Baby Vaccinations: The WHO Schedule, Side Effects and What to Expect

Why vaccinate in the first year?

Babies are at their most vulnerable when they are youngest, and several of the diseases on routine schedules are serious in infancy. WHO says childhood vaccines alone save over 4 million lives every year, and that delaying vaccination leaves people at risk of serious illness. WHO's 2025 coverage figures show the gap that remains: about 85% of infants received three doses of DTP vaccine, and 13.5 million children received no vaccine at all. Protection also builds across a community, which is why every on-time dose matters.

The WHO baby vaccination schedule

WHO publishes a summary of recommended routine childhood immunisations, last updated in December 2025. It is written for planners who design national schedules, not for parents, and WHO says health workers should follow their national schedule. That is the schedule your nurse will use. The table below summarises WHO's recommendations for all children, so you can see the pattern and recognise the vaccines when they appear.

Many countries combine the DTP, hepatitis B and Hib vaccines into a single injection to reduce the number of needles, sometimes adding polio as well. Your clinic will tell you which combination it uses.

Vaccines recommended in some regions or risk groups

WHO also recommends some vaccines only where the disease is a local risk. These depend on where you live or travel.

Why schedules differ between countries

The same diseases are covered, but timing and choices differ, because countries set schedules around local disease burden, the vaccines they can supply and their health systems. WHO's own table shows this. BCG is a universal birth dose where TB or leprosy is common but used selectively elsewhere. Measles starts at 9 months where the disease spreads easily and at 12 months where it does not. Pneumococcal vaccine can follow a 3-dose or 2+1 schedule.

An example: Australia. Its schedule starts with hepatitis B at birth, then a combined 6-in-1 vaccine, a pneumococcal vaccine and rotavirus drops from 6 weeks, repeated at 4 and 6 months (with extra doses for some babies), then measles-mumps-rubella and other vaccines at 12 and 18 months, according to the NSW and Victorian health departments. BCG is given there only to children under 5 travelling to high-TB countries (Victoria). Your country's schedule may look different, so use the one from your own health service.

Vaccines in pregnancy protect your newborn

Antibodies pass from mother to baby, which covers the baby in the early months until they are old enough for their own vaccines (Queensland Health). Which vaccines are recommended in pregnancy varies by country, but commonly include:

• Tetanus protection. WHO says full tetanus protection requires 6 doses in total across childhood and beyond.
• Whooping cough. WHO notes that a combined tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccine may be given in pregnancy. Australia recommends it in each pregnancy, between 20 and 32 weeks, but it can be given up until delivery (NSW Health).
• Flu. WHO lists pregnant women as a priority group for seasonal flu vaccination.
• RSV. WHO's December 2025 table says infants can be protected either by an RSV vaccine given to the mother in the third trimester, or by a long-acting antibody given to the baby at birth or soon after. It says to use one product per mother-baby pair, not both.

Ask your midwife or doctor early in pregnancy which of these are offered where you live.

Is it safe? What about so many at once?

• Testing. According to WHO, vaccines and what goes into them are carefully tested, and their safety continues to be monitored. Most routine childhood vaccines contain killed or weakened germs, or parts of them, which teach the immune system to recognise a disease without causing it.
• Several at once. WHO says that giving several vaccines in the same visit, including combination vaccines, is safe and works as well as giving them separately. Many countries have used this approach for over a decade. For health workers, WHO notes that two of three injections can go in the same thigh when they are about 2.5 cm apart.
• Who should wait. Some people should avoid certain vaccines or wait: for example, a very rare severe allergy to an ingredient, or a high fever on the day.

Getting ready for the appointment

1. Bring your baby's health card or record book, so the nurse can record the doses. See also our newborn essentials guide for other things to have ready.
2. Say if your baby is unwell. A minor illness without a fever is usually not a reason to postpone, but ask. In Australia, healthdirect says to reschedule if your baby has a major illness or a fever of 38.5°C or higher.
3. Ask about cost. Routine childhood vaccines are free in many countries, but some clinics charge a fee, and some vaccines may need to be paid for.
4. Plan for afterwards. Leave your day free so your baby can rest and feed, and stay as long as the clinic asks.
5. Write down your questions about any extra vaccines, such as RSV, flu or meningococcal, that may apply.

After newborn vaccinations: what is normal, and fever

Victoria's Better Health Channel explains that a baby may be fussier or sleepier than usual after a vaccine, and the area around the needle can be red, swollen or tender. These effects are usually mild and settle within a day or two. A small firm lump may remain for weeks or months, and it needs no treatment. Other national health services give similar advice.

• Comfort. Offer a little more milk than usual, keep your baby lightly dressed, and a cool damp cloth held against the site may soothe it.
• Fever. The Better Health Channel counts a temperature above 38.5°C as a fever.
• Paracetamol. Advice varies. In Australia, routine use after vaccination is not recommended; it can be used for fever or pain, and the label or a pharmacist gives the dose. Ask your nurse or pharmacist what applies in your country.

Keeping the record

Keep your baby's immunisation record safe, whether it is a paper card or booklet or a national register. It shows which doses were given and when the next ones are due, and you may need it for travel, childcare or school. In Australia, for example, the Australian Immunisation Register holds every vaccine your child receives and an Immunisation History Statement is available through myGov (healthdirect).

Missed or late vaccines

Don't panic if you miss an appointment. WHO says that for a delayed DTP series, you should resume without repeating doses, and it publishes separate guidance for interrupted or delayed immunisation. Speak to a health worker about catching up, because timing depends on the vaccine and your child's age. Some vaccines have strict age limits. WHO says rotavirus vaccine is not given after 24 months, and national schedules often set earlier limits for the first dose, so don't delay the early visits.

Common mistakes and confusing bits

1. Delaying the first visits. Delaying vaccination leaves babies at risk of serious illness.
2. Assuming every country's schedule is the same. Use your national schedule, especially when moving or travelling.
3. Postponing for a minor cold. A minor illness without a fever is usually fine, but ask the nurse.
4. Overdressing a baby afterwards. Avoid it.
5. Giving medicine without advice. Ask a nurse or pharmacist, and follow the label.
6. Assuming a fever is only the vaccine. Seek medical help if your baby seems unwell, because the cause may be an illness.
7. Not asking about extras. RSV, flu and meningococcal vaccines depend on your country and may need a decision early.
8. Losing the record. Keep the card or booklet safe, and photograph it.

Why is my country's schedule different from WHO's?

WHO's table gives the earliest recommended start and the minimum gap between doses, and it is written for planners. Countries choose their own visit dates and products within that framework, based on local disease risk. Follow your national schedule.

Does the lump mean something went wrong?

Not usually. The Better Health Channel says a small firm lump can stay for weeks or months and does not need treatment. See your doctor if it hangs around or you are concerned.

My baby was premature. Do the same ages apply?

Ask your doctor or nurse. WHO notes, for example, that a hepatitis B birth dose given to a baby under 2,000 g does not count toward the primary series, so the series still has to be completed. Premature babies may also be offered additional vaccines (healthdirect).

Frequently Asked Questions