Current vaccination policies in European countries

Routine vaccination schedules against H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae and N. meningitidis serogroup C have been introduced in many countries in Europe. However, the vaccine schedules and vaccine preparations used varies widely across Europe. Summaries of the immunisation programmes in place in European countries are available below:^1-6

Country	Men C conjugate vaccine
Country	Primary Schedule (age in months)	Booster Dose (age in months)
Belgium	13-18	-
Cyprus	12-13	-
Germany	12-23	-
Iceland	6, 8	-
Ireland	2, 4	12-15
Italy (Regional)	3, 5	11-12
Luxembourg	13	-
Netherlands	14	-
Portugal	3, 5	15
Spain	2, 6	15-18
Switzerland	12 (11-15 years)	-
UK	3, 4	12

Country	Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
Country	Primary Schedule (age in months)	Booster Dose (age in months)
Austria	3, 4, 5	24
Belgium	2 , 4	12-13
Cyprus	2, 4, 6	12-15, 24
Finland	2, 4, 6	24
France	2, 3, 4	24
Germany	2, 3, 4	>12
Ireland	12	24
Italy	3, 5	11-12
Luxembourg	2, 3, 4	11
Netherlands	2, 3, 4	11
Norway	3, 5	12
UK	2, 4	13

Country	Hib vaccine
Country	Vaccine Type^†	Primary Schedule (age in months)	Booster Dose (age in months)
Andorra	DTaPHibHepIPV DTaPHibIPV	2, 6 4	- 15
Austria	DTaPHibHepIPV	3, 4, 5	11-24
Belgium	DTaPHibHepIPV	2, 3, 4	13-18
Bosnia & Herzegovina	Hib	2, 4	18
Croatia	Hib	2, 4, 6	12
Cyprus	DTaPHib^* DTPHibIPV^* Hib	2, 4 2, 4, 6 2, 4, 6	- 15-20 12-18
Czech Republic	DTaPHib	2, 3, 5	18-20
Denmark	DTaPHibIPV	3, 5	12
Estonia	Hib	3, 4-5, 6	24
Finland	Hib	3, 5	12
France	DTaPHib	2, 4	18
Germany	DTaPHibHepIPV	2, 3, 4	11-14
Greece	Hib	2, 4, 6	12-15
Hungary	DTaPHibIPV	2, 3, 4	18
Iceland	DTaPHibIPV	3, 5	12
Ireland	DTaPHibIPV	2, 4, 6	12-15
Italy	Hib	3, 5	11-13
Latvia	Hib	3, 4.5, 6	-
Lithuania	DTPHibIPV	2, 4, 6	18
Luxembourg	DTaHibHepIPV DTaPHibIPV	2-3, 3-5 4-6	11-12 -
Malta	Hib	2, 3, 4	-
Netherlands	DTaPHibIPV	2, 3, 4	11
Norway	DTaPHibIPV	3, 5	11-12
Portugal	DTaPHibIPV	2, 4, 6	18
Spain	DTaPHibHepIPV	2, 4, 6	15-18
Sweden	DTaPHibIPV	3, 5	12
UK	DTaPHibIPV Hib^#	2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4	- -
^†Vaccine components: DTaP, diphtheria and tetanus toxoid with acellular pertussis; Hib, H. influenzae type b; Hep, hepatitis B; IPV, inactivated polio virus ^*Given only by the private sector ^#Issued for use in specific groups or where routine vaccination with combined vaccine is not inappropriate

References:
1. WHO. Immunization schedules by antigen and selection centre. Available at: http://www.who.int/vaccines/globalsummary/immunization/ScheduleSelect.cfm (Accessed June 2007)
2. NHS. Full immunisation schedule. Available at: http://www.immunisation.nhs.uk/article.php?id=97 (Accessed June 2007)
3. Pebody RG, Leino T, Nohynek H, Hellenbrand W, Salmaso S, Ruutu P. Pneumococcal vaccination policy in Europe. Eurosurveillance 2005; 10(7-9):174-178
4. EU-IBIS. Type of Hib conjugate vaccine and immunisation schedule used in the study participants countries, as at March 2004. Available at: http://euibis.org./haemoph/vacc_sched_hib.htm (Accessed June 2007)
5. EU-IBIS. Conjugate meningococcal group C vaccination programmes in the EU, as at September 2005 http://euibis.org./meningo/vacc_sched_meningo.htm
6. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Newsletter on Vaccines and Immunisation 2005–2007. Available at: http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/Health_topics/VI/VI_newsletter.html (Accessed June 2007)