Children's Vaccination Schedule in Ireland 2025: What Every Parent Needs to Know
Ireland's childhood immunisation schedule protects children from a range of serious diseases from birth. Here's what vaccines your child needs, when they're due, and what to do if you've missed one.
Vaccination is one of the most effective tools in preventive medicine. Ireland has a well-established childhood immunisation schedule that protects against many serious and potentially life-threatening diseases from birth onwards. As a parent — particularly if you are new to Ireland from another country — understanding this schedule is essential.
The Irish Childhood Vaccination Schedule (2025)
The HSE recommends the following vaccinations for children in Ireland:
- Birth: BCG (tuberculosis) — given in hospital
- 2 months: 6-in-1 (diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Hib, polio, hepatitis B), Rotavirus (oral), MenB
- 4 months: 6-in-1, Rotavirus (oral), MenB
- 6 months: 6-in-1, MenC, MenB
- 12 months: MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), MenC, Hib
- 13 months: MenB booster
- 4–5 years: 4-in-1 booster, MMR booster
- Girls age 9–14: HPV vaccine (cervical cancer prevention)
- 12–13 years: Tdap booster (tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough)
Why Vaccination Matters
Many parents from Eastern Europe, the Middle East, or other regions may come from countries with different vaccination schedules. Some vaccines used in Ireland may not have been available in your home country, or may have been given at different ages. It is important to let your paediatrician know your child's full vaccination history so any gaps can be identified and addressed with a catch-up schedule.
Vaccines work by stimulating the immune system to recognise and fight specific pathogens without causing disease. Herd immunity — where enough of the population is vaccinated to prevent disease spread — protects vulnerable individuals who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.
What If My Child Has Missed Vaccines?
Missed vaccinations are common in children who have recently moved to Ireland, or whose parents were hesitant about vaccination earlier. The good news is that catch-up vaccination is available and safe. Our paediatricians at Elite Medical & Dental Clinic can review your child's vaccination record and create a personalised catch-up schedule.
Vaccination Reactions: What's Normal?
It's completely normal for children to experience mild reactions after vaccination: a sore arm, low-grade fever, irritability, or sleepiness. These typically resolve within 48 hours. MenB in particular can cause a higher temperature, and our paediatricians will advise on appropriate pain relief.
Serious reactions to vaccines are extremely rare. If you notice difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, or a rash spreading beyond the injection site, seek emergency care immediately.
Private Paediatric Vaccination at Elite Medical
All standard childhood vaccinations are available at Elite Medical & Dental Clinic. Our paediatric team, led by Dr. Renata Baranowska PhD, provides consultations in English and Polish — which is particularly valuable for parents who are more comfortable discussing their child's health in their native language. We also offer travel vaccinations for children going abroad.
To book a paediatric consultation or vaccination appointment, contact us at +353 85 102 4218 or book online.
Written by
Dr. Renata Baranowska
Paediatrician & Allergologist
A specialist at Elite Medical & Dental Clinic, Smithfield, Dublin.
Meet the Team