Ireland's routine childhood schedule protects against 16 diseases (see the full Ireland schedule). Doses your child has already had abroad almost always count - the job on arrival is to get them recorded and fill any gaps.
Your first weeks in Ireland
- Register your child with a GP. Vaccines in the primary childhood immunisation programme are free from your GP, and the GP can plan any catch-up doses.
- Later vaccines - the 4-in-1 and MMR (MMRV for younger children) in junior infants, and HPV, Tdap and MenACWY in first year of secondary school - are given in school by HSE vaccination teams.
- Schools do not require proof of vaccination for enrolment, but keep your child's overseas record for the GP and school team.
- Bring your child's written vaccination record with vaccine names, dates and batch numbers if you have them. If it is not in English, a translation helps.
Coming from: United Kingdom. Another country? Use the comparison tool.
🇬🇧 Coming from the UK
Every disease on Ireland's routine schedule is also covered in the UK, so a child who is up to date is unlikely to need extra vaccines.
The UK also routinely vaccinates against Flu, which Ireland does not give every child. Keep the record of those doses - they still count.
Both countries cover diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio and Hib and more, but at different ages, so a course started in the UK is finished on Ireland's timetable.
Bring the "red book" (Personal Child Health Record).
Side by side: the UK and Ireland ages for each disease
| Disease | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 🇮🇪 Ireland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria | 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 18 months, 3 years 4 months, 14 years (school year 9) | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 13 months, Junior infants (age 4-5, school), 1st year of secondary school (around 12-13) | |
| Tetanus | 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 18 months, 3 years 4 months, 14 years (school year 9) | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 13 months, Junior infants (age 4-5, school), 1st year of secondary school (around 12-13) | |
| Whooping cough | 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 18 months, 3 years 4 months | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 13 months, Junior infants (age 4-5, school), 1st year of secondary school (around 12-13) | |
| Polio | 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 18 months, 3 years 4 months, 14 years (school year 9) | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 13 months, Junior infants (age 4-5, school) | |
| Hib | 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 18 months | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 13 months | |
| Hepatitis B | 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 18 months | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 13 months | |
| Pneumococcal disease | 16 weeks, 1 year (12-13 months) | 2 months, 6 months, 13 months | |
| Rotavirus | 8 weeks, 12 weeks | 2 months, 4 months | |
| Measles | 1 year (12-13 months), 18 months, 3 years 4 months | 12 months, Junior infants (age 4-5, school) | |
| Mumps | 1 year (12-13 months), 18 months, 3 years 4 months | 12 months, Junior infants (age 4-5, school) | |
| Rubella | 1 year (12-13 months), 18 months, 3 years 4 months | 12 months, Junior infants (age 4-5, school) | |
| Chickenpox | 1 year (12-13 months), 18 months, 3 years 4 months | 12 months, Junior infants (age 4-5, school) | |
| Meningococcal B | 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 1 year (12-13 months) | 2 months, 4 months, 12 months | |
| Meningococcal C | 14 years (school year 9) | 13 months, 1st year of secondary school (around 12-13) | |
| Meningococcal A, W, Y | 14 years (school year 9) | 1st year of secondary school (around 12-13) | |
| HPV | 12 to 13 years (school year 8) | 1st year of secondary school (around 12-13) | |
| Flu Only in the UK | 2 years to school Year 11 (annually) | - | Only in the UK |
From each country's official schedule. Combination vaccines mean one injection can count for several diseases. Full United Kingdom schedule.
- Ireland - Health Service Executive (HSE) / National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC)
- HSE - Vaccines for your child
- United Kingdom - NHS / UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
Ireland schedule last checked 2026-09-16. How we check.
General information, not medical advice. Your new doctor or nurse will advise on your own child, including any vaccines for health conditions or travel.
Other moves: moving to the US · moving to the UK · moving to Australia · moving to Canada · moving to New Zealand