Which immunization is recommended at birth?

Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended at birth because it is crucial to protect newborns from the hepatitis B virus, which can be transmitted from an infected mother during childbirth. Administering the vaccine shortly after birth offers the best chance of preventing this potentially serious infection. The timing is significant; the first dose is ideally given within the first 24 hours of life to ensure that the infant is protected as early as possible.

The other immunizations listed have different schedules for administration. The MMR vaccine, for instance, is typically given starting at 12 months of age to provide protection against measles, mumps, and rubella. The Hepatitis A vaccine is usually given at 12 months and again at least six months later. The pneumococcal vaccine is scheduled to be given at 2 months of age in a series of doses, thus making these options unsuitable as a birth immunization.