Version:

02-04-2014 01-06-2015 01-01-2017: Launch of the 2017 national vaccination programme 27-09-2020: 2020 National Vaccination Plan published 25-06-2025: Version 2025 05-02-2026: Version 2026

Footnotes:

1. https://www.dgs.pt/ficheiros-de-upload-2013/15-covid-19-ultima-atualizacao-28112025-pdf.aspx
2. Children belonging to defined risk groups aged 6 weeks of age and older are eligible to start vaccination. The recommended vaccination schedules depend on the vaccine used (2 or 3 doses). More information available at: https://www.dgs.pt/ficheiros-de-upload-2013/35-rotavirus-pdf.aspx
3. Recommended to individuals from 6 months to 17 years of age with severe immunosuppression conditions or by individual clinical assessment. More information available at: https://www.dgs.pt/ficheiros-de-upload-2013/15-covid-19-ultima-atualizacao-28112025-pdf.aspx
4. Recommended to individuals aged 18 to 59 years of age with high-risk conditions. More information available at: https://www.dgs.pt/ficheiros-de-upload-2013/15-covid-19-ultima-atualizacao-28112025-pdf.aspx
5. Recommended to children under 6 years of age (up to 5 years and 364 days) belonging to risk groups. More information available at: https://www.dgs.pt/ficheiros-de-upload-2013/40-tuberculose-pdf.aspx
6. Adult Td booster at ages 25 and 45. More information available at: https://www.dgs.pt/ficheiros-de-upload-2013/38-tetano-pdf.aspx Tdap vaccination is also recommended during pregnancy between 20 to 36 weeks of gestation. More information available at: https://www.dgs.pt/ficheiros-de-upload-2013/39-tosse-convulsa-pdf.aspx
7. Adult Td booster at 65 years of age, thereafter every 10 years. More information available at: https://www.dgs.pt/ficheiros-de-upload-2013/38-tetano-pdf.aspx
8. Tdap vaccination recommended during pregnancy in all ages between 20 to 36 weeks of gestation. More information available at: https://www.dgs.pt/ficheiros-de-upload-2013/39-tosse-convulsa-pdf.aspx
9. Vaccination of high-risk groups or in special circumstances. More information available at: https://www.dgs.pt/ficheiros-de-upload-2013/28-hepatite-b-pdf.aspx
10. PCV20 recommended at 2, 4 and 12 months of age. More information available at: https://www.dgs.pt/ficheiros-de-upload-2013/19-doenca-pneumococica-pdf.aspx
11. More information on which groups have free access to the vaccination available at: https://www.dgs.pt/ficheiros-de-upload-2013/19-doenca-pneumococica-pdf.aspx
12. 9-valent. Two-dose schedule at 0 and 6 months.
13. Individuals can start vaccination up to the age of 26 and complete it up to the age of 27. Catch up in females: =18 and <27 years old; in males: birth cohorts 2000-2002.The expansion of vaccination to additional birth cohorts (2003-2008) will take place gradually, in subsequent years of implementation.
14. Recommended to children from 6 to 23 months of age and individuals in medical high-risk groups from 2 to 59 years of age. QIV-HD is funded for people aged 85 years and older. More information is available at: https://www.dgs.pt/ficheiros-de-upload-2013/25-gripe-sazonal-ultima-atualizacao-28112025-pdf.aspx
15. Vaccination of high-risk groups. More information available at: https://www.dgs.pt/ficheiros-de-upload-2013/27hepatite-a-ultima-atualizacao-23102025_vf-pdf.aspx

More information available at:
https://www.dgs.pt/publicacoes/livro-azul-de-vacinas-programa-nacional-de-vacinacao-e-outras-estrategias-de-imunizacao.aspx


MAJOR HISTORICAL CHANGES

Jan.2017: laucnh of the 2017 national vaccination programme. see modifications at http://www.dgs.pt/?ci=923&ur=1&newsletter=374

BCG:
2017: recommended only to specific risk-groups. previously universal vaccination

Measles, mumps and rubella:
1973-77: Vaccination campaign with measles monovalent vaccine to 1-4 years old children.
1974: Measles monovalent vaccine introduced in the national childhood vaccination programme and recommended at 12 to 24 months of age.
1987: Combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) introduced in the national childhood vaccination programme and recommended at 15 months of age.
1990: Second MMR dose added and recommended at 11-13 years of age.
2000: Recommended age for second MMR lowered to 5-6 years of age.
2012: First dose lowered to 12 months of age

HPV:
2008: 27 October. HPV vaccination introduced in national vaccination schedule for 13-year-old girls.
2009: January. HPV vaccination catch-up campaign lasting till 2011, for 17-year old girls.
2012: routine vaccination at 13 years.
2014: HPV schedule changed to 2 doses at 10-13 years old (since oct 2014)
2017: HPV nonavalent introduced as a 2 doses schedule for females at age 10
2020: vaccination extended to boys born from 2009

Meningococcal disease
Men C:
2012: one dose at 12 months instead of a 3-dose schedule

Men B:
2020: introduced as a 3-dose schedule for children born from 2019

Pneumococcal Disease:
2015: PCV 13 included at 2, 4 and 12 months old (since jul 2015)

Td: Adult booster
2017: Vaccination at 25, 45 and 65 years of age and thereafter every 10 years

TdaP: Vaccination during pregnancy
2017: to be given at each pregnancy between gestation week 20 to 36.
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Date of last update: 5 February 2026

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