Primary Childhood Immunisation Programme

Decline in uptake of primary childhood immunisations

There has been a decline in the uptake of primary childhood immunisations in many countries in Europe including Ireland, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Declines in immunisation coverage is a real concern, leaving young children vulnerable to vaccine preventable diseases, and leading to a risk of outbreaks.

We have developed a toolkit to support GPs and Practice Nurses to maximise uptake of childhood immunisations in your practice.

Download the toolkit - it contains

• Tips for Catch-Up Vaccination in General Practice
  Watch this video where Dr Tom Barrett, Senior Medical Officer, National Immunisation Office outlines the RCPI National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) recommendations and addresses common questions the National Immunisation Office receives about catch up vaccines. This video concentrates on the Primary Childhood Immunisation Programme where vaccines are offered to children at 2, 4, 6, 12 and 13 months of age through General Practice.

• Tips for communication with parents who are hesitant about vaccines
• Evidence-based interventions to improve childhood vaccine uptake in your General Practice
• A link to complete our Talking About Immunisation e-learning module on HSeLanD at www.hseland.ie
• Links to our social media accounts - Hit follow or subscribe on Instagram, Twitter and Youtube for regular updates and don't forget to use our hashtag #KeepVaccinating
• Suggested social media messaging and graphics for Twitter and Instagram

Suggested social media messages

• Your baby needs five visits to complete their primary childhood immunisation schedule. Make an appointment with your GP practice today. Find out more at immunisation.ie #KeepVaccinating
• Getting your baby vaccinated is a safe and effective way to protect them from serious diseases. Make an appointment with your GP practice today. Learn more at immunisation.ie #KeepVaccinating
• Getting your baby vaccinated on time is the best way to protect them from serious diseases when they are older. Make an appointment with your GP practice today. Learn more at immunisation.ie #KeepVaccinating
• Don't delay getting your baby vaccinated. The routine vaccines for your baby are free and will help protect them from infectious diseases. So make an appointment with your GP practice today. Learn more: immunisation.ie #KeepVaccinating

Suggested social media graphics - Right click on the image and select save image to download the image

Primary childhood Immunisation Schedule

	Instagram	Twitter
Introduction
2 Months
4 Months
6 Months
12 Month
13 Months
Vaccine abbreviations

	Instagram	Twitter
5 visits
Don't delay your babies vaccines
Getting your baby vaccinated on time
Make an appointment
Vaccines for your baby

Health Professionals Information Materials

• Immunisation schedule
• FAQ's for Health Professionals (size 1.4 MB)
• Guidelines for Vaccinations in General Practice (size 2.8 MB)
• MenB poster (size 344 KB)
• Rotavirus poster (size 264.6 KB)
• Pre immunisation tearpad (size 192.7 KB)
• Post immunisation tearpad (size 240.4 KB)
• FAQs
  • Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule Frequently Asked Questions for Health Professionals
• Catch up vaccinations
• Additional Information about the vaccines used in the programme

You can read or download our PowerPoint presentation on the schedule or visit our Conferences page for more training materials

Parent information 

• Immunisation schedule
• Immunisation schedule poster English (size 205.8 KB)
• Immunisation schedule poster Irish (size 206.1 KB)
• Passport English (size 320.6 KB)
• Passport Irish (size 331.2 KB)
• Introduction to your child's immunisations - English (544.3KB) 
• Introduction to your child's immunisations - Irish (545.4KB)
• Your child's immunisations - A Guide for Parents English (size 2.8 MB)
• Your child's immunisations - A Guide for Parents Irish (size 3 MB)
  
  

This page was updated on 18 July 2023