Administering Vaccines:

Dose, Route, Site, and Needle Size

Vaccine Dose Route Injection Site and Needle Size
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis Subcutaneous (SC) injection
0.5 mL IM
(DTaP, DT, Tdap, Td) Use a 23–25 gauge needle. Choose the injection site that is appropriate
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) 0.5 mL IM to the person’s age and body mass.

Hepatitis A (HepA)
≤18 yrs; 0.5 mL
IM age needle
injection site
≥19 yrs; 1.0 mL length
5/8" Fatty tissue over anterolateral
Hepatitis B (HepB) ≤19 yrs: 0.5 mL Infants
(1–12 mos) thigh muscle
* Persons 11–15 yrs may be given Recombivax HB (Merck) IM
1.0 mL adult formulation on a 2-dose schedule.
≥20 yrs: 1.0 mL
Fatty tissue over anterolateral
0.5 mL IM Children 12 mos or older, 5/8"
Human papillomavirus (HPV) thigh muscle or fatty tissue
adolescents, and adults
over triceps
Intranasal
Influenza, live attenuated (LAIV) 0.2 mL spray
Intramuscular (IM) injection
Influenza, inactivated (IIV) and 6–35 mos: 0.25 mL Use a 22–25 gauge needle. Choose the injection site and needle length
IM
recombinant (RIV) ≥3 yrs: 0.5 mL that is appropriate to the person’s age and body mass.
Influenza (IIV) Fluzone Intradermal, 0.1 mL ID age needle
injection site
for ages 18 through 64 years length
Newborns (1st 28 days) 5/8"* Anterolateral thigh muscle
Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) 0.5 mL SC
Meningococcal conjugate (MCV) 0.5 mL IM Infants (1–12 months) 1" Anterolateral thigh muscle

Meningococcal polysaccharide (MPSV) 0.5 mL SC 1–11/4" Anterolateral thigh muscle

Toddlers (1–2 years) 5/8 –1"*
or deltoid muscle of arm
Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV) 0.5 mL IM
Children and teens 5/8 –1"* Deltoid muscle of arm or
Pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPSV) 0.5 mL IM or SC (3–18 years) 1–11/4" anterolateral thigh muscle
Polio, inactivated (IPV) 0.5 mL IM or SC
Adults 19 years or older
Rotarix: 1.0 mL 5/8 –1"*
Rotavirus (RV) Oral Male or female < 130 lbs Deltoid muscle of arm
Rotateq: 2.0 mL
0.5 mL Female 130–200 lbs 1–11/2" Deltoid muscle of arm
Varicella (Var) SC
Male 130–260 lbs
Zoster (Zos) 0.65 mL SC
Female 200 + lbs 11/2" Deltoid muscle of arm
Combination Vaccines Male 260 + lbs
DTaP-HepB-IPV (Pediarix)
DTaP-IPV/Hib (Pentacel) 0.5 mL IM * A 5/8" needle may be used for patients note: Always refer to the package insert included
DTaP-IPV (Kinrix) weighing less than 130 lbs (<60 kg) for with each biologic for complete vaccine administration
Hib-HepB (Comvax) IM injection in the deltoid muscle only information. CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization
if the skin stretched tight, the subcuta- Practices (ACIP) recommendations for the particular
MMRV (ProQuad) ≤12 yrs: 0.5 mL SC neous tissue is not bunched, and the
vaccine should be reviewed as well. Access the ACIP
injection is made at a 90-degree angle.
HepA-HepB (Twinrix) ≥18 yrs: 1.0 mL IM recommendations at www.immunize.org/acip.

Intramuscular (IM) injection Subcutaneous (SC) injection Intradermal (ID) administration Intranasal (IN) administration
of Fluzone ID vaccine of Flumist (LAIV) vaccine

90° angle
90° angle 45° angle
Administer
skin skin in area
subcutaneous tissue of deltoid
subcutaneous tissue

muscle muscle

Technical content reviewed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Saint Paul, Minnesota • 651- 647- 9009 • www.immunize.org • www.vaccineinformation.org

www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3085.pdf • Item #P3085 (1/15)