Childhood Vaccine: Child Immunization Schedule 2026

Choose the content to read

• What are the different types of childhood vaccines?
• Child Immunization Schedule by Age 2026
• What are the side effects of childhood vaccines?
• Preparation before and after childhood vaccinations
• Childhood Vaccines MedPark Hospital
• What should I do if my child misses a childhood vaccination?

Childhood Vaccines

Childhood vaccines are a basic vaccine series that all children should receive to protect them from serious infectious diseases that may threaten their health and lives. Foundational childhood vaccines include the hepatitis B vaccine, tuberculosis vaccine, polio vaccine, and diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine, as well as supplemental vaccines, including the rotavirus vaccine, chickenpox vaccine, and influenza vaccine. When children receive all of their basic vaccines at designated ages, their immunity is strengthened, preventing them from serious infectious diseases that can lead to disability or death.

Why is it necessary for children to get childhood vaccines?

Infants under 1 year old—their immune system is still not fully developed. Childhood vaccination stimulates an immune response against dangerous targeted pathogens that pose a health and life-threatening threat. Childhood vaccines involve injecting attenuated, killed, or subunit forms of pathogens into the child's body intramuscularly to develop immunity against them. In the future, if a child comes into contact with these pathogens, their body will recognize them and be able to fight against and eliminate the diseases promptly and effectively.

What are the different types of childhood vaccines?

Childhood vaccines are classified into 2 types, basic vaccines and supplemental vaccines, as follows:

1. Basic vaccines (essential vaccines) are the foundational vaccines that all children must receive beginning at birth to prevent and protect against common and problematic diseases in the country. According to the Ministry of Public Health, the basic immunization scheme includes:

• Tuberculosis vaccine (BCG)
• Hepatitis B vaccine (HB)
• Combined diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, hepatitis B, and Hib vaccine (DTaP-HB- Hib)
• Polio vaccine (OPV)
• Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine
• Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine
• Diphtheria-tetanus (dT) vaccine for young students, grades 5 and 6
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for young female students, grade 5

2. Supplemental vaccines are optional vaccines that the Ministry of Public Health recommends for bolstering the immune system to prevent common infectious diseases, including:

• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)
• Rotavirus vaccine
• Influenza vaccine: given to children 6 months of age and older
• Chickenpox vaccine: given to children aged 12-18 months, with a booster dose at 4-6 years
• Hand, foot, and mouth disease vaccine (EV71)
• HPV vaccine: recommended for both girls and boys aged 9-26 years
• Rabies vaccine
• Meningococcal B vaccine (MenB)
• Hepatitis A vaccine: for children 1 year and older, two doses given 6-12 months apart
• RSV monoclonal antibodies

Child Immunization Schedule by Age 2026

What are the side effects of childhood vaccines?

Typical side effects of childhood vaccines include pain, swelling, and redness at the injection site, along with a low-grade fever, fatigue, and rashes. Symptoms usually appear and resolve within 1-2 days. Rarely, severe side effects of childhood vaccines include a fever exceeding 39°C, difficulty breathing, marked swelling, or generalized rashes. These can be alleviated by taking antipyretics, applying cool sponges, and maintaining close monitoring. Typically, childhood vaccines are very safe, and their benefits in preventing illness from serious infectious diseases far outweigh the risks of side effects.

Preparation before and after childhood vaccinations

How to Get Your Child Ready for Vaccinations

• Consult your child’s age-specific vaccination schedule and book a hospital appointment.
• Parents or guardians can schedule a doctor's appointment for supplemental vaccinations to expand the child’s acquired immunity repertoire.
• Bring the child’s vaccination logbook, including allergy and medical history information.
• Ensure your child gets adequate rest. Postpone the immunization appointment if your child has a high fever, diarrhea, or other acute illnesses.
• After vaccination, ensure the hospital has recorded the vaccination history in the vaccination logbook or digital platform.

What is the post-vaccination care for a child?

• After vaccination, monitor your child for 30 minutes at the hospital for any allergic reactions, rashes, or difficulty breathing.
• If your child experiences pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site, apply a cold compress to relieve the symptoms.
• If your child is feeling fatigued, give them soft food, plenty of water, and rest. Refrain from strenuous activities after vaccination.
• Monitor symptoms. If your child has a fever, take an antipyretic as advised by the doctor. If your child has a high fever, is crying, or is extremely fatigued, seek medical attention.
• Ensure entries of any history of drug allergies, symptoms, side effects, and the type of vaccine administered are in the child's vaccination logbook.

Childhood Vaccines MedPark Hospital

Pediatric Center, MedPark Hospital, Bangkok, provides daily immunization services for children from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., covering children from birth to age 12, including basic vaccines such as hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, etc., as advised by the Ministry of Public Health. MedPark also provides supplemental vaccines against influenza, chickenpox, and rotavirus. Parents or guardians can take their child to receive vaccines according to their child's age-specific immunization schedule or consult with a pediatrician for the most accurate and appropriate recommendations. Keeping your child's current vaccination schedule provides protection and encourages strong, healthy growth.

FAQ

1. What should I do if my child misses a childhood vaccination?

• Take your child to the hospital to get vaccinated as soon as possible
• If you miss your appointment, notify the hospital to reschedule. Vaccinations are typically quick, easy, and convenient, and they are available daily.
• If your child misses a vaccine dose in a series, take them to the hospital, either by appointment or walk-in, to receive the missed dose at your earliest convenience.
• If the hospital or school discovers a child missed a vaccine dose at a specified age, notify the parent or guardian to bring the child to receive the missed vaccination. Make sure a child receives their vaccinations within 1 year. Subsequent doses can be scheduled as usual to complete the vaccination series but ensure that the interval between doses is not shorter than the specified interval.