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Childhood Care & Immunisations

Baby at GP

All of our GPs have worked in paediatric hospitals as part of their General Practice training. They are also highly experienced in treating common childhood illnesses in the community and addressing parental concerns. We offer all routine Childhood Vaccinations and other vaccinations on request eg; Chicken Pox vaccine.

For information on pregnancy care see:

Under 8s GP Visit Card

All children under 8 years of age living in Ireland can get a GP visit card.

 

The under 8s GP visit card covers:

  • free GP visits

  • assessments at age 2 and 5

  • GP home visits

  • out-of-hours urgent GP care

  • care for children with asthma

 

Medication costs and hospital charges are not covered. 

 

Please be aware that free GP care cannot be provided until you have a valid Under 8 card number for your child.  If an application has not been made for your child following their 6 week check all GP visits between the 6 week check and having a valid card number will be charged at the normal rate.

Register Online

Click here to register your child for an Under 8 GP Visit Card.

To register your child you need to provide your:

  • PPS number

  • child's PPS number

  • GP's name 

Do you have a medical card?

If your family already have a GMS card and your child needs to be added to the family card please contact reception and we will apply for you. You will need to provide a copy of your child's birth cert and PPS number.

 

If you are a private patient you will need to apply for the card online due to it being a new application.

Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule

Immunisation is a simple, safe and effective way of protecting babies and children against certain diseases. The risks from having these diseases are far greater than the risk of any minor side effects from immunisation. 

Click the images to download a copy of the immunisation schedule and a guide for parents on your child's immunisations. 

 

Click here for more information on the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule.

School Vaccine Programme

During the school year:

  • Children in Junior Infants will be offered 4 in 1 and MMR vaccines

  • Students in first year of secondary school will be offered HPV, Tdap and MenACWY

 

These vaccines are also available to students who are in special schools or are home schooled in the same age group.

Learn more about the

 

All the vaccines given in the schools' immunisation programme are free.

 

You can also speak to your local school immunisation team if you have any questions.

Click here for information on the School Programme.

HPV Vaccines for Girls & Boys

The HPV vaccine has been offered to girls in their first year of secondary school since 2010. This is because the most common cancer caused by the HPV virus is cervical cancer which only affects women.

 

From September 2019, boys will also be offered the HPV vaccine. This is because HPV can cause cancers and genital warts in boys too.

 

The more young people vaccinated - both boys and girls - the better we can control the spread of the infection.

Conditions Caused by HPV Infection

In girls, HPV infection can cause cancer of the:

  • cervix

  • vulva (the area surrounding the opening of the vagina)

  • vaginal

  • anus

  • throat

  • head and neck

 

In boys, HPV infection can cause cancer of the:

  • anus

  • throat

  • penis

  • head and neck

 

HPV infection can also cause genital warts in both girls and boys.

 

For HPV Facts and information about the HPV programme see HSE HPV Vaccine.

HPV vaccine catch-up programme

The Laura Brennan HPV vaccine catch-up programme is for some people age 16 or older who did not get the vaccine yet.

If you are under 16 and want to get the HPV vaccine, you do not need to do anything for now. You will get vaccinated through your school or a HSE clinic in 2023. 

 
Who can get a vaccine

A HPV vaccine will be offered to: 

  • females in 2nd to 6th year of secondary school

  • females under the age of 25

  • males in 2nd to 4th year of secondary school

  • males in 5th year who skipped Transition Year

Who can book an appointment

You can book a HPV vaccine catch-up appointment if you are a:

  • female age 16 to 24 years

  • male age 16 or older who started 1st year of secondary school, homeschool or a special school between 2019 and 2021

The HSE are setting up more HPV vaccine clinics in 2023. Check back later if there are no appointments in your area.

Click here to book a HPV vaccine catch-up appointment

Flu Vaccine for Children

Children aged 2 to 17 can get the nasal flu vaccine for free. Your child does not have to be in an at-risk group to receive the vaccine. The flu vaccine will help protect your child against flu and reduce the spread of flu to others, for example, their grandparents, parents and siblings. The nasal flu vaccine has been given to children in the US since 2003 and in the UK since 2013.

Please contact reception to book a flu vaccine for your child.

 

For more information from the HSE on the children's flu vaccine, please click here. ​

Useful Links & Resources

Some of the child health information available from the HSE:

This content of this page (and links to other sites) is for general information purposes only and does not substitute medical advice. While we endeavour to keep this website up-to-date, errors may occur. We advise all patients to discuss their health concerns with their GP. If you would like to suggest amendments or highlight new information that could be useful to others please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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