What is the minimum age for first doses of the following vaccines: Rotavirus, Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis, H influenza, Pneumococcal, Inactivated Polio, and Meningococcal?

The minimum age for the first doses of the listed vaccines is 6 weeks. This is particularly relevant for the Rotavirus vaccine, which is typically not administered before this age due to safety and efficacy considerations.

The immunization schedule reflects that the Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis vaccine, H influenza type b (Hib), and Pneumococcal vaccines are also recommended to start at or after this age, aligning with the development of the infant's immune system. At 6 weeks, infants are generally more capable of responding to these vaccines, ensuring adequate immunological protection.

For the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV), the minimum age for the first dose is also 6 weeks, which helps to provide early protection against poliovirus as the child begins immunization against this serious disease.

With respect to the Meningococcal vaccine, the first dose is typically recommended starting at 11-12 months, which relates to a different point in the child’s immunization timeline. Hence, this minimum age is not applicable for the first doses across the majority of these vaccines.

Thus, 6 weeks is the earliest we initiate these critical vaccinations in order to build early immunity and provide protection against significant infectious diseases