The changes to the Primary Childhood Immunisation schedule are for babies born from 1st October 2024 onwards.
Babies born before 1st October 2024, should continue on the schedule that was in place when they were born
The child’s date of birth determines which schedule the child should follow.
On the recommendation of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) the following changes are being introduced to the Primary Childhood Immunisation Programme (PCIP) for children born on or after October 1st 2024
- Meningococcal C vaccine is no longer recommended at 6 months of age. The MenC vaccine dose at 13 months will remain in the schedule.
- Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine is being added to the PCIP schedule and will be given with MMR and MenB vaccines at the 12-month visit.
For children born on or after October 1st 2024, a second dose of Varicella vaccine to complete the 2 dose schedule will be given as a combined MMR and Varicella vaccine (MMRV) when these children are in junior infants in primary school.
- The Hib/MenC vaccine given at 13 months will be replaced by a single MenC vaccine and a 6 in 1 vaccine at the 13 months visit. Men C and 6 in 1 vaccines will be given with the PCV vaccine.
MenC vaccine changes in the schedule
NIAC advised that since the introduction of meningococcal C vaccine in 2000, the incidence of meningococcal C disease in Ireland has declined significantly. It is now known that giving one dose of MenC vaccine in the 2nd year of life, with a booster dose of MenC vaccine (in the MenACWY vaccine) in adolescence, provides protection against severe meningococcal C disease and establishes community immunity, which helps to protect younger children. Therefore, NIAC advice is the MenC vaccine is no longer recommended at 6 months of age.
Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine introduction to PCIP
NIAC recommends the introduction of varicella vaccine at the 12 months visit, to reduce the significant burden of varicella zoster virus morbidity and its complications. Varicella vaccine was licensed for general use in Japan and Korea in 1988 and in the United States in 1995, for person’s age 12 months or older.
The European Medicine Agency first licensed varicella vaccine in 2003. Germany was the first European country to introduce universal varicella vaccination in 2004.
Hib/MenC vaccine replacement
The Hib/MenC vaccine will no longer be available from the manufacturer GSK after 2025. To replace Hib/MenC vaccine given at 13 months, NIAC recommended a MenC vaccine and the introduction of a 4th dose of 6 in 1 vaccine at 13 months.
The 6 in 1 provides protection against Hib (every child is recommended one dose of Hib vaccine from the age of 1 year to 9 years inclusive). The 6 in 1 vaccine also offers enhanced protection in young children from tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis and paralytic polio.
This will bring the Irish Primary Childhood Immunisation Programme in line with most countries worldwide, which already give a 4th dose of a tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis and polio vaccine to children aged 12 to 18 months to increase protection from these diseases through childhood.
Remember Children born before 1 October 2024 should continue to follow the schedule that was in place when they were born i.e. the schedule prior to 1st October 2024. This applies also to catch-up schedules. If children need to catch up with vaccines, they should catch-up with the vaccine schedule recommended for them at the time they were born.
Information materials and website updates available for the new PCIP Schedule
For Health Care Workers
- A new e-learning module “The Primary Childhood Immunisation Programme” will be available on www.HSEland.ie
- Information for healthcare professionals including frequently asked questions is available on www.immunisation.ie
- The Primary Childhood Immunisation Programme Partner Pack
- Vaccine Ingredients: A discussion guide for healthcare professionals and their patients on vaccine ingredients www.immunisation.ie
- Clinical queries from healthcare professionals can be directed to [email protected]
For Parents
- Immunisation information booklet, ’Your Child’s Immunisations. A guide for parents’.
- A3 poster outlining the new schedule
- Immunisation passport
- Infographic ‘Your Child’s Vaccines’ with a Plain English Mark approved by the National Adult Literacy Agency. This is also available to download and print in 12 languages at www.immunisation.ie
- Tear pad with information for after immunisation
These resources are also available to order or download on www.immunisation.ie and www.healthpromotion.ie