Italy: Recommended vaccinations
  General recommendation
  Recommendation for specific groups only
  Catch-up (e.g. if previous doses missed)
 
Vaccination not funded by the National Health system
 
Mandatory vaccination
BirthMonthsYears
35-61113155-611-18
diphtheria
D
D
D
D
d1
tetanus
TT
TT
TT
TT
TT1
pertussis
acP
acP
acP
acP2
acp3
poliomyelitis
IPV
IPV
IPV
IPV
Haemophilus influenzae type b infection
Hib
Hib
Hib
hepatitis B
HepB4
HepB
HepB
HepB
pneumococcal disease
PCV
PCV
PCV
meningococcal disease
MenC
MenC5
measles
MEAS
MEAS
MEAS5
mumps
MUMPS
MUMPS
MUMPS5
rubella
RUBE
RUBE
RUBE5
varicella
VAR6
human papillomavirus infection
HPV7

Version:


Footnotes:

  1. Subsequent Td booster every 10 years
  2. After seven years, a low-dose pertussis-containing dT vaccine should be used
  3. To be given ten years after completing primary vaccination with DTaP-containing vaccines
  4. Babies born to a mother infected with hepatitis B will be offered a first vaccine dose within 12-24 hours after birth and simultaneously with HB immunoglobulin. Following vaccine doses are given 4 weeks apart from the first, with a third dose after completion of the eighth week, and with the fourth dose in the period between the eleventh and the twelfth month of life, even in conjunction with any other vaccine.
  5. Only for those with no vaccination history
  6. Two doses if no vaccination or disease history
  7. Two doses at 11 years (0, 6 months). Females only.


More information available at:
https://www.salute.gov.it/portale/vaccinazioni/dettaglioContenutiVaccinazioni.jsp?lingua=italiano&id=4829&area=vaccinazioni&menu=vuoto http://www.trovanorme.salute.gov.it/norme/renderNormsanPdf?anno=2017&codLeg=60282&parte=1%20&serie=null


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MAJOR HISTORICAL CHANGES

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2017 Aug 19: NEW LAW ON MANDATORY VACCINATION FOR THOSE UP TO 16 YEARS OF AGE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MANDATORY ANTIGENS AND DETAILED PLAN OF IMPLEMENTATION ACCORDING TO BIRTH COHORT PLEASE REFER TO http://www.trovanorme.salute.gov.it/norme/renderNormsanPdf?anno=2017&codLeg=60282&parte=1%20&serie=null

Mandatory vaccines:
- Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, haemophilus influenzae and hepatitis B: mandatory at 3 months, 5 months, 11 months and 6 years in individuals born from 2001. Second booster dose of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and poliomyelitis mandatory at 12-18 years for individuals born from 2001.
- Varicella: mandatory in the second year of life and at 6 years in individuals born from 2017.
- Measles, mumps and rubella: mandatory in the second year of life and at 6 years in individuals born from 2001.


2017: Publication of the National Vaccination Plan 2017-2019
http://www.salute.gov.it/imgs/C_17_pubblicazioni_2571_allegato.pdf


2005: Introduction of Pn7v, MenC and Var (dose given at 1-2 years) into national childhood vaccination schedule for selected groups only.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Measles, mumps and rubella:
1972: Rubella vaccine recommended for girls aged 11-12 years.
1976: Measles vaccines became available in Italy.
1979: Measles vaccine recommended in children 15 months of age
1990: Combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine introduced into the national vaccination schedule. Vaccination recommended at the age of 15 months.
1999: Recommended age for first dose of MMR lowered to 12-15 months. Second dose of MMR introduced at 5-6 or 11-12 years.
2003: National Plan for the Elimination of measles and congenital rubella implemented.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Poliomyelitis
2005: Polio immunization schedule has been changed in July 2005 (Ministerial Decree 15 July 2005) with shift of the fourth dose of IPV from age 3 years to 5-6 years.
2002: Polio immunization schedule has been changed in August 2002 (Ministerial Decree 18 June 2002) with elimination of OPV and use of IPV for all the doses of the vaccination cycle.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hepatitis B
1991: HBV mandatory vaccination among newborns and adolescents.
2003: adolescents’ catch-up vaccination ended with the completion of the last birth cohorts(born in 1991 and not vaccinated during the first year of age)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date of last update: 15 February 2024

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------