Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for intramuscular injections

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for intramuscular injections

Age	Preferred site	Needle gauge	Needle length
Neonate (first 28 days of life) and preterm	Anterolateral thigh	22G to 25G	5/8''
Infant (<12 months)	Anterolateral thigh	22G to 25G	1''
Toddlers (12 months to 2 years)	Anterolateral thigh or deltoid if enough muscle mass	22G to 25G	1''
Children through adolescents ( 3 to 18 years)	Deltoid	22G to 25G	5/8'' to ¼''*

*Smaller children use a 5/8''.