccine can be given as early as 9 years old to help protect them against cancers caused by HPV infection. For best protection, most children this age will need two shots of the HPV vaccine, 6-12 months apart.
See Related: HPV vaccination
Influenza (Flu)
Yearly
Flu is a respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. Flu spreads easily and can cause serious illness, especially in children younger than 5 years and children of any age with certain chronic conditions including asthma. Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every year ideally by the end of October.
See Related: Flu vaccination
You can take advantage of any visit to your child’s doctor to get recommended vaccines for your child, including sports physicals or annual checkups before the school year and sometimes even when your child has a mild illness.
Vaccines your child may have missed
Now is a good time for your child to catch up on any missed vaccines. Make an appointment for your child to get caught up if they haven’t received vaccines to protect against any of the following diseases:
Find your child’s personal immunization record and bring it to your appointment. An up-to-date record tells your doctor exactly what shots your child has already received.
Care for your child after vaccinations
Call 911 if you think your child might be having a severe allergic reaction after leaving the vaccination site.
Give your child extra care and attention
- Pay extra attention to your child for a few days. If you see something that concerns you, call your child’s doctor.
- Read the Vaccine Information Sheet(s) your child’s doctor gave you to learn about side effects your child may experience.
Treat mild reactions
Sometimes children have mild reactions from vaccines, such as pain at the injection site or a rash. These reactions, also called side effects, are normal and will soon go away.
- Use a cool, damp cloth to help reduce redness, soreness, and/or swelling at the injection site.
- Reduce fever with a cool sponge bath.
- Ask your child’s doctor if you can give your child a non-aspirin pain reliever.
See which vaccines your child needs to stay on-track with routine vaccinations.
Take a short quiz to get a list of vaccines your child may need based on their age, health conditions, and other factors.