Childhood Immunisation
Two new vaccines are being added to the childhood immunisation schedule. These new vaccines will give babies protection against Meningococcal B disease and rotavirus disease. The HSE has been given funding to introduce these vaccines for all babies born on or after 1st October 2016.
What vaccines will my baby get?
The vaccines your baby will get, depends on the date your baby was born.
If your baby was born on or after 1 October 2016, click here for more information.
For babies born ON or AFTER 1 October 2016:
In Ireland, all the recommended childhood immunisations listed in the timetable are free of charge. Download the booklet “Your child’s immunisation – A guide for parents” for information about the primary childhood programme (Birth – 13 months) – English (2.8MB) or Irish Version (3MB).
For information about what to expect at each visit and what to do after your visit, please click on the month that is appropriate to your child in the table below (you will need Adobe Reader to access these documents).
Age to Vaccinate
At Birth
Type of Vaccination
BCG/Tuberculosis Vaccine (given in maternity hospitals or HSE clinic)
The HSE continues to experience ongoing delays with the supply of BCG vaccine. Click here for more information
At 2 Months (518KB)
Free from your GP
6 in 1 Vaccine (Diphtheria Tetanus Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Hib (Haemophilus influenzae b) Polio (Inactivated poliomyelitis) Hepatitis B)
PCV (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine)
MenB Vaccine (Meningococcal B Vaccine)
Rotavirus oral vaccine
At 4 Months (546KB)
Free from your GP
6 in 1 Vaccine (Diphtheria Tetanus Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Hib (Haemophilus influenzae typeb) Polio (Inactivated poliomyelitis) Hepatitis B)
MenB Vaccine (Meningococcal B Vaccine)
Rotavirus oral vaccine
At 6 Months (524KB)
Free from your GP
6 in 1 Vaccine (Diphtheria Tetanus Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Hib (Haemophilus influenzae b) Polio (Inactivated poliomyelitis) Hepatitis B)
PCV (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine)
MenC Vaccine (Meningococcal C Vaccine)
At 12 Months (476KB)
Free from your GP
MMR (Measles Mumps Rubella)
MenB Vaccine (Meningococcal B Vaccine)
At 13 Months (551KB)
Free from your GP
Hib/MenC (Haemophilus influenzae b and Meningococcal C combined vaccine)
PCV (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine)
Will immunisations still work if my child doesn’t get them at the right time?
Yes. Most of these vaccines can be given at any age, and a child who misses one injection in a course of injections does not have to start again. The vaccines already given will still work and your child will still develop protection. However older children may not need all the vaccine doses or may need different vaccines. Just ask your GP.
What’s new about MenB vaccine?
When babies are given MenB vaccine with the other childhood vaccines, they are more at risk of developing a fever. We recommend giving all children 3 doses of liquid infant paracetamol after their 2 and 4 month vaccines to reduce the risk of fever.
Paracetamol is not needed when MenB vaccine is given at 12 months as the risk of fever is less.
What’s new about rotavirus oral vaccine?
The rotavirus oral vaccine is given as a liquid dropped into the mouth of a child.
Rotavirus vaccine cannot be given on or after 8 months and 0 days of age as the risk of a blocked gut is greater in older children.
Flu Vaccination
Seasonal Flu Vaccine Information
There has been an increase in the number of cases of flu recently.
Flu is a very infectious and potentially serious illness and a new flu vaccine must be given each year.
Flu can cause severe illness and can even be life threatening for older people, those who have a long term illness and pregnant women.
Flu is a highly infectious acute respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. Influenza affects people of all ages. Outbreaks of flu occur almost every year, usually in winter. This is why it is also known as seasonal flu.
Flu can be prevented by vaccination. Flu vaccine is a safe, effective way to help prevent flu infection, avoiding hospitalisation, reducing flu related deaths and illnesses.
Get the vaccine, not the flu!
The HSE is urging people in at-risk groups to get vaccinated against influenza.
Vaccination is strongly recommended for:
Two new vaccines are being added to the childhood immunisation schedule. These new vaccines will give babies protection against Meningococcal B disease and rotavirus disease. The HSE has been given funding to introduce these vaccines for all babies born on or after 1st October 2016.
What vaccines will my baby get?
The vaccines your baby will get, depends on the date your baby was born.
If your baby was born on or after 1 October 2016, click here for more information.
For babies born ON or AFTER 1 October 2016:
In Ireland, all the recommended childhood immunisations listed in the timetable are free of charge. Download the booklet “Your child’s immunisation – A guide for parents” for information about the primary childhood programme (Birth – 13 months) – English (2.8MB) or Irish Version (3MB).
For information about what to expect at each visit and what to do after your visit, please click on the month that is appropriate to your child in the table below (you will need Adobe Reader to access these documents).
Age to Vaccinate
At Birth
Type of Vaccination
BCG/Tuberculosis Vaccine (given in maternity hospitals or HSE clinic)
The HSE continues to experience ongoing delays with the supply of BCG vaccine. Click here for more information
At 2 Months (518KB)
Free from your GP
6 in 1 Vaccine (Diphtheria Tetanus Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Hib (Haemophilus influenzae b) Polio (Inactivated poliomyelitis) Hepatitis B)
PCV (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine)
MenB Vaccine (Meningococcal B Vaccine)
Rotavirus oral vaccine
At 4 Months (546KB)
Free from your GP
6 in 1 Vaccine (Diphtheria Tetanus Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Hib (Haemophilus influenzae typeb) Polio (Inactivated poliomyelitis) Hepatitis B)
MenB Vaccine (Meningococcal B Vaccine)
Rotavirus oral vaccine
At 6 Months (524KB)
Free from your GP
6 in 1 Vaccine (Diphtheria Tetanus Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Hib (Haemophilus influenzae b) Polio (Inactivated poliomyelitis) Hepatitis B)
PCV (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine)
MenC Vaccine (Meningococcal C Vaccine)
At 12 Months (476KB)
Free from your GP
MMR (Measles Mumps Rubella)
MenB Vaccine (Meningococcal B Vaccine)
At 13 Months (551KB)
Free from your GP
Hib/MenC (Haemophilus influenzae b and Meningococcal C combined vaccine)
PCV (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine)
Will immunisations still work if my child doesn’t get them at the right time?
Yes. Most of these vaccines can be given at any age, and a child who misses one injection in a course of injections does not have to start again. The vaccines already given will still work and your child will still develop protection. However older children may not need all the vaccine doses or may need different vaccines. Just ask your GP.
What’s new about MenB vaccine?
When babies are given MenB vaccine with the other childhood vaccines, they are more at risk of developing a fever. We recommend giving all children 3 doses of liquid infant paracetamol after their 2 and 4 month vaccines to reduce the risk of fever.
Paracetamol is not needed when MenB vaccine is given at 12 months as the risk of fever is less.
What’s new about rotavirus oral vaccine?
The rotavirus oral vaccine is given as a liquid dropped into the mouth of a child.
Rotavirus vaccine cannot be given on or after 8 months and 0 days of age as the risk of a blocked gut is greater in older children.
Flu Vaccination
Seasonal Flu Vaccine Information
There has been an increase in the number of cases of flu recently.
Flu is a very infectious and potentially serious illness and a new flu vaccine must be given each year.
Flu can cause severe illness and can even be life threatening for older people, those who have a long term illness and pregnant women.
Flu is a highly infectious acute respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. Influenza affects people of all ages. Outbreaks of flu occur almost every year, usually in winter. This is why it is also known as seasonal flu.
Flu can be prevented by vaccination. Flu vaccine is a safe, effective way to help prevent flu infection, avoiding hospitalisation, reducing flu related deaths and illnesses.
Get the vaccine, not the flu!
The HSE is urging people in at-risk groups to get vaccinated against influenza.
Vaccination is strongly recommended for:
- persons aged 65 and older
- those with a long term medical condition such as diabetes. heart, kidney, lung or neurological disease
- people whose immune system is impaired due to disease or treatment
- persons with a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 40
- pregnant women (at any stage in pregnancy)
- residents of nursing homes and other long stay institutions
- people with regular close contact with poultry, water fowl or pigs
- health care workers
- carers
