China's national immunisation programme: an overview for parents

0-12 months · Health · Reviewed 20 June 2026 · All articles

Important notice Cubby does not currently track this schedule in-app. Always confirm the current schedule with your local Child and Maternal Health clinic (妇幼保健院) or paediatrician. Schedules can be updated by the National Health Commission without notice, so your clinic holds the authoritative version.

Bringing a new baby home is one of the most joyful, and overwhelming, moments of a parent's life. Somewhere in the middle of feeds, nappies, and sleepless nights, a vaccination appointment appears in the calendar. If you are navigating the immunisation system for the first time, or raising a child after living abroad and returning home, it helps to understand the structure of the programme before you walk through the clinic doors.

The National Immunisation Programme (NIP) in mainland China is administered by the National Health Commission (NHC) and delivered through a nationwide network of community health centres and maternal and child health hospitals. The programme has evolved significantly since its founding in 1978 and today provides free, government-funded protection against more than a dozen serious diseases. For babies aged 0 to 12 months the schedule is particularly dense, because this is the window when the immune system is most vulnerable and many of the most critical diseases strike earliest.

This article gives you a plain-language map of how the programme is structured, which vaccines your baby will receive in the first year, where those appointments happen, and how to stay on track if a dose is missed. It is informational only. Your clinic team is the authority on your baby's individual schedule.

How the programme is organised

The NIP divides vaccines into two classes, and understanding this distinction will save you confusion at the clinic window.

Class I vaccines (第一类疫苗) are government-funded and provided free of charge to every eligible child in mainland China. The government procures these centrally, and the vaccination clinic administers them at no cost to the family. For a baby in the first twelve months of life, almost all of the critical jabs fall into this category. Attendance is strongly encouraged and in practice is tied to nursery and school enrolment requirements later on.

Class II vaccines (第二类疫苗) are optional and self-funded. These are vaccines that have been approved for use and recommended by many paediatricians, but which fall outside the free national schedule. Common examples for the first year include the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine, the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13), and the oral or injectable rotavirus vaccine. Families choose whether to purchase these, usually at the vaccination clinic or a designated hospital outpatient department. Costs vary by city and clinic.

The NHC reviews the schedule periodically and can add vaccines to Class I as evidence and funding allow. This means the boundary between the two classes does shift over time, which is another reason to check with your clinic rather than relying solely on information you read online.

Key vaccines in the first year

Below is a parent-friendly summary of the main vaccines your baby will encounter in the first twelve months. Exact timing is confirmed by your clinic, but this gives you a sense of what each jab is for and why it is timed the way it is.

Hepatitis B vaccine (HepB / 乙肝疫苗) is given as a three-dose series: the first within 24 hours of birth, the second at one month, and the third at six months. Hepatitis B is a liver infection spread through blood and bodily fluids. Newborns are at high risk of chronic infection if exposed early, so the birth dose is critical. The three-dose series is a Class I vaccine.

BCG vaccine (卡介苗) is given once, within 24 hours of birth, usually on the same day as the first HepB dose. BCG protects against severe forms of tuberculosis, including TB meningitis, which can be life-threatening in infants. A small red bump at the injection site that later becomes a scar is normal and expected. BCG is a Class I vaccine.

Polio vaccine (脊灰疫苗 / OPV and IPV) is given in a combined series typically starting at two months and continuing at three and four months, with a booster at four years. The inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) is now used for the first one or two doses, followed by oral polio vaccine (OPV) drops for the remaining doses, though clinic-level protocols can differ. Polio can cause irreversible paralysis, and vaccination has been central to eliminating the disease from mainland China. This is a Class I vaccine series.

DTP vaccine (百白破疫苗) protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis). It is given as a three-dose primary series at three, four, and five months, with a booster in the second year of life. Whooping cough is particularly dangerous in young infants, causing prolonged coughing fits that can interfere with breathing. This is a Class I vaccine.

Meningococcal C vaccine (MenC / 流脑疫苗) is given in two doses during the first year, typically at six and nine months, as part of the Class I schedule. This protects against bacterial meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis group C, which can progress very rapidly in young children.

Hib vaccine (流感嗜血杆菌疫苗) protects against Haemophilus influenzae type b, a bacterium that causes meningitis, pneumonia, and other serious infections in children under five. Hib is currently a Class II (optional, self-funded) vaccine in mainland China, though it is widely recommended by paediatricians. It is often given as a combined vaccine with DTP.

PCV13 (肺炎球菌结合疫苗) protects against 13 types of pneumococcal bacteria, which are a leading cause of bacterial pneumonia, meningitis, and ear infections in infants. PCV13 is a Class II vaccine. It is typically given as a three-dose primary series at two, four, and six months, with a booster at 12 to 15 months.

Rotavirus vaccine (轮状病毒疫苗) protects against the most common cause of severe diarrhoea and vomiting in infants and young children. Rotavirus infections can lead to dangerous dehydration. This is a Class II vaccine available in oral form. Timing and number of doses depend on the brand used, so ask your clinic which version they carry.

Where vaccinations happen

Vaccinations in mainland China are delivered primarily through two types of facility.

The maternal and child health hospital (妇幼保健院) is the most common starting point. Your baby's very first doses of HepB and BCG are typically administered in the maternity ward within 24 hours of birth, before you are even discharged. The hospital registers your baby into the vaccination system at this point and issues the vaccination booklet (预防接种证).

For all subsequent doses you will be assigned to, or may choose, a community health service centre (社区卫生服务中心) or a designated vaccination clinic (预防接种门诊) close to your home or registered address. Appointments are generally booked through the clinic directly, through a local health app, or via WeChat notification systems that many districts now operate. Arrive with your baby's vaccination booklet every time.

The vaccination booklet (预防接种证) is a small official booklet that records every dose by date, lot number, and administering clinician. Treat it like a passport: keep it safe, do not let it get wet, and bring it to every single vaccination visit. You will need it to enrol your child in nursery (托儿所) and school, and it is required if you travel internationally and need to demonstrate vaccination status.

Some private children's hospitals and international clinics also offer vaccination services, particularly for Class II vaccines. If you use a private provider for some doses and a public clinic for others, make sure all records are entered into the same booklet so your child's complete history is visible in one place.

Catch-up rules and missed doses

Life happens. Illness, travel, or a miscommunication can mean a dose is delayed or missed entirely. The good news is that the programme has formal catch-up guidance and missing a dose does not mean your baby has to start the series from scratch.

The general principle is that you resume the series at the next appropriate dose rather than repeating doses already given. Minimum intervals between doses are set for each vaccine, and your clinic nurse will calculate the correct catch-up schedule based on your baby's booklet.

If your baby was unwell on the day of a scheduled appointment, most mild illnesses such as a cold without fever are not a reason to delay vaccination, but always check with the clinic nurse who will assess your baby on the day. High fever, a serious acute illness, or a known severe allergy to a vaccine component are reasons to delay and discuss with a doctor first.

If you have moved city, you can transfer your vaccination records by bringing your existing booklet to the new local clinic. The new clinic will register your child in the local system and continue the schedule from where it left off. This process is sometimes called 补种 (catch-up vaccination) in the context of transferred or incomplete records.

Do not attempt to self-manage catch-up schedules by looking up generic international guidelines. Interval rules are vaccine-specific and the clinic is trained to apply them correctly. Simply attend as soon as possible and let the nurse guide you.

Travelling internationally with your vaccination record

If you plan to travel internationally or emigrate, your baby's vaccination record is important documentation. Bring the original 预防接种证 booklet. For countries that require or request proof of vaccination at entry, you may need a translated or certified version.

If you are relocating to another country, check the local immunisation schedule before you leave. The NIP uses vaccines and timing schedules that are largely aligned with WHO recommendations, but specific doses, formulations, or timing windows may differ. A paediatrician in your destination country can review the booklet and advise on any top-up doses needed to align with the local schedule.

Conversely, if you are returning to mainland China after living abroad, bring any foreign vaccination records to your first local clinic visit. The clinic can assess which doses are recognised and whether any Class I vaccines need to be repeated or completed under the NHC schedule.

Keep a digital photograph of every page of the vaccination booklet stored securely, separate from the physical copy. If the booklet is ever lost, a photograph can assist in recreating the record, though the issuing clinic will need to verify it against their own system records.

Questions to ask your doctor or nurse

Walking into a vaccination appointment with a prepared list of questions helps you leave feeling confident rather than uncertain. Here are some starting points.

Frequently asked questions

Which vaccines are free under the National Immunisation Programme?

Class I vaccines are government-funded and provided free of charge to all children. For the first year of life these include HepB (hepatitis B), BCG (tuberculosis), OPV/IPV (polio), DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis), and MenC (meningococcal C). You receive them at a designated community health centre or maternal and child health hospital.

Do I need to pay for any vaccines in the first year?

Class I vaccines are entirely free. Class II vaccines such as Hib, PCV13 (pneumococcal), and rotavirus are optional and self-funded. Your paediatrician or vaccination clinic can advise whether they are recommended for your baby based on current evidence and local availability.

What is the vaccination booklet (预防接种证) and why does my baby need one?

The 预防接种证 is an official document issued at birth or at your first vaccination visit. It records every dose your baby receives. You need it for nursery enrolment, school admission, and travel. Keep it safe and bring it to every vaccination appointment.

What should I do if we missed a scheduled dose?

Missing a dose does not mean starting over. Visit your designated vaccination clinic as soon as possible. The nurse will check your baby's booklet and schedule a catch-up dose. Catch-up intervals vary by vaccine, so always let the clinic guide the timing rather than guessing.

Keep everything in one calm place

Cubby helps you log feeds, naps, nappies, and health notes in one place - so you always know when your baby last ate or how last night went. When vaccine day arrives, you have a clear head instead of a foggy one.

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