Childhood vaccination not only protects the child, but also builds herd immunity, which reduces the spread of disease in the community.
Why is childhood vaccination important?
Childhood vaccination is one of the most important achievements of preventive medicine, and it has significantly reduced illness and death from infectious diseases worldwide. Latvia uses a state-approved vaccination schedule that ensures children receive the necessary vaccines from birth. However, many parents have questions about vaccine safety, effectiveness and how to prepare for vaccination properly. In this article, we look at how the vaccination system works in Latvia, why it is important to follow the schedule, how to book an appointment with a pediatrician, and how a children’s doctor consultation in Riga helps you make informed decisions about your child’s health.
Dr. Jeļena Liepa
Paediatrician, neonatologist
The importance of vaccination for society
Childhood vaccination is not just an individual decision – it affects public health as a whole. Thanks to the vaccination programme, Latvia has eradicated polio and significantly reduced cases of measles and diphtheria.
If vaccination coverage falls, diseases can return. For example, in recent years Europe has seen measles outbreaks in countries where vaccination rates dropped below 90%. This shows that following the vaccination schedule matters not only for each child, but for society as a whole.
What is childhood vaccination?
Vaccination is a process in which a weakened or inactivated pathogen, or fragments of it, are introduced into the body to stimulate the immune system to build protection against a specific infection. As a result, the child’s body learns to recognise the disease and fight it if it later comes into contact with the real virus or bacterium.
Childhood vaccination not only protects the child, but also builds herd immunity, which reduces the spread of disease in the community. This is especially important for infants and people with weakened immunity who cannot be vaccinated themselves.
Vaccination schedule in Latvia
In Latvia, vaccination is carried out according to the national immunisation schedule, which sets out the age at which children should receive specific vaccines.
Main vaccines for children:
- Hepatitis B – for newborns in the first days of life.
- Tuberculosis (BCG) – in the first week of life.
- Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, Hib infection – combined vaccines in several doses up to the age of 2.
- Measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) – at 1 year of age, with a booster later.
Additional vaccines for children
- Pneumococcal
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for adolescents.
- Flu vaccine
- Rotavirus vaccine
It is important for parents to keep track of the vaccination schedule, as delays can reduce the effectiveness of protection. If a vaccine is missed, the pediatrician draws up an individual vaccination plan.
| Age | Vaccine for the child | Protects against |
|---|---|---|
| 0–12 hours (risk groups) | Hepatitis B | Hepatitis B infection |
| Day 2 of life | BCG | Tuberculosis |
| 6 weeks | Rotavirus vaccine (1st dose) | Rotavirus gastroenteritis |
| 2 months | Combined vaccine (DTaP-Hib-HepB-IPV) | Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, Hib, hepatitis B |
| 2 months | Pneumococcal vaccine (1st dose) | Pneumococcal infection |
| 4 months | Combined vaccine (repeat dose) | As above |
| 4 months | Pneumococcal vaccine (2nd dose) | Pneumococcal infection |
| 6 months | Combined vaccine (repeat dose) | As above |
| 6–23 months | Flu vaccine (every year) | Flu |
| 12–15 months | Combined vaccine (repeat dose) | As above |
| 12–15 months | MMR (1st dose) | Measles, rubella, mumps |
| 12–15 months | Pneumococcal vaccine (3rd dose) | Pneumococcal infection |
| 12–15 months | Chickenpox (1st dose) | Chickenpox (varicella) infection |
| 7 years | Combined vaccine (DTaP-IPV) | Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio |
| 7 years | MMR (2nd dose) | Measles, rubella, mumps |
| 7 years | Chickenpox (2nd dose) | Chickenpox (varicella) infection |
| 12 years | HPV vaccine (girls and boys) | Human papillomavirus, cervical and other cancers |
| 14 years | Combined vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus) | Diphtheria, tetanus |
At our clinic, children can receive both schedule and additional vaccines. See prices for all vaccines on our vaccination page. Before tick season, we also recommend tick-borne encephalitis vaccination for children.
Children’s doctor consultation before vaccination
Before vaccination, we recommend a children’s doctor consultation in Riga, where the pediatrician assesses the child’s health. During the consultation, the doctor:
- checks the child’s development and health,
- assesses whether the child is ready for vaccination,
- explains the importance of the vaccines and possible side effects,
- answers parents’ questions.
Such a consultation helps parents feel safe and confident that their child is receiving the best care.
To ensure timely vaccination, you need to book an appointment with a pediatrician. Booking an appointment allows you to:
- plan the course of vaccination,
- avoid delays,
- make sure the child receives all the necessary vaccines according to the schedule.
How to prepare for vaccination?
Parents ask this question often, and clear preparation helps make vaccination calmer for both the child and the parents.
- Vaccination is usually given when the child has no fever, no acute symptoms of illness and is not feeling seriously unwell. A mild runny nose or cough is usually not an obstacle, but if in doubt, consult a pediatrician.
- Prepare the child psychologically according to their age – you can briefly explain what will happen and what will be done.
- Prepare the necessary documents – medical records, if any. The vaccination passport has now been replaced by vaccination records on the eveseliba.gov.lv portal.
- Tell the doctor about allergies or previous reactions to vaccines,
- After vaccination, watch how the child is feeling and plan a quiet day. Some children may have a slight fever, redness or tenderness at the injection site and tiredness, which pass within 1–2 days.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, all vaccines are thoroughly tested before they are introduced. Side effects are usually mild – a slight fever, redness or pain at the injection site.
No, vaccines contain only weakened or inactivated pathogens that cannot cause the disease. Natural infection can lead to serious complications, while a vaccine provides protection without the risk of getting ill.
A mild runny nose or slight cough is not an obstacle to vaccination, but if the child has a high temperature or a serious illness, vaccination is postponed.
No, this theory has been disproved many times by scientific research.
Questions about your health?
Specialist doctors see patients at Republikas laukuma klīnika in central Riga. Our reception will help you choose the right specialist and time.
