Annual Wellness Guidelines from Newborn to Age 17
Helping you thrive in a life well-lived
Quartz is dedicated to supporting you and your family with the resources and guidance needed to succeed on your health and wellness journey — whenever and wherever that may be. From preventive screenings to immunizations and general guidelines, we’re here to keep you informed and feeling confident about what’s best for the health of your loved ones.
Newborn to age 17
The checkups, screenings, and immunizations listed are recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While these are recommendations, we encourage you to talk to your child’s provider about your best options.
Well-child visits
- Visits at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 24, and 30 months.
- Annual visits from ages 3 to 17.
- Comprehensive physical exam with a focus on healthy growth, proper nutrition and eating habits, safety, and mental and social well-being.
Screening tests
- Vision: Check once before age 5.
- Obesity: Monitor beginning at age 6.
- Chlamydia and gonorrhea: Check yearly for sexually active children beginning at age 15 through age 24.
- HIV/AIDS: Check at birth and then annually for sexually active teens beginning at age 15.
Use this interactive tool to receive personalized screening recommendations.
*Human Papillomavirus (HPV): Recommended for children at age 11 (but can be started as early as age 9). It is given in a two-dose series. If the vaccines are not started until age 15 or later, It is given in a three-dose series.
**Influenza (flu shot): Doctors recommend that your child get a flu vaccine every year in the fall, starting when they are 6 months old. Some children 6 months through age 8 may need two doses for best protection. CDC recommends a flu vaccine by the end of October, before the flu spreads in your community. Getting vaccinated later; however, can still be beneficial, and vaccination should continue to be offered throughout the flu season, even into January or later. Children 6 months through 8 years getting a flu vaccine for the first time, and those who have only previously gotten one dose of the flu vaccine, should get two doses. The first dose should be given as soon as the vaccine becomes available. If your child previously got two doses of the flu vaccine (at any time), your child only needs one dose of flu vaccine this season.
***Rotavirus: two available rotavirus vaccines: 1) RotaTeq®️ (RV5) is given in three doses at ages 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months; 2) Rotarix®️ (RV1) is given in two doses at ages 2 months and 4 months.
****COVID-19 vaccine: The CDC recommends children participate in a primary three-part COVID vaccine series. This series is recommended for children 6 months to 17 years and is followed by a booster dose dependent on the participant’s age, brand of vaccine received during the primary series, and the length of time since the last dose was received. Please speak with your provider or visit cdc.gov/coronavirus for more guidance and information.
Note: Guidelines may vary for people with personal or family health risks or those who take certain medications.