Yes, newborns receive vaccines; most get a hepatitis B dose within 24 hours, and other routine shots begin around 6–8 weeks.
Parents want a clear picture of what happens in those first hours and weeks. This guide lays out what shots are given right after birth, why timing matters, and how the first months of the schedule unfold. You’ll also see how practices vary by country, including places where a tuberculosis shot is offered at birth. The goal is a calm, step-by-step roadmap you can follow without opening extra tabs.
Newborn Vaccinations At Birth: What Happens
Most hospitals and birth centers give a first dose against hepatitis B soon after delivery. That dose protects babies early, long before lab results or paperwork can catch every risk. In some countries, babies may also receive a tuberculosis shot at birth, and in certain programs an oral polio dose is offered in the first days of life. You’ll also see non-vaccine care such as a vitamin K injection and eye ointment; those reduce different risks and aren’t vaccines.
What’s Given In The First Hours
Here’s a fast breakdown of common items you may see right after delivery. This table keeps the names straight and separates vaccines from other newborn care.
| Item | What It Is | Is It A Vaccine? |
|---|---|---|
| Hepatitis B Shot | First dose against hepatitis B virus; given as an injection in the thigh within 24 hours when baby is stable. | Yes |
| Vitamin K Injection | Prevents bleeding due to low vitamin K levels in newborns. | No |
| Eye Ointment | Antibiotic ointment to reduce eye infection risk from delivery. | No |
| BCG | Tuberculosis vaccine used at birth in places with higher TB burden. | Yes (country-dependent) |
| Oral Polio “Zero Dose” | Extra oral dose in programs that use an at-birth polio dose. | Yes (program-dependent) |
| HBIG | Hepatitis B immune globulin for babies with exposure from a birth parent with hepatitis B. | No (immunoglobulin, not a vaccine) |
Birth Doses By Region: How Policies Differ
Across the world, the at-birth plan reflects local disease patterns. Many countries give a hepatitis B dose in the first day of life for every baby. Regions with more tuberculosis give BCG at birth for broad protection during early childhood. Some programs include an oral polio dose in the first two weeks to boost early coverage. If you deliver in a different country than your home, ask for a copy of the discharge record so your pediatric visit can pick up the schedule without gaps.
United States Snapshot
Hospitals give a first hepatitis B shot to medically stable infants in the first 24 hours. If the birth parent has hepatitis B, the baby also receives HBIG along with the shot. Babies under 2,000 grams may start slightly later if there is no known exposure, but the team still maps out timing before discharge. The second and third hepatitis B doses land at 1–2 months and 6–18 months as part of the routine infant series.
Countries That Use BCG At Birth
Large parts of Asia, Africa, and other regions with higher TB rates offer a single BCG dose during the newborn period. It is an intradermal shot and can be given on the same day as the hepatitis B dose. A small bump often forms at the site and may scab before healing; that is expected. In locations with low TB burden, BCG may be offered only to babies in higher-risk settings or not at all.
Programs With An Oral Polio Dose At Birth
Some national programs include an extra oral polio dose during the first days of life. That dose does not replace later shots; it adds a layer of early protection until the main series begins at 6 weeks or 2 months, depending on the schedule. Your pediatric clinic will log it so the next appointments stay on track.
Why The Hepatitis B Shot Comes First
Hepatitis B can pass to a baby during birth. Infections early in life are far more likely to become long-term, which can lead to liver disease later on. A newborn dose shields infants even when a parent’s test is pending or a lab misses a recent infection. That’s why hospitals treat it as a day-one priority. The dose can be given alongside breastfeeding and skin-to-skin time, and it doesn’t interfere with bonding.
Special Cases At Delivery
If the birth parent has hepatitis B: the team gives HBIG plus the shot as soon as possible to block transmission. Both are time-sensitive. The clinic then ensures the next doses happen on schedule.
If the baby is under 2,000 grams and there is no known exposure: teams may adjust timing of the first dose. Your discharge plan will spell out the exact date so the series finishes on time.
First Months After Birth: The Next Shots
The first full visits arrive at 6–8 weeks or 2 months, depending on where you live. Those appointments often combine several vaccines into fewer injections, keeping the visit efficient while covering multiple diseases. Expect doses against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and pneumococcal disease. Many programs also add rotavirus drops by mouth. Your clinic may use a pentavalent or hexavalent shot to bundle protection into one syringe, then schedule boosters at 10 and 14 weeks or at 4 and 6 months, depending on the program.
How The Series Works Together
Each dose builds on the last one. If a visit is late, the series does not restart; the next dose simply moves forward from the current date. That flexibility keeps families on track during postpartum changes, travel, or clinic closures. Keep the card or digital record with you; many clinics can also text reminders for the next visit.
Safety, Side Effects, And Comfort Tips
Newborn and infant vaccines are given in tiny volumes with small needles. Mild redness or swelling at the injection site can appear and fades on its own. Low-grade fever or a day of extra sleepiness can happen after some doses. A warm feed, skin-to-skin care, and cuddling through the shot help ease fussiness. If you ever see breathing trouble, persistent high fever, or a rash that spreads fast, call your care team right away. Those signs are uncommon, but speedy attention keeps babies safe.
Pain-Reducing Tricks That Help
- Breastfeed during or right after the shot when possible.
- Use skin-to-skin holding while the nurse prepares the leg.
- Ask about swaddling and distraction techniques for the brief moments of the injection.
How To Check Your Baby’s Schedule
Ask for the printed card before you leave the hospital. Bring it to each visit so the team can log doses, batch numbers, and dates. If you move cities or countries, take a photo of the card and keep a digital copy. That record helps the next clinic align with the exact brands and past doses. Most clinics can read a schedule from another country and match the next visit to the local plan without repeating unnecessary shots.
What If You Missed The Birth Dose?
Newborns who miss the first hepatitis B dose can still start protection soon after discharge. The clinic will give the first shot at the next visit and map the remaining dates. If the birth parent has hepatitis B or exposure risk is unknown, call your pediatric office today to set up care without delay.
Home Birth Or Early Discharge
If you left the facility before shots were offered, most primary care clinics and immunization centers can give the at-birth vaccines during the first week. Bring any lab results and the delivery summary. If you do not have those documents, the clinic can still vaccinate based on standard newborn care.
Country Examples: How Birth Doses Look On The Ground
Some national programs give both hepatitis B and BCG in the newborn period. In many parts of South Asia, for example, babies receive BCG soon after delivery to guard against severe TB in infancy and early childhood. Many programs also add an oral polio dose in the first days and then move into the standard infant series at 6 weeks. If you live in a country where TB is less common, you may see only the hepatitis B dose during the newborn stay.
Why Timing And Place Matter
Birth dose timing rides on logistics in the delivery room. If a baby needs extra care or monitoring, teams may briefly delay a shot until the infant is stable. The vaccine plan resumes as soon as the clinical team gives the green light. Every dose gets recorded, and the discharge note should list what was given and what comes next. That record is your best tool for staying on schedule across clinics and cities.
Trusted Guidance You Can Read
For the day-one plan against hepatitis B, see the CDC birth-dose overview. For countries that offer BCG at birth, review the WHO table for vaccines used in the newborn period. Those pages give the policy backbone behind the steps in this guide.
What To Expect At The Two-Month Visit
The first full infant visit is busy but quick. Clinics often give a combined shot that covers diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and Hib. A polio dose pairs with it, and a pneumococcal shot rounds out the set. Rotavirus drops go by mouth. Your nurse or doctor will share the brand names used at your clinic and the plan for the next visit. If your baby received BCG at birth, you do not repeat it; it is a single newborn dose. If your country uses an oral polio dose at birth, that dose is logged as “OPV-0” and the next doses continue on schedule.
0–6 Month Vaccine Timeline
| Age | Common Vaccines | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Birth | Hepatitis B; BCG where used; OPV-0 in some programs | HBIG added if the birth parent has hepatitis B |
| 6–8 Weeks or 2 Months | DTaP/DTP-containing combo, IPV, Hib, PCV; Rotavirus by mouth | Second hepatitis B dose often given here |
| 10–12 Weeks or 4 Months | Second doses of the same series | Clinic records brand and batch numbers |
| 14–16 Weeks or 6 Months | Third doses of infant series | Third hepatitis B dose may come later based on schedule |
Breastfeeding, Bonding, And Shots
Feeding during or right after a shot is safe. Breast milk does not weaken vaccine response; the cells and antibodies in milk support your baby while the immune system learns from each dose. Skin-to-skin time resets calm after the visit. If you bottle-feed, bring a ready bottle and hold your baby upright for a slow feed while you chat with the nurse.
Travel, Moves, And Mixed Programs
Families who move between countries sometimes collect a mix of brands along the way. That is okay. Pediatric teams match doses across brands that cover the same diseases, then complete the series at the right intervals. Keep a photo of each vaccine page and upload it to a secure folder so you can share it with any new clinic. If you return to a country that uses different combinations, your doctor will line them up with what your baby already received.
When To Call The Clinic
- Your baby missed the newborn dose and you want to start now.
- There was known exposure to hepatitis B in the delivery setting.
- You see swelling bigger than a golf ball, a spreading rash, or persistent high fever.
- You need help translating doses from another country’s record.
Key Takeaways For New Parents
Newborns do receive vaccines. A day-one hepatitis B dose is standard in many places, and some programs add BCG and an early polio dose. The first big clinic visit at 6–8 weeks brings the rest of the core series. Keep your vaccine card, ask for clear next steps before discharge, and book the follow-up on your way out. With that plan, you’ll move through the first months with steady, simple milestones.