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What should I do if my child is sick and is due for a vaccine?

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Common Questions-girl with kite

Children with a mild illness or low fever can still get vaccines. A mild illness does not affect how well the body responds to a vaccine. And vaccines do not make a mild illness worse.

Children with moderate or serious illness may need to wait until they are better to get some vaccines. If a child is very sick, then their immune system is already busy. It may not be able to work with the vaccine to create a strong immune response.source: 1

Key Evidence

Leading medical organizations, like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians, recommend kids get vaccines on time, even when they have mild illnesses.source: 2,source: 3

Your child can still get vaccines if they have:source: 1

  • A cold
  • A runny nose
  • A cough
  • A low fever
  • An ear infection
  • Mild diarrhea
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Common Questions-adolescent at doctor's office

A Deeper Dive

Children's immune systems can handle it

From the moment babies are born, they are exposed to numerous bacteria and viruses on a daily basis. Vaccines have a tiny portion of dead or weakened bacteria and viruses compared to what your child's immune system already comes across in their everyday lives. For example, eating food can include new bacteria your child has not already come into contact with. When an infant touches a toy, and then their mouth, this can expose them to other germs, too.source: 5

Your child’s immune system can even respond to vaccines while fighting a mild illness.source: 1 Vaccines work for children with mild illnesses as well as they do for healthy children. For example, if your child has an ear infection, it does not affect the level of protective antibodies created from vaccination. It also does not make them more susceptible to side effects.source: 1,source: 6

Your child may still experience mild side effects from a vaccine when they are sick. Common side effects of vaccines are the same whether your child has a mild illness or not.source: 1 There are safe and healthy strategies you can use to keep your child comfortable. Learn how to do this before, during, or after their vaccine appointment.

Kids can get vaccines while taking antibiotics

If your child is taking antibiotics for a mild illness, they should still get their vaccines on schedule. Antibiotics do not affect how their body responds to vaccines.source: 1

Other reasons that may affect the vaccines your child gets

Your child may not receive some vaccines if they have:

  • A chronic health condition, like cancer
  • A weakened immune system, such as from chemotherapy or taking certain medicines after a transplant
  • Had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of a specific vaccine or a vaccine ingredient

Back to the common questions

More information

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

Sources

  1. CDC: Vaccines When Your Child is Sick
  2. American Academy of Pediatrics: Vaccinating A Sick Child
  3. HHS: Get Vaccinated, What to Expect -- for Parents
  4. American Academy of Family Physicians: Building Confidence When Talking to Parents About Children's Vaccines
  5. CDC: Multiple Vaccines at Once
  6. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: Vaccine Safety: Immune System and Health
  7. FDA: Vaccines for Children - A Guide for Parents and Caregivers
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