Recommended vaccinations for those under the age of two

General information

Vaccination is one of the most important preventive actions, particularly for children. Only those who are vaccinated are protected. Vaccinations should be administered as early as recommended for the relevant age. Any missed vaccinations should be given as soon as possible.

Vaccinations are not mandatory in Austria. The decision as to whether or not to be vaccinated lies with the individual themselves or with the person responsible for the child’s care and upbringing. In order to make the decision, information and clarification from the doctor is required. Before the vaccination is given, doctors must therefore provide the recipient of the vaccine (or, if the child is under 14, a parent or person responsible for the child’s care and upbringing) with information about the disease to be prevented.

Only when as many people as possible are vaccinated can herd immunity be ensured. This means that people that are not vaccinated – such as newborns or people with certain impairments to the body’s defence system (immune system) – can also be indirectly protected.

The free vaccination program is therefore intended to give all children living in Austria in the respective age group access to the vaccinations that are important for public health, at no cost to the parents or guardians.

The free vaccination programme is implemented by the federal provinces, with slight variations in how it is organised from province to province. Before vaccination, you should find out from the Advisory and vaccination centres of the federal provinces (Austrian health portal)^{German text} where and how you can take part in the free vaccination programme. It is not possible to subsequently reimburse costs for vaccinations that have already been paid for or carried out.

Only a defined budget is available in each case to those bearing the costs (Austrian Federal Ministry for Social, Health, Care and Consumer Protection) for the free vaccination programme and its implementation. Although this budget have been increased on a continual basis and the procurement processes have been optimised, the funds are not sufficient for the public authorities to provide all available and important vaccinations. Information on further recommended vaccinations that are not available free of charge can be found in the current vaccination plan and should be discussed with the doctor administering your vaccination.

The following vaccinations, which are offered as part of the free vaccination program, are currently recommended in the first two years of a child’s life:

• Vaccination against rotavirus diseases (diarrhoea with vomiting)
• Six-in-one vaccination against diphtheria, lockjaw, whooping cough, polio, haemophilus influenzae B and hepatitis B
• Vaccination against pneumococc
• Vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella
• Flu jabs
• Vaccination against RSV (respiratory syncytial virus)

Vaccination against rotavirus diseases (diarrhoea with vomiting)

Who/when?

This oral vaccination is administered after the child is six weeks old in two separate vaccinations. The minimum interval between those vaccinations is four weeks. The series of vaccinations is to be completed by the age of 24 weeks.

An infection with a rotavirus can lead to severe diarrhoea with vomiting. The dangerous factor here is possible dehydration, and infants and small children may even die from this if they do not receive the appropriate treatment.

Six-in-one vaccination against diphtheria, lockjaw, whooping cough, polio, haemophilus influenzae B and hepatitis B

Who/when?

Three vaccinations with a six-fold vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), polio (poliomyelitis), Haemophilus influenzae type B and hepatitis B are recommended as soon as possible from the seventh week of life, and in any case in the third month of life. The second vaccination is given two months after the first vaccination and the third vaccination at 10–12 months of age.

Vaccination against pneumococci

Who/when?

The pneumococcal vaccination is recommended for all children and is included in the free vaccination programme until their second birthday. The vaccination is administered in a 2+1 schedule: the first vaccination should be given as soon as possible from the seventh week of life, at the latest by the end of the third month of life. The second vaccination is given eight weeks after the first vaccination, and the third vaccination at 11–15 months of age (at the earliest six months after the second vaccination).

Further pneumococcal boosters are not recommended for children without indication. For children with health risks, the vaccination is free of charge until the age of five. This includes children with congenital or acquired immunodeficiencies, certain chronic diseases or who are missing their spleen.

Pneumococci (Streptococcus pneumoniae) are bacteria that occur worldwide and there are different strains (serotypes). In addition to pneumonia, these can also cause blood poisoning and meningitis.

Vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella

Who/when?

Two vaccinations are recommended from the age of ten months (absolutely essential before entering communal facilities such as nurseries). If vaccination begins in the first year of life, the second vaccination should be administered three months after the first vaccination. If vaccination begins after the first birthday, the second vaccination should be administered as soon as possible after at least four weeks.

Missed vaccinations can and should be caught up on as soon as possible at any age, including adulthood, free of charge. 

After two vaccinations with a live vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella, long-lasting protection (immunity) can be assumed and no further vaccinations are recommended.

Measles is highly contagious and can have serious consequences for infants, children, adolescents and adults alike. It causes flu-like symptoms with high fever and the typical measles rash. After a measles infection, the immune system is so weakened that the risk of dying from other infectious diseases is increased for several years. Approximately one in five patients experience severe complications such as bronchitis, middle ear infection and/or pneumonia. In about one to two out of every 1,000 cases, life-threatening inflammation of the brain occurs. In addition, about one in 150 children who contract the disease in their first year of life develop a special form of encephalitis (SSPE, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis) as a late complication, which is always fatal.

Flu jabs

Who/when?

The flu vaccination is recommended for everyone aged seven months and older and is available free of charge under the public vaccination programme (ÖIP).

Influenza viruses are constantly changing. Therefore, an annual vaccination with an adapted vaccine is recommended. The best time for this is mid-October/November. However, the vaccination can also be administered at a later date, i.e. during the flu season. 

When children receive their very first influenza vaccination before their ninth birthday, they should receive two vaccinations at least four weeks apart. After that, one vaccination per year is recommended. For children aged two and above, the vaccination is available in the form of a nasal spray, which is administered painlessly.

Real flu is not a simple cold, but is typically accompanied by severe malaise, high fever, muscle aches, piercing headaches, severe sore throats and often painful coughs. Diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting may also occur. Influenza causes an average of over 1,000 deaths per year in Austria. Children can also become seriously ill and die from influenza.

Vaccination against RSV (respiratory syncytial virus)

Who/when?

Further links

• impfen.gv.at (BMASGPK)^{German text}
• List of advisory and vaccination centres of the federal provinces (Austrian health portal)^{German text}
• “Vaccinations” (Austrian health portal)^{German text}
• Vaccination brochure (BMASGPK)^{German text}
• Vaccination plan Austria (BMASGPK)^{German text}