Menitorix®
Menitorix® has been discontinued on the Irish market and is no longer available to order from the National Cold Chain Service. Remaining stocks of Menitorix expired on 30th April 2026.
Menitorix was given in the primary childhood immunisation schedule to children born before 1st October 2024, at the 13 month visit.
It is not included in the immunisation schedule for children born on or after 1st October 2024.
As Menitorix® vaccine is no longer available, a child born before 1st October 2024 who missed the 13 months vaccines and is catching up to the vaccines missed, may need a Hib vaccine and/or Meningococcal group C conjugate. These vaccines may be ordered as individual vaccines:
- Meningococcal group C conjugate – order via National Cold Chain Service website or by emailing [email protected]
- Haemophilus type b – please email [email protected], stating the date of birth of the child and the clinical reason for the request.
Sites may not hold general stock of this vaccine.
Hib vaccine is recommended up to the age of nine years inclusive.
Unvaccinated children aged 1-9 years are recommended one dose of MenC vaccine. A booster dose should be given at 12-13 years of age (as MenACWY vaccine) as part of the secondary school programme. Unvaccinated persons aged 10-22 years are recommended a single dose of a MenC-containing vaccine.
Vaxelis®
Vaxelis® 6in1 vaccine will replace Infanrix Hexa® 6in1 vaccine for children born on or after 1st June 2026. Therefore Vaxelis® vaccine should be ordered for all children starting the Primary Childhood Immunisation Programme (PCIP) from 1st August 2026 (children born on or after 1st June 2026).
Infanrix Hexa® vaccine will continue to be available for children who have already started their PCIP schedule with this vaccine.
The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) recommends either Vaxelis® or Infanrix Hexa® for use in the PCIP.
NIAC recommends using a vaccine from the same manufacturer to complete the 6in1 primary series at 2, 4 and 6 months and for the fourth 6in1 dose recommended at 13 months. This schedule is the official recommendation from NIAC and should be followed in the Irish schedule. The SmPC for Vaxelis® advises a different schedule may be used but the NIAC advice overrides the advice in the SmPC.
However, if the original vaccine is unknown or unavailable, an alternative 6 in 1 vaccine from a different manufacturer may be used.
Vaccination should never be delayed because the vaccine used for previous doses is not known or unavailable.
See Chapter 2 of the immunisation guidelines https://www.hiqa.ie/sites/default/files/NIAC/Immunisation_Guidelines/Chapter_02_General_Immunisation_Procedures.pdf
The Vaxelis® vaccine is presented as a suspension for injection in pre-filled syringe. Therefore, unlike the Infanrix Hexa® vaccine this 6in1 vaccine does not need to be reconstituted.
Vaxelis® will be available for ordering from the National Cold Chain Service (NCCS) from June 2026 onwards.
The NCCS will continue to have supply Infanrix hexa available for ordering for a limited period. As mentioned above children who have already commenced the PCI schedule with Infanrix Hexa® vaccine should complete the schedule with Infanrix Hexa® where possible.
Children who have come to Ireland from other countries and have already received other DTaP-HB-IPV-Hib-containing vaccines but need to complete the schedule, may receive Infanrix Hexa® or Vaxelis®. We advise using Vaxelis® in these circumstances as supplies of Infanrix Hexa® will be more limited.
Rotavirus vaccine
From April 2026, the newborn bloodspot screening test for babies includes testing for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Syndrome (SCID). Prior to this, babies were tested for a sub-type of SCID, ADA-SCID only. This has prompted a review of the questions that should be asked before babies are given rotavirus vaccine.
The following questions should be asked prior to rotavirus vaccine administration:
· Are there any immunological diseases in the family for which a bone marrow transplant was recommended?
· Did anyone in either parents’ family need a bone marrow transplant aged < 12 months?
· When the baby had their newborn bloodspot screening (heel prick test) was there any follow up needed because of the results of the test?
If the parent/guardian answers yes to any of the questions above, the following questions should be asked:
· Did the baby need follow-up by a specialist Paediatric Immunologist? (NB: these clinics are only in Dublin; children may have a blood test locally and if abnormal are referred to CHI).
· If yes, were you advised that the baby should not have the Rotavirus vaccine?
Do not administer rotavirus vaccine if the parent/guardian was advised that the child should not receive rotavirus vaccine.
If the parent/guardian is unsure or unclear as to the advice given by the Paediatric Immunologist do not give rotavirus vaccine. Check with the Paediatric Immunologist if the baby can receive rotavirus vaccine before administering the vaccine.
More information is available from https://healthservice.hse.ie/staff/information-healthcare-workers/national-immunisation-office/resources/