Spain's childhood vaccine schedule by age

Key rules

• Status: The national calendar is recommended and free, not compulsory.
• Regions: Your region must offer at least the national calendar but can add vaccines or change ages.
• RSV: Nirsevimab is free in all regions for babies born from October to March and for some younger babies born before the season.
• Catch-up: Meningococcal B catch-up beyond infancy is not generally funded, though some regions offer it.

The short version

Spain has one national calendar of childhood vaccines. It is recommended, not compulsory, and it is free through the public health system. Each region runs its own version, so exact ages and extras can differ. Ask your health centre for your region's calendar and follow that one.

Birth to 12 months

• Birth: RSV protection (nirsevimab), an antibody injection. It is offered free in all regions to babies born from October to March. It is also offered to babies born in the previous spring or summer who are under 6 months old when the season starts. Some regions also offer an RSV vaccine during pregnancy instead. Your region sets the dates and the product, so ask about the 2026-27 season.
• 2 months: hepatitis B, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, polio, Haemophilus influenzae b (these four come in one combined injection), pneumococcal and meningococcal B.
• 4 months: the same vaccines again, plus one dose of meningococcal C.
• 11 months: a third dose of hepatitis B, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, polio, Haemophilus influenzae b and pneumococcal.
• Hepatitis B at birth: only babies of mothers who carry the virus get a birth dose. Some regions give it to all babies.

12 months to 4 years

• 12 months: measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), a third dose of meningococcal B, and meningococcal ACWY. The ACWY dose replaced the old meningococcal C dose at this age.
• 15 months: first varicella (chickenpox) dose.
• 3 to 4 years: second MMR and second varicella dose.

6 years to adolescence

• 6 years: booster of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis with polio.
• 12 years: HPV vaccine, now for girls and boys. Most regions give one or two doses.
• 12 to 14 years: tetanus-diphtheria booster and another meningococcal ACWY dose.
• Varicella catch-up: a 12-year-old who has not had chickenpox and is unvaccinated gets 2 doses. This applies to children born from 2015 onward, and the cohorts vary by region.

How regions differ

Health care is run by the 17 autonomous communities and the cities of Ceuta and Melilla. They must offer at least the national calendar. They may add vaccines or move ages. Examples you may meet:

• Meningococcal B given earlier, or catch-up doses for older children. Catch-up is not generally funded beyond infancy.
• Hepatitis A in Ceuta and Melilla.
• Flu vaccine for children aged 2 to 5 or older.
• Rotavirus in a few regions.
• Different ages for HPV or meningococcal ACWY.

If your child arrives from abroad with a vaccine record, take it to your health centre. They will tell you which doses are still needed.

Use the planner below to see dates for your child's birth date.

Choosing between options

RSV protection for your baby

How will your baby be protected against RSV?

• RSV vaccine during pregnancy: Your region uses the maternal vaccine. Some regions offer it, so ask your midwife or health centre.

Your region decides the dates and which product it offers, so ask your health centre which one applies to your baby.

Timeline and deadlines

Childhood vaccines by age

• First round: hepatitis B, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, polio, Haemophilus influenzae b, pneumococcal and meningococcal B (a hepatitis B dose at birth is only for babies of mothers who carry hepatitis B): at 2 months

• Second round of the same vaccines, plus one dose of meningococcal C: at 4 months

• Third dose of hepatitis B, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, polio, Haemophilus influenzae b and pneumococcal: at 11 months

• Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), third meningococcal B dose and meningococcal ACWY: at 12 months

• First varicella (chickenpox) dose: at 15 months

• Second MMR and second varicella dose: at 3 to 4 years

• Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis and polio booster: at 6 years

• HPV vaccine for girls and boys, then tetanus-diphtheria (Td) and meningococcal ACWY: HPV at 12 years; Td and meningococcal ACWY at 12 to 14 years

Child vaccine timeline planner by birth date

How to use this planner

Start with the birth date and list every dose already given, with its date. Then follow these steps:

1. Find the routine age for each vaccine in the table below.
2. For each vaccine, find the last dose given. The next dose is due once the minimum interval has passed, not at a fresh restart.
3. Check the upper age limits further down. A few vaccines cannot be started after a certain age.
4. Take the list to your child's doctor or nurse, who applies the current regional rules.

Routine ages

Regions can add vaccines or shift ages slightly, so treat these as the national baseline.

Babies in their first RSV season are also offered nirsevimab, a one-off protective injection.

Minimum gaps for catch-up

A late or interrupted course is never restarted. Carry on from the last dose given, however long ago it was, and give only the missing doses.

• Diphtheria-tetanus-whooping cough, polio, Hib, hepatitis B and pneumococcal: keep at least four weeks between the first doses. The booster comes at least six months after the last of those first doses.
• MMR and varicella: never before 12 months, and at least four weeks between the two doses.
• Meningococcal vaccines: the number of doses and the gaps depend on the child's age at the first dose. Ask the doctor for the exact schedule.

Upper age limits

• Rotavirus: the first dose must be given by 12 weeks of age, so ask at the first visit. The course must be finished by 24 weeks with Rotarix or 32 weeks with RotaTeq. An older baby cannot start.
• Hexavalent: used up to the 7th birthday. From age 7, doctors use Td or Tdap and separate vaccines instead.
• Hib: not needed after age 5 in healthy children.
• MMR and varicella: no upper age limit. Anyone who is not immune can have them at any age.

Example

A child had hexavalent doses at 2 and 4 months and nothing since. Count six months from the 4-month dose. The booster can be given from that date, even if the routine 11-month visit has passed. Do not restart the series.

The minimum gaps above are general guidance, and regional protocols can differ slightly. Confirm the exact table with your regional health service before you rely on a date.

Checklist

Match your child to the calendar

• Ask your health centre for your region's vaccine calendar. The national calendar is recommended, not compulsory, and free, but each region may add vaccines or move ages.

• Book the 2-month and 4-month visits for the first rounds of the hexavalent, pneumococcal and meningococcal B vaccines, plus meningococcal C at 4 months.

• Book the 11-month visit for the third dose of the hexavalent and pneumococcal vaccines.

• Book the 12-month visit for MMR, meningococcal B and meningococcal ACWY, then the 15-month visit for the first varicella dose.

• Plan the second MMR and varicella doses at 3 to 4 years, and the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis and polio booster at 6 years.

• Plan the HPV vaccine at 12 years, and tetanus-diphtheria with meningococcal ACWY at 12 to 14 years.

• Ask your health centre whether your region funds extras such as earlier or catch-up meningococcal B, flu for young children or rotavirus.

Quick answers on vaccine rules, travel shots and timing

Can a school or nursery refuse my child if they are not vaccinated?

No, school enrolment does not require vaccines by law. Some regions have discussed linking nursery access to vaccination, so ask your regional health service or the nursery. In an outbreak, health authorities can order vaccination or other measures.

Can my child get several vaccines at the same visit?

Yes, inactivated and live vaccines can be given at the same visit, in different injection sites. If two live injectable vaccines (such as MMR and varicella) are not given on the same day, they must be at least 4 weeks apart. A mild illness is not a reason to delay.

Where can my child get travel vaccines for a trip abroad?

Travel vaccines are given at the international vaccination centres (Centros de Vacunación Internacional), often in provincial capitals and ports. Book an appointment (cita previa) online or by phone, and bring your child's vaccination record (cartilla de vacunación) and your travel dates. Yellow fever vaccine is only given at authorised centres and usually not under 9 months. The consultation is often free, but travel vaccines are usually paid for.

How far ahead of a trip should my child visit a vaccination centre?

Go at least 4 to 6 weeks before departure, and earlier if you can. Yellow fever vaccine must be given at least 10 days before you arrive in a risk country. If you are travelling sooner, still go, because some protection is possible.