Age	Where	Vaccine
Birth	Hospital / Clinic	BCG
2 Months	GP	6 in 1 + PCV
4 Months	GP	6 in 1 + Men C
6 Months	GP	6 in 1 + Men C + PCV
12 Months	GP	MMR + PCV
13 Months	GP	Men C + Hib
4-5 Years	GP / School	4 in 1 + MMR
1st Year Secondary School	School	HPV (Girls Only)
6th Year  Secondary School	School	HPV (Girls Only)
11- 14 Years	School	Tdap

(Please note - the schedule for the first 13 months of life shown in the table above was introduced in September 2008 for all children born on or after 1st July 2008. In September 2010 the HPV vaccination programme was introduced. The Tdap programme was introduced in September 2011.)

Abbreviations used in the table above are explained below

BCG = Bacille Calmette-Guerin (TB - Tuberculosis vaccine)

6 in 1 = Diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae B (Hib), bepatitis B, petussis (Whooping Cough), polio and tetanus

PCV = Pneumococcal vaccine

Men C = Meningococcal C

MMR = Measles, mumps, rubella

Hib = Haemophilus influenzae B

4 in 1 = Diphtheria, tetanus, polio, pertussis (whooping cough)

HPV = Human papillomavirus

Tdap = Tetanus, low dose diphtheria, accelular pertussis

The National Immunisation Office have produced support materials to explain the diseases listed in the table above, these are available for download below. You need to read these materials carefully before going for vaccination, if you have any questions you should speak with your childs GP or Practice Nurse.

Information for parents who have children up to the age of 13 months is available below

In September 2008 a new immunisation schedule was introduced for all children born on or after 1st July 2008. In April 2011 the information materials for parents were updated following consultation with parents.

Your childs immunisations booklet is available from your public health nurse or GP. It is also available for download here. This booklet gives you more information about immunisation and should also answer any other questions you may have. If you still have any queries please speak to your childs GP or Practice Nurse.

This booklet contains a pocket in the back of the book that contains a fridge magnet and an immunisation passport.

• The magnet can be downloaded from here - it contains a copy of the immunisation schedule for your child.
• The passport can be downloaded from here - this is a useful booklet as it allows you to keep a record of all of the vaccinations you child has recieved to date and it also acts as a reminder of the vaccines your child needs in the future. Please keep this booklet safe as you may be asked to provide information contained in it when your child goes to créche, school, 3rd level education or employment.

Immunisation posters are also available to download below 

• Poster 1 - contains the schedule
• Poster 2 - reminds you 5 visits are needed to fully vaccinate your baby

In Ireland, all the recommended immunisations listed in the primary childhood immunisation schedule are free.

REMEMBER your child needs FIVE visits to your GP to complete their course of vaccines and be fully protected against serious diseases.

Information for parents who have children aged 4 years to 14 years of age is available below

Children need to get booster doses of some vaccines in school to protect them against diseases.

When your child is aged 4 to 5 years, they will be offered two vaccines:

• the 4 in 1 booster to protect against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and tetanus; and
• a second dose of the MMR vaccine to protect against measles, mumps and rubella. 

These vaccines are usually given by a HSE doctor or nurse in school or in some areas by your GP. Information is available to download from the following link.

If you would like to read more about the diseases that are covered with the MMR or 4 in 1 vaccine, click here. This link will take you to the vaccine preventable diseases section.  

When your child is aged 11 to 14 years, they will get a tetanus, low-dose diphtheria and accelular pertussis booster vaccine. This vaccine is usually given by a HSE doctor or nurse in school. Information about the Tdap vaccine is available to download  from the following link.

If you would like to read more about the diseases that are covered with the Tdap vaccine, click here. This link will take you to the vaccine preventable diseases section.

When your daughter is in first year of second level school, (about 12 years of age) she will get the HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine, to protect against cervical cancer. Three doses of this vaccine will be given over 6-12 months. This vaccine is given by a HSE doctor or nurse in school. Click here to access information about the HPV programme.

In the 2011-2012 school year HPV vaccine will also be offered to 6th year girls in secondary school (about 18 years of age). Three doses of this vaccine will be given over 6-12 months. This vaccine is given by a HSE doctor or nurse in school. Click here to access information about the HPV programme.

When these vaccines are given in school the HSE will let you know the date of immunisations. If your child misses that immunisation in school, the HSE will arrange for your child to be vaccinated at a clinic. 

This section was last updated 28th September 2011