Version:

02-04-2014 13-04-2015: Hexavalent vaccine introduced for primary vaccination 16-08-2016: Changes to HPV vaccination and ages of DTP booster administration 01-01-2020: Gender-neutral HPV, PCV and IIV4 04-11-2021: Updated recommendations for COVID-19 Vaccine 01-01-2023: 2023 vaccination calendar 01-01-2024: 2024 vaccination calendar 25-06-2025: Version 2025 04-02-2026: Immunization schedule for 2026

Footnotes:

1. Vaccination administered preferably at the time of delivery in the hospital. Otherwise it should be given before 1 year of age.
2. Vaccination is recommended and funded by Croatian Health Insurance for certain at risk groups (ex, infants born prematurely before the 33rd week of gestation, newborns with congenital heart defects, with congenital metabolic disorders, etc).
3. Booster for children in 1st grade with DTaP-IPV or dTap-IPV
4. dTap booster for children in the 4th grade of primary school
5. dTap booster given to students in grade 8
6. Tdap vaccination of all pregnant women in the second and third trimester
7. Infants of HBsAg-positive mothers receive Hepatitis B immunization with the immunoglobulins, in the hospital at birth.
8. The second dose of HepB is given either at four or at six months of age (as part of the hexavalent vaccine). The pentavalent vaccine is administered either at four or at six months of age instead of the hexavalent.
9. PPSV23 alone is also an option depending on the medical conditions.
10. Vaccination is recommended and funded by Croatian Health Insurance for certain at risk groups, both MenB and MenACWY (children and adults - for example: splenectomized individuals, people after HSCTs, persons with disorders of complement components, including those receiving eculizumab or ravulizumab therapy)
11. Given to grade 1 students
12. Vaccination is recommended and funded by Croatian Health Insurance for certain at risk groups (children and adults- for example: seronegative persons with certain medical conditions and therapy, seronegative HCW working at neonatal, pediatric, infectious disease, and hematology departments)
13. HPV vaccination recommended from 5th grade (11 years)
14. The regular catch-up programme is targeted 9-25 years old group for both genders, 26+(F/M) can also get the vaccine - free of charge for people with medical conditions (ex., immunodeficiency, previous HPV malignancies)
15. Children and adolescents that are not at risk can get the influenza vaccine from six months old but it is not funded. Vaccination is recommended and funded by Croatian Health Insurance for all children at risk.
16. Vaccination is recommended and funded by Croatian Health Insurance for certain at risk groups 18+ (eg people after HSCT, people on JAK inhibitors therapy).

More information available at:
https://zdravlje.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/2024%20Objave/Trogodi%C5%A1nji%20program%20imunizacije%202025.-2027..pdf https://www.hzjz.hr/sluzba-epidemiologija-zarazne-bolesti/odjel-za-cijepljenje/ https://www.zakon.hr/z/1067/Zakon-o-za%C5%A1titi-pu%C4%8Danstva-od-zaraznih-bolesti


HISTORICAL CHANGES

Measles, mumps and rubella:
1968: Measles vaccine introduced in the national childhood vaccination schedule.
1975: Rubella vaccine introduced in the national childhood vaccination schedule.
1976: MMR introduced in the national childhood vaccination schedule replacing the single antigen vaccines for first dose and introducing a mumps vaccination programme. In the same year, a rubella catch-up vaccination programme for 14-year old girls was also initiated.
1994: A second dose of MMR (MMR2) at 7 years of age replaced the single antigen vaccines for second dose. HepB vaccination introduced in the national childhood vaccination schedule to infants of HBsAg positive mothers.
1997: MMR2 was recommended at 12 years of age.
1999: The recommendation for MMR2 was reverted to 7 years of age.

Other:
1948: Diphtheria and BCG vaccines introduced in the national childhood vaccination schedule.
1955: Tetanus vaccine introduced in the national childhood vaccination schedule.
1959: Pertussis vaccine introduced in the national childhood vaccination schedule.
1999: Universal screening of pregnant women for HBsAg commenced and HepB vaccination introduced in the national childhood vaccination schedule to all children aged 12 years.
2002: Hib vaccination introduced in the national childhood vaccination schedule. First dose of polio vaccine switched from OPV to IPV and first dose of DTP vaccine switched from DTPw to DTPa.
2007: HepB vaccination introduced in the national childhood vaccination schedule to all infants.
2008: April. Universal switch to an all DTaP and all IPV schedule from a schedule that also included DTwP and OPV.
2015: Hexavalent vaccine introduced
2016: HPV vaccination for girls and boys at 14 years of age, free of charge. Change to DTaP booster (The second booster dose (fifth dose) is moved from 3 years to five years.DT booster at 6-7 years and at 19 years are discontinued.
2019: introduction of universal PCV immuniaztion for infants; HPV vaccination catch-up available for all boys and girls ih high school
2021: HPV catch up recommended for all up until (and including) 25 years of age
2023: introduction of Tdap vaccination of all pregnant women
2024: HPV recommended also for 25+, free of charge for people with medical conditions (ex., immunodeficiency, previous HPV malignancies)
2025: Herpes zoster vaccine introduced in the Program, recommended and free of charge for certain at risk groups 18+ (eg people after HSCT, people on JAK inhibitors therapy). IPV booster (5th dose) moved from 6 years to 5 years, it is now given together with second DTaP booster. Adding dTap booster doses at 10 and 14 years.


Date of last update: 4 February 2026