Vaccines are the most powerful protection that modern medicine offers children. Turkey's national program provides free protection against 13 diseases. Here is the month-by-month schedule:

National Vaccination Schedule (Ministry of Health)

Time Vaccines
At birth Hepatitis B (1st dose)
End of 2nd month BCG (tuberculosis), 6-in-1 combined (DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB) (1), PCV (pneumococcal) (1)
End of 4th month 6-in-1 combined (2), PCV (2)
End of 6th month 6-in-1 combined (3), OPV (polio, oral) (1)
End of 9th month MMR (measles-rubella-mumps) extra dose
End of 12th month PCV booster, MMR (1), Varicella (chickenpox) (1)
End of 18th month 6-in-1 combined booster, OPV (2), Hepatitis A (1)
End of 24th month Hepatitis A (2)
48th month (4 years) DTaP-IPV booster, MMR (2), Varicella (2)
Age 13 Td (adult-type tetanus-diphtheria) booster

The schedule may be updated by the Ministry of Health; during the examination we review the current schedule together.

Update of 1 September 2026: In the Ministry of Health's National Childhood Vaccination Schedule, the chickenpox (varicella) vaccine has been changed to two doses: the 1st dose at 12 months and the 2nd dose at 48 months. For children who have already had a single dose, your family doctor or paediatrician will assess the missing dose.

Non-Schedule (Private) Vaccines — Recommended

  • Rotavirus: Oral; the first dose should start between weeks 6-12. Significantly reduces hospitalizations caused by severe diarrhea.
  • Meningococcal (MCV4 and B): Protection against rapidly progressing, potentially fatal infections such as meningitis.
  • Flu vaccine: Over 6 months of age, every autumn; especially in children with asthma and those attending daycare.
  • HPV: In girls and boys from age 9 — a cancer-preventing vaccine.

Post-Vaccination Care

  • A clean, cold compress can be applied to the injection site; do not rub it
  • Weight-appropriate paracetamol for mild fever (fever guide)
  • Bathing is not an obstacle
  • After the rotavirus vaccine, the virus is shed in the stool for 1 week — practice hand hygiene after diaper changes

Trust the Science

The claim that vaccines cause autism is a scientific fraud that has been disproven many times. Vaccines save the lives of millions of children every year.