Have you recently had a baby and found yourself wondering which vaccines are mandatory for newborns? Is your child about to start nursery or school, and do you want to make sure they have received all the required vaccinations? Or perhaps you have heard people talking about mandatory vaccines and recommended vaccines, but you are still unsure about the difference between the two.
These are understandable concerns. Between difficult vaccine names, booster doses, different ages and the large amount of information circulating online, it is not always easy for a parent to know what to do. Another source of confusion is the word “recommended”: a vaccine that is recommended rather than legally mandatory should not be considered unimportant. Several non-mandatory vaccinations are still part of the prevention strategies offered by the Italian National Health Service.
So, let us look at which vaccines are mandatory in Italy, when they are generally administered and how to correctly understand the vaccination schedule, referring to official Italian health guidance.
Table of Contents
- Which Vaccines Are Mandatory in Italy?
- Which Vaccines Are Mandatory for Newborns?
- Which Vaccines Are Mandatory for Children?
- What Happens at Around 12 Years of Age?
- Mandatory and Recommended Vaccines Are Not the Same Thing
- Why Is It Important to Follow the Vaccination Schedule?
- How to Find Out Which Vaccinations Are Missing
Which Vaccines Are Mandatory in Italy?
To understand which vaccines are mandatory in Italy, we need to refer to national legislation. Ten vaccinations are mandatory for minors from birth to 16 years of age. They are provided free of charge and administered according to the requirements applicable to each birth cohort.
The mandatory vaccinations protect against poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B, pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type b, measles, rubella, mumps and chickenpox (varicella).
The first six are normally administered through the hexavalent vaccine, which allows a child to receive protection against several diseases in a single injection. Vaccines against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox can also be administered as combination vaccines.
Therefore, answering the question “which vaccines are mandatory?” does not simply mean providing a list of commercial vaccine products. What matters is understanding which diseases Italian law requires children to be immunised against and following the vaccination schedule appropriate to the child’s age.
Which Vaccines Are Mandatory for Newborns?
The question which vaccines are mandatory for newborns requires some clarification. Vaccinations are not all given immediately after birth. Instead, the programme follows specific stages established by the vaccination schedule, so that protection can be developed appropriately as the child grows.
During the first year of life, the hexavalent vaccine is particularly important. It protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b. The primary vaccination cycle consists of three doses during the first year.
Other vaccinations are also offered during this period. The pneumococcal vaccine, for example, includes three doses during the first year. The meningococcal B vaccine involves a primary course during the first year followed by a booster during the second year. The rotavirus vaccine is started during the first weeks of life and, depending on the product used, is completed within the first 24 or 32 weeks.
There is, however, an important distinction to make: these vaccinations are recommended and offered free of charge according to Italy’s national vaccination schedule, but pneumococcal, meningococcal B and rotavirus vaccinations are not among the ten vaccinations made mandatory by Italian law.
It is therefore important not to confuse a vaccine’s legal status with its medical and preventive value.
Which Vaccines Are Mandatory for Children?
Understanding which vaccines are mandatory for children means following the vaccination programme beyond the first months of life and, above all, after the child’s first birthday.
Another important stage is reached during the second year. At around 12 months, the first dose against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox is scheduled. These include the measles vaccine and are among the mandatory vaccinations.
During the same period, recommended vaccinations such as the meningococcal ACWY vaccine may also be administered. For the meningococcal B vaccine, meanwhile, the vaccination schedule includes a booster during the second year of life, generally around the 15th month depending on the vaccination course already completed.
At 5-6 years of age, booster doses against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and poliomyelitis are scheduled, together with further vaccination against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox.
The vaccination journey therefore does not end with the baby’s first injections. Protection is developed and maintained over time through primary vaccination courses and subsequent boosters.
What Happens at Around 12 Years of Age?
Adolescence is another important stage in the vaccination schedule. From around the age of 12, for example, a booster against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and poliomyelitis is scheduled, and a meningococcal ACWY booster is offered.
HPV vaccination is also offered to both boys and girls from the age indicated by the national vaccination programme, beginning in adolescence.
Here again, it is essential to distinguish carefully between mandatory and recommended vaccinations. Not every vaccine offered during adolescence belongs to the list of the ten vaccinations that are legally mandatory.
The type of vaccine offered and the timing of administration can also depend on age, previous vaccinations, specific risk factors and the applicable public health recommendations.
Mandatory and Recommended Vaccines Are Not the Same Thing
One of the most common misunderstandings concerns the word “recommended”. It can sound as though a recommended vaccine is optional because it is less important. That is not the case.
Recommended vaccines are not imposed by law, but they are advised by health authorities on the basis of available scientific evidence and the aim of preventing particular diseases.
Vaccinations offered during childhood include, depending on age, the pneumococcal vaccine, meningococcal B vaccine, rotavirus vaccine, meningococcal ACWY vaccine and influenza vaccine.
For influenza, for example, recommendations may be updated every year by the Italian Ministry of Health. Influenza vaccination is recommended for children from six months of age and is offered according to the applicable national recommendations.
Some vaccinations may also be especially important for people with particular risk factors or medical conditions. This is why an individual vaccination programme should not be created simply by following a list found online.
Why Is It Important to Follow the Vaccination Schedule?
The immune system needs to be stimulated at the appropriate time and according to specific intervals. This is one of the reasons why vaccination programmes include a first dose, subsequent doses and, when necessary, a booster dose.
Consider vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. It is not enough simply to think in terms of “vaccinated” or “not vaccinated”. It is necessary to check whether the primary course has been completed and whether the booster doses scheduled for the person’s age have been administered.
The same principle applies to many other vaccinations. However, if a family misses an appointment, this does not automatically mean that it is too late.
It may be possible to catch up on missed doses through a vaccination programme agreed with the local vaccination service or qualified healthcare professionals.
For this reason, the child’s vaccination record and official vaccination registry are much more reliable than trying to remember when individual vaccines were administered.
How to Find Out Which Vaccinations Are Missing
If you cannot remember exactly which vaccines your child has received, the first step is to check their vaccination records and contact your local ASL (Local Health Authority) or vaccination service.
Italy’s national vaccination schedule provides the general framework, but a healthcare professional can assess the child’s actual situation, including age, doses already received, possible delays, specific health circumstances and whether a catch-up vaccination programme is needed.
It is particularly important to avoid making vaccination decisions on your own when there are medical conditions, a history of significant reactions or other clinical circumstances.
This article is provided for general information purposes and does not replace the advice of a paediatrician, doctor or vaccination service.
This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)