CS 322033-G

YOU CALL THE SHOTS 

Vaccine Administration: 

Intramuscular (IM) Injection 

Children 1 through 2 years of age 

Administer these vaccines by IM injection:

 Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) 

 Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, and 

hepatitis B (DTaP-IPV-HepB) 

 Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, 

and Haemophilus influenzae type b 

(DTaP-IPV/Hib) 

 Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, 

Haemophilus influenzae type b and 

hepatitis B (DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB) 

 Haemophilus influenzae type b

 Hepatitis A (HepA)

 Hepatitis B (HepB)

 Influenza vaccine, inactivated (IIV)

 Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV)*

 Meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY)

 Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV13)

 Pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPSV23)*

Note: Age, recommendations for use, and other indications vary by product. Always review manufacturers’ product information as well as the current immunization 

schedule for children (www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/child-adolescent.html) before administering vaccine. 

*May also be administered by subcutaneous injection.

To ensure vaccines are safe and effective, it’s important to prepare and administer them correctly: 

 Follow aseptic technique. 

 Use a new, separate needle and syringe for each injection. 

 Perform hand hygiene before vaccine preparation, between patients, when changing gloves (if worn), and any time hands 

become soiled.† 

†Gloves are not required unless the person administering the vaccine is likely to come in contact with potentially infectious body fluids or has open lesions on the hands.

 If worn, perform hand hygiene and change gloves between patients.

1. Use the correct syringe and needle. 

 Administer the vaccine using either a 1-mL or 3-mL syringe. 

 Use the correct gauge and needle length.‡

 22- to 25-gauge needle

 1-inch (25 mm) needle ‡Use a 5/8- to 1-inch (16 to 5 mm) if using the deltoid muscle. A 5/8-inch needle may be used only if the skin is stretched tightly and the subcutaneous tissue is not bunched.

Vastus Lateralis Muscle

1 in (25 mm)

2. Identify the injection site. 

 Recommended site: the vastus lateralis muscle in the anterolateral thigh§

 Use anatomical landmarks to determine the injection site. The muscle is located on 

the anterior lateral aspect of the thigh. The middle third of the muscle is used for 

injections - above the lateral condyle and below the greater trochanter. §The deltoid muscle can be used if the muscle mass is adequate. 

3. Administer the vaccine correctly. 

 Inject the vaccine into the middle and thickest part of the muscle. Insert the needle at 

a 90-degree angle and inject all the vaccine in the muscle tissue.

 Aspiration (i.e., pulling back on the plunger) is not necessary before injecting the 

vaccine. No large blood vessels are present at the recommended injection sites, and a 

process that includes aspiration might be more painful. 

For more information, see www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/acip-recs/general-recs/

administration.html

 If administering more than one injection in the same limb: 

 Use the vastus lateralis muscle in the anterolateral thigh. It is preferred because of 

its larger muscle mass. 

 Separate the injection sites by 1 inch if possible.

Greater 

trochanter

Injection

site

Lateral 

condyle

Vastus 

Lateralis

Patella

For additional information, go to CDC's clinical resources on vaccine administration;

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization: 

Vaccine Administration section at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/acip-recs/general-recs/administration.html 

Vaccine administration resource library at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/admin/resource-library.html 

02/01/2022