Why vaccine schedules differ from country to country
Parents who move between countries, or who have family spread across them, often notice that immunisation schedules do not match. One country gives a vaccine this site lists at 8 weeks; another waits until 3 months. One includes chickenpox as routine; another does not. This variation is expected and does not mean one country is doing it wrong.
Different diseases matter more in different places
BCG against tuberculosis is given at birth as routine in South Africa, India, Brazil and Russia, because TB is common there. In the UK and US it is offered only to babies with a specific higher risk. Yellow fever is routine for children in much of Brazil and not relevant at all in Europe. Japanese encephalitis is on India's schedule only in the districts where the disease occurs. Schedules are shaped by local epidemiology.
Different dosing strategies, same science
Some countries use a '3+1' infant schedule (three closely spaced doses plus a booster); Germany and several others use an efficient '2+1'. Both are evidence-based; the choice reflects local judgement about the balance between early protection and number of visits. Similarly, the age of the second MMR dose ranges from 15 months to 6 years across countries - all of which achieve full protection, just on different timelines.
Cost, delivery and history
Whether a vaccine is delivered through GPs, clinics, or schools affects when it is scheduled. Historical decisions matter too: a country that introduced hepatitis B as a school programme decades ago may still run it that way, while newer programmes vaccinate in infancy.
What this means for your family
If your child is vaccinated on any national schedule, they are well protected. When moving countries, a clinician will reconcile the two schedules and add anything missing - your child will not start over. Use a comparison of the two schedules to know in advance what is likely to be added or given on a different timeline.