The childhood immunisation schedule
Q: What vaccines will my child get at birth?
A: When your child is born, a Health Service Executive (HSE) doctor will give your child the BCG vaccine 
(Bacille Calmette Guerin) at the maternity hospital or later at HSE clinic. This vaccine protects against Tuberculosis (TB).
Q: What can I expect after this vaccination?
A: Three to six weeks after the BCG vaccine, a small red pimple usually appears at the side of the injection. The pimple will remain for a number of weeks and there may be a slight discharge. A scab may form over the injection side. This is normal. The scab will heal and leave a small scar.
Q: What happens next?
A: The HSE will write to tell you to arrange to visit your GP for the immunisations. Remember! Your child needs five visits to your GP to complete their course of vaccines. 
Q: What vaccines will my child get?
A: When your child is two months of age they will get two vaccines:
6in1 vaccine to protect against diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae B (Hib), hepatitis B, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and tetanus and the PCV vaccine to protect against pneumococcal disease.
When your child is four months of age they will also get two vaccines:
6in1 vaccine (this is the same vaccine that your child got when they were two months of age) and
MenC vaccine to protect against meningococcal C disease.
At age of six months they will get three vaccines:
6in1 (same vaccine that your child got when they were two and four months old)
PCV (same vaccine that your child got when they were two months old)
MenC (same vaccine that your child got when they were four months old)
At 12 months they will get two vaccines:
PCV booster (this is the same vaccine that your child got when they were two and six months of age)
MMR vaccine to protect against measles, mumps and rubella.
When your child is 13 months old they will get two vaccines:
MenC booster (same that your child got when they were four and six months of age)
Hib booster (your child got this vaccine previously as one of the components of the 6in1 vaccine)
Q: What can I expect after vaccination?
A: Your child may have a sore leg or fever after vaccination. If they have very high fever over 39.5 you can give them plenty of fluids and paracetamol or ibuprofen.
After MMR vaccine child may have a mild rash with fever (mini-measles) 6-10 days after vaccination but this is not contagious. They may get swelling of their salivary glands under the jaw (mini-mumps) three weeks after vaccination, this is also not contagious.
Q: When is the next vaccine?
A: Your child has now completed childhood schedule and does not need any more vaccines until they are 4-5 years old. Then they will get two boosters: MMR and 4in1.