Childhood Immunisation Schedule

The contents of this chapter are based on the current recommendations from the National Advisory Group on Immunisation (NAGI). 

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Immunisation schedule

Catch-up doses

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Immunisation schedule

Age of child	Vaccine
At birth	OPV0 BCG
6 weeks	OPV1 RV1 Hexavalent (DTaP-IPV-HB-Hib)1 PCV1
10 weeks	Hexavalent (DTaP-IPV-HB-Hib)2
14 weeks	RV2 Hexavalent (DTaP-IPV-HB-Hib)3 PCV2
6 months	Measles/Rubella1
9 months	PCV3
12 months	Measles/Rubella2
18 months	Hexavalent (DTaP-IPV-HB-Hib)4
6 years	Tdap
12 years	Tdap

 

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Note:
- Exception: patients with primary immune deficiency or known HIV-infection should not be given BCG vaccine.
- Children with HIV should receive the rest of the full schedule of vaccines.

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LoE:IVb

Catch-up doses

Any child who is unimmunised should be given a full schedule of immunisations.

Vaccine	Age of child	First dose	Interval for subsequent doses
			Second	Third	Fourth
BCG	< 10 year	Give one dose	-	-	-
	≥ 10 year	Do not give	-	-	-
OPV	< 6 months	Give first dose	4 weeks	-	-
	≥ 6 months	Do not give	-	-	-
Hexavalent (DTaP-IPV-HB-Hib)	Up to 5 years	Give first dose	4 weeks	4 weeks	12 months (do not give before child is 18 months old)
Rotavirus	< 20 weeks	Give first dose	4 weeks	-	-
	20–24 weeks	Give first dose	-	-	-
	> 24 weeks	Do not give	-	-	-
PCV	< 6 months	Give first dose	4 weeks	Give at 9 months of age	-
	6–24 months	Give first dose	4 weeks	8 weeks	-
	2–6 years	Give one dose	-	-	-
Measles/rubella	< 11 months	Give first dose	At 12 months of age	-	-
	≥ 11 months	Give first dose	4 weeks	-	-
Tdap	> 6 years	Give first dose	At 12 years of age	-	-

Click here for the pdf.

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Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicines List for South Africa, Primary Healthcare, 2020-2024_Version1.1_6 December 2024

Chapter 13: Immunisation_13.2 Childhood Immunisation Schedule