Immunisation schedule for 12 months+

We all know how important it is to immunise our little ones against serious diseases like Meningitis, Measles, Whooping Cough, Diptheria, Polio and more. Most parents make sure to get their baby’s immunisations in their first year. But it’s easy to forget they need more as they get older. Because some immunisations are given in stages, your child won’t be fully protected if they haven’t had the full course of injections. Here is your child’s immunisation schedule for 12 months+.

12 months

MMR – Your child will need vaccinations for MMR to protect against Measles, Mumps and Rubella.

MenB (Meningitis) – Your baby will likely have already received vaccines for MenB at 2 and 4 months old so it’s important to follow up for full protection.

13 months

Your child will need another two vaccinations at 13 months old:

Hib/MenC vaccine – Most babies will have received this immunization at 2, 4 and 6 months at part of the 6-in-1 vaccine, and MenC which they get at 6 months.

PCV vaccine – Your child will have been immunized against PCV at 2 and 6 months, but as this is a multi-part vaccination your child will need a booster at 13 months.

Once your little one has received these immunisations, there will be no more until they reach school age. These are usually administered by the HSE through your child’s school. If not, your GP can administer them and there is no charge for these.

Immunisation schedule

Here is a downloadable immunisation schedule from the HSE of vaccinations your child needs to have. These can differ from country to country so if you are outside Ireland, please check your national health provider’s own immunization schedule.

What if I have missed my child’s vaccinations?

If your child has missed any vaccinations because of Covid 19 or for any other reason, it’s not too late. Protect your child against serious illnesses and make the catch-up appointments as soon as you can. Remember not to bin your child’s immunization passport once they get older. Their primary school will need to know if they have had their MMR dose at 12 months before administering the booster which children get at 4/5 years.

Pre/Post-vaccination tips

• If your child has a temperature, do not bring them for immunisation. Wait until it is back to normal.
• If your little one has a sniffle or is a little unwell, it’s still ok to proceed. As long as their temperature is normal, there is no reason to delay vaccination.
• If your child is on antibiotics they can still be vaccinated.
• Dress your child in something that gives easy access to the arms.
• Take your child’s immunization passport along with you so it can be updated.

Remember that your little one may feel out of sorts after an immunization. They may become feverish, fretful, and you may see redness and swelling where the vaccinations were given. Your health care provider will let you know what to expect and what to do.  But if you are worried, please contact your GP, general practice nurse or public health nurse for further advice.

Information from HSE website: https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/pubinfo

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