How to book in Ireland
Baby vaccines are given free by your GP - the HSE sends you an appointment. School vaccines are given by HSE school immunisation teams (you sign a consent form). If your child missed a dose, contact your GP or local HSE immunisation office.
HSE - find a GPTap any milestone to expand it. Each vaccine explains what it is, the diseases it prevents, and why it is given at that age.
2 monthsNewborn4 vaccines
One injection against six diseases. Whooping cough is dangerous for young babies, so the course starts at 2 months.
Protects against a common cause of chest infections and meningitis in toddlers.
Oral drops against severe infant gastroenteritis. Must start before 15 weeks.
Protects against the main cause of meningococcal meningitis and sepsis in Irish children. Infant paracetamol is advised around this vaccine.
4 monthsNewborn3 vaccines
Second six-in-one dose.
Final rotavirus dose, by 24 weeks.
Second MenB dose.
6 monthsInfant2 vaccines
Third dose. A fourth 6-in-1 is now given at 13 months.
Second pneumococcal dose.
12 monthsToddler3 vaccines
First measles, mumps and rubella dose. Ireland has had measles outbreaks when uptake dips, so this matters for every child.
Chickenpox vaccination was added to the Irish schedule for babies born from October 2024. It prevents chickenpox and its complications such as skin infection and, rarely, pneumonia.
The final MenB dose.
13 monthsToddler3 vaccines
A fourth 6-in-1 dose, added for babies born from October 2024. It replaces part of what the old Hib/MenC booster did.
A single meningitis C dose, given in place of the older combined Hib/MenC booster.
The pneumococcal booster.
Junior infants (age 4-5, school)Child2 vaccines
A booster given through the school programme in the junior infants year.
The second measles-containing dose, now given as a combined MMR and varicella injection so it also completes the two-dose chickenpox course. Two doses give near-complete lifelong measles protection.
1st year of secondary school (around 12-13)Teen3 vaccines
Given to all first-year students. Ireland uses a single dose. It prevents the infections that cause almost all cervical cancer.
The teenage tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough booster.
Protects teenagers against four meningococcal groups as case rates rise in the late teens.
Given in addition to the routine schedule, for children who meet certain criteria.
When: Every autumn, ages 2-17
Who: Offered free each year to all children aged 2-17. A quick nasal spray for most children.
When: Infancy, if indicated
Who: No longer routine in Ireland; offered to babies at higher risk of TB exposure.
When: Babies born September-February (RSV season), given in the maternity hospital soon after birth
Who: A single antibody injection (not a vaccine) protecting against severe RSV bronchiolitis for about 150 days, covering the highest-risk early months. Free HSE programme.
How Ireland compares with other countries for each vaccine, and the side effects that are normal.
Moving here? Moving to Ireland with a child
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About the Ireland schedule
In Ireland, childhood vaccines are provided free by the Health Service Executive (HSE) on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). Babies are vaccinated by the GP; school-age vaccines are given by HSE school immunisation teams.
The programme changed for babies born from October 2024: the chickenpox (varicella) vaccine was added at 12 months, the old Hib/MenC booster at 13 months was replaced by a single MenC dose plus a fourth 6-in-1, and the second measles dose moved to junior infants as the combined MMRV vaccine.
The primary schedule runs at 2, 4, 6, 12 and 13 months, with vaccines in junior infants (age 4-5) and in the first year of secondary school (around age 12-13).
How Ireland compares
Ireland's routine schedule protects against 16 diseases across 7 vaccination ages, 3 of them in the first year. By age 2 a child has had about 15 vaccine doses, including oral drops against rotavirus.
Less common elsewhere: Ireland routinely vaccinates against Meningococcal B, which fewer than half of the other 13 countries on this site include for every child.
Compare Ireland with any other country, disease by disease.
Behind schedule or new to Ireland? Almost every dose still counts, and your clinic can plan a catch-up - see common questions or moving to Ireland.