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Immunization Branch

2025 Binational Childhood Immunization Guide: Mexico and California

​​Updated: September 12, 2025

​Disease​​
​​​
​​

​2025 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) S​chedule

​2023 Mexico Vaccine Schedule

​Does the Mexican schedule meet California school and child care requirements?

​Hepatitis B

​3 doses
(birth, 1–2 & 
6–18 months)
1 dose of HepB at birth 

4 doses of DPaT + VPI + Hib + HepB
(2, 4, 6, 18 months)
​Yes.
​Measles, Mumps, Rubella
​2 doses 
(12 months & 4–6 years)
​3 doses of SRP
(12, 18 months & 6 years)
​Yes. Doses are required to be given at ≥1 year.
​Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, (DT, DTaP)
​5 doses of DTaP
(2, 4, 6, 15–18 months & 4–6 years) 
​4 doses of DPaT + VPI + Hib + HepB
(2, 4, 6, 18 months)

1 dose of DPT at 4 years
​Yes.
K-12: Only 4 doses needed if one dose was given at ≥4 years. Only 3 doses needed if one dose was given at ≥7 years. 1-2 doses of Td given at ≥7 years count.
​Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Td, Tdap)
​1 dose of Tdap at 11–12 years

Pregnancy: 1 dose of Tdap, 27-36 weeks gestation
​1 dose of Td at 15 years

Pregnancy: 1 dose of Tdpa after 20 weeks gestation. 
No. A pertussis-containing vaccine (e.g., Tdap) is required on or after the 7th birthday for students entering 7th -12th grade.  
​H. influenzae type b (Hib)
​4 doses
(2, 4, 6 & 12–15 months)​
​4 doses of DPaT + VPI + Hib + HepB
(2, 4, 6, 18 months)
​Yes. 
Child care: 1 dose is required at ≥ 1 year.
​Polio
​4 doses of Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV)
(2, 4, 6–18 months & 
4–6 years)​
​4 doses of DPaT + VPI + Hib + HepB
(2, 4, 6, 18 months)
​Yes, but OPV doses given on or after April 1, 2016, do not count. Additional IPV doses may be needed (see MMWR).
K-12: Only 3 doses needed if one dose was given at ≥4 years.
​Varicella
​2 doses
(12–15 months & 
4–6 years)
Not routinely recommended.
No, but check if it is under “otras” as it may have been given in the private sector. Two doses required for K-12.


Glossary

​​Spanish ​Abbreviation

​Spanish

​​English

​DPaT
​Difteria, tosferina acelular, tétanos  
​Diphtheria, acellular pertussis, tetanus
​DPT
​Difteria, tosferina, tétanos  
​Diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus
​DTwP
​Difteria, tosferina, tétanos 
​Diphtheria, whole cell pertussis, tetanus
​SRP
​Sarampión, rubeola, paperas
​Measles, rubella, mumps
​Tdpa
​Tétanos, difteria, tosferina acelular
​Tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis
​VPI
​Vacuna poliomielitis inactivada 
​Inactivated polio Vaccine​

​Who is this Guide For? 

This is for school nurses, administrative staff, and healthcare providers to interpret immunization records from Mexico. It compares the childhood vaccine schedules for Mexico​ and recommendations given by the American Academy of Pediatrics (​AAP​), and California’s immunizations required for child care and school.

Key Points:

  • Vaccines administered outside of the U.S. generally can be accepted if the schedule (i.e., minimum ages and intervals) is similar to AAP recommendations. If it is uncertain whether additional doses are needed, repeating vaccinations is an acceptable option.  For more information, see CDC guidance
  • Most notable discrepancies: 
    • Varicella: Varicella is not routinely administered in Mexico. If given in the private sector, it will be included under “Otras.” 
    • Tdap is not routinely administered to adolescents in Mexico. 
  • ​Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV): OPV doses administered on or after April 1, 2016, are INVALID in the U.S. However, if OPV doses are listed on a record, these should still be entered in the California Immunization Registry (CAIR). 
  • Vaccines not given in California.: Some vaccines administered in Mexico, including BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guerin for Tuberculosis), are not routinely recommended in California nor required for school. These vaccines should still be included in a patient’s record and entered in CAIR.

Resources:


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