Why does the schedule of childhood vaccinations vary?

Each year, the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System establishes guidelines that govern the schedule of childhood vaccines. From the moment of birth, all babies should receive a series of doses until they reach the age of 14 to prevent them from contracting certain diseases.

Since babies do not have a developed immune system, it is necessary to dispense vaccines so that the body produces the necessary defenses. As is already known, these biologics contain a part of the microorganism that causes the condition, so the child may have some side effects as a result.

The child vaccination calendar is used to know when it is time to provide vaccines to children with the aim of carrying out more thorough control. In any case, the management of them should always be carried out by a doctor or pediatrician. The first vaccine is provided in the hospital where the baby was born, which corresponds to Hepatitis B. from that moment, parents have to remain attentive to the following dates that correspond to 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 4 years, 6 years, 12 years and 14 years.

Differences in the schedule of childhood vaccines between autonomous communities

Far from establishing a single and common childhood vaccine calendar throughout Spain, each autonomous community establishes it’s own respecting the Basic Rules and complementing them with certain vaccines instead of others. Therefore, there are as many vaccination schedules as regions, including some free doses and others that must be paid for by users.

Each autonomous community sets its specific calendar depending on the economic resources it has. This means that both vaccines formally established by the different regions and the Ministry of Health are completely free since they are funded by the state. Outside of these cases, health professionals can also advise parents to apply other vaccines that are highly recommended to avoid the development of certain serious diseases, although in this case the cost is borne by the stakeholders themselves.

Changes in the child vaccination schedule from year to year

The schedule of childhood vaccinations is likely to change with the start of a new year. Due to advances in medicine and changes in the health of the population, certain diseases lose relevance, since they can be controlled through certain tests to the mother during pregnancy, for example. However, with the passage of time new conditions are emerging that are discovered to pose a threat to the little ones. In any case, all modifications are endorsed, as we have commented, by the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System to ensure a reliable calendar.

In 2018, the changes in the vaccination schedule that were made were not too extensive, although the list of vaccines not funded but recommended to be put, such as that of meningococci B in infants, pertussis in adolescents, human papilloma, etc., was expanded.

Currently, all children have to receive vaccinations against hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, measles, rubella, mumps, chickenpox, among others that are considered mandatory. In certain cases, a new booster dosage is established to achieve adequate protection.