The School Vaccination Programme helps protect children against serious diseases and illnesses.
Children are offered vaccines when they are in:
- junior infants in primary school (4-in-1 and MMR)
- first year of secondary school (HPV, Tdap and MenACWY)
Some vaccines given at school are booster doses of vaccines your child got when they were a baby. Booster doses top up your child’s immunity to certain infectious diseases.
We offer vaccinations in all public and private schools through the School Vaccination Programme.
The vaccines are also available to students in the same age group who are in special schools or are home-schooled.
Vaccinations in junior infants
In junior infants, we offer your child 2 vaccines:
- the 4-in-1 vaccine - this is a booster vaccine which protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) and polio
- a second dose of the MMR vaccine - this protects against measles, mumps and rubella
Vaccinations in primary school usually take place between September and December each year. The 2 vaccines are given at the same visit.
In Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal, vaccinations do not take place in your primary school. You need to make an appointment with your GP to get your child vaccinated.
Vaccination passport
On vaccination day, your child should bring their vaccination passport into school. The vaccination passport is a record of their vaccinations since birth. The vaccination team will add the vaccines into the passport. They also give a leaflet with advice for after the vaccination.
Tell the vaccination team if your child has a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher. They may reschedule your appointment.
Common side effects
There are some common side effects to the vaccines.
These include:
- discomfort, redness, swelling or pain around the area where the injection was given
- tiredness or irritability
- slightly high temperature
Side effects are usually mild and do not last long.
To help ease any discomfort, you can give your child paracetamol for children. Follow the instructions on the packet.
Non-urgent advice: Contact your GP, immunisation office or GP out of hours:
- your child is not well after vaccination and you are worried about them
There may be another reason for them being sick.
Vaccinations in the first year of secondary school
In the first year of secondary school, we offer your child 3 vaccines:
- HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine
- Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis or whooping cough) booster vaccine
- MenACWY (meningococcal A, C, W and Y) vaccine
The vaccines help protect them against these serious diseases and illnesses.
Vaccinations in secondary school usually take place between January and the end of the school year. The vaccines are usually given at the same visit.
Information and consent for student vaccines
Vaccinations are given in school as part of the school health programme.
Your child usually takes vaccine information home in their school bag. This includes a letter from the National Immunisation Office and a consent form for your child to get the vaccines at school.
What to do when you get vaccine information and consent forms
Non-urgent advice: Contact your local immunisation office if:
- you have any questions about the vaccinations
- your child missed getting the vaccines
Children in home-schooling
If your child is home-schooled, we usually ask Tusla (the child and family agency) to send you:
- information about the vaccines being offered
- the consent form
Complete the form and return it to the school vaccination team at your local immunisation office. They will arrange your child's vaccination appointment.
If you have any questions, contact your local immunisation office.
Seasonal nasal spray flu vaccine
Your child may be offered the nasal spray flu vaccine at primary school during the flu season. This may not happen at every school. GPs and pharmacists also offer the nasal spray flu vaccine during the flu season.