Immunisations

Immunisations

Immunisation is a simple, safe and effective way of protecting you and your family from certain diseases before you encounter them in the community. These diseases can cause serious illness or even death. 

Learn about vaccines and immunisation programmes provided in Ireland for you and your family. 

Vaccines for You

COVID Vaccine

COVID-19 vaccines are the best way to protect yourself from COVID-19.

The vaccines provided by the HSE give the best available protection against the serious complications of COVID-19 and reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death.

COVID-19 vaccines are the best way to protect yourself from COVID-19. The vaccines provided by the HSE provide the best available protection against the serious complications of COVID-19 and reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death. 

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) recommend that mRNA vaccines should be given. This booklet contains information about the updated Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine, which is the available recommended mRNA vaccine used in Ireland’s COVID-19 vaccination programme 

Read booklet in Arabic, Chinese, English, Polish, Russian, Romanian and Ukrainian.  

Vaccines in Pregnancy  

Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Vaccine

Getting the whooping cough vaccine will protect your baby.  

The best time to get the vaccine is between 16 and before 36 weeks of pregnancy. By getting the whooping cough vaccine when you are pregnant, you can make sure your baby is protected from the moment they are born.  

Contact your GP to book an appointment. 

Access whooping cough vaccine information in various languages. 

Vaccines for Your Child

Talk to your GP, your GP practice nurse, or your public health nurse (PHN) if you have any questions 

Learn more:

Childhood Immunisation Schedule

The vaccines in the Childhood Immunisation Programme protect your child against 14 infectious diseases.

Learn what vaccines your child will get and at what age they should get them, using the old and new Immunisations Schedule:

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine

HPV is a common virus that most people will get in their lifetime.
The HPV vaccine protects against cancers caused by HPV, including cancers of the throat, anus, penis, and vulva, as well as genital warts.

It is safe and effective, with no long-term side effects.

As part of the national school vaccination programme, free HPV vaccination is offered for girls and boys in first year of secondary school, before a person becomes exposed to HPV infection.

HPV vaccination catch-up programme 2026

Students in 5th and 6th year of secondary school who missed out on their free HPV vaccine will be offered a catch-up between January and August 2026.
Parents or guardians of eligible students will be contacted directly with consent forms.
Students who are 16 or older can sign their own consent form.

Find out more at www.hpv.ie

Important Vaccines

Measles Vaccine

Measles can be dangerous, especially for babies and young children, pregnant women and people with a weak immune system.

Measles is very contagious.

Get safe and long-lasting protection against measles by making sure that you and your family have had the two recommended doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Further information about measles and MMR vaccination is available on the Health Service Executive (HSE) website.