Babies and toddlers

The Department of Health and Social Security recommends that parents have their children vaccinated free of charge against vaccine-preventable diseases included in the National Immunisation Programme. These vaccinations protect children against dangerous and even fatal diseases. The recommended immunisation schedule for infants and young children is shown below:

Recommended vaccinations

Newborns

  • Immunisation against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)*: administration of a preventive treatment (passive immunisation product) that protects against bronchiolitis, preferably before leaving the maternity ward, during periods of high virus circulation, i.e. from September to February.

* either vaccination of the mother against RSV during pregnancy.

2-month-old infants

  • First dose of the combined vaccine (D, T, aP, Hib, IPV, Hep B) which protects against:
    • diphtheria,
    • tetanus,
    • whooping cough,
    • invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b infections (meningitis, epiglottitis and arthritis),
    • polio,
    • hepatitis B.
  • Rotavirus (1st dose): vaccination against rotavirus gastroenteritis.
  • Pneumococcus (1st dose): vaccination against invasive pneumococcal infections.

3-month-old infants

  • Rotavirus (2nd dose): vaccination against rotavirus gastroenteritis.
  • Meningococcus B (1st dose): vaccination against invasive meningococcal B infections.
  • Pneumococcus (2nd dose): vaccination against invasive pneumococcal infections.

4-month-old infants

  • Second dose of the combined vaccine (D, T, aP, Hib, IPV) which protects against:
    • diphtheria,
    • tetanus,
    • whooping cough,
    • invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b infections (meningitis, epiglottitis and arthritis),
    • polio,
    • hepatitis B.
  • Pneumococcus (3rd dose): vaccination against invasive pneumococcal infections.
  • Rotavirus (3rd dose): vaccination against rotavirus gastroenteritis.

5-month-old infants

  • Meningococcus B (2nd dose): vaccination against invasive meningococcal B infections.

Infants under 6 months of age

  • RSV: For infants under 6 months of age who did not receive it before leaving the maternity ward, administration of preventive treatment that protects against bronchiolitis during periods of high virus circulation, namely from September to February.

Young children aged 11 months

  • Third dose of the combined vaccine (D, T, aP, Hib, IPV, Hep B) which protects against:
    • diphtheria,
    • tetanus,
    • whooping cough,
    • invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b infections (meningitis, epiglottitis and arthritis),
    • polio,
    • hepatitis B
  • Pneumococcus (4th dose): vaccination against invasive pneumococcal infections.

Young children aged 12 months

  • First dose of the combined vaccine (MMRV) which protects against:
    • measles,
    • mumps,
    • rubella,
    • chickenpox.
  • Meningococcus B (third dose): vaccination against invasive meningococcal B infections.

Young children aged 13 months

  • Meningococcal ACWY (1st dose): vaccination against invasive meningococcal infections A, C, W and Y.

Young children aged 15-23 months

Second dose of the combined vaccine (MMRV) which protects against:

  • measles,
  • mumps,
  • rubella,
  • chickenpox.

Recommendations

Premature babies

Children born prematurely (before 37 weeks of amenorrhea), particularly those born before 33 weeks of amenorrhea (GA) and/or with a birth weight < 1500g, are at increased risk of infections, some of which can be prevented by vaccination. According to the latest report on perinatal health surveillance in Luxembourg, in 2016, 9.0% of children were born before 37 GW. In addition, many premature babies are still hospitalised in neonatal units at the age when their first vaccination should be administered. For these reasons, vaccination of premature babies warrants specific recommendations.

Specific recommendations apply to children born prematurely. Find them: here.

Children at risk

For children at risk (e.g. chronic lung and heart disease, chronic metabolic disease, blood disorders or weakened immune systems), other vaccinations may also be recommended. Finally, children who have not received certain basic vaccinations or whose vaccination schedule is incomplete may receive catch-up vaccinations, according to the recommended schedule.

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