What is the National Vaccination Program?
The National Vaccination Program is a universal, free and accessible program to all people present in Portugal. It was implemented in 1965 and, from the beginning, it has maintained its basic principles:
- universality, intended for all people in Portugal who have an indication for vaccination
- free of charge, for the user
- accessibility
- equity
- Taking advantage of all vaccination opportunities
What are the objectives of the National Vaccination Program?
The objective of the program is to protect individuals and the general population against diseases that have the greatest potential to pose threats to public and individual health and for which there is effective protection by vaccination.
On an individual level, it is intended that the vaccinated person will be immune to the disease or, in cases where this is not possible, that they will have a milder form of the disease when they come into contact with the infectious agent that causes it.
At the population level, it is intended to eliminate, control or minimize the impact of the disease on the community, and it is necessary that the percentage of vaccinated people in the population is as high as possible.
Is the National Vaccination Program adequate?
yes. The National Vaccination Program has made it possible to eliminate or control vaccine-preventable diseases, including vaccines internationally considered more appropriate for the protection of the population. The recommended vaccination schedule aims to obtain the best protection, at the most appropriate age and as early as possible.
Who does the National Vaccination Program apply to?
The National Vaccination Program is universal and applies, free of charge, to all people present in Portugal. In other words, the universality of the National Vaccination Programme implies that every person who presents themselves at any functional unit of the National Health Service is vaccinated or, at the very least, is referred to the nearest functional unit that has the necessary vaccine(s), even if that person is registered in another unit or is not yet registered in the National Registry of Users or in the National Health Service.
Does the National Vaccination Program also apply to citizens in a situation of temporary protection?
yes. According to the norm of the Directorate-General for Health, citizens in a situation of temporary protection should also be vaccinated according to the recommendations of the National Vaccination Program 2020, using:
- Recommended general scheme
- Fallback vaccination schedules (delayed vaccination schedules or late vaccination schedule)
Vaccination will be carried out according to the individual vaccination record, age and any risk diseases or special circumstances. The original vaccination schedules will be adapted according to the schedules recommended in Portugal.
What is the National Vaccination Program that is in place?
The National Vaccination Program was updated in September 2020 with the publication of the Norm No. 018/2020 of 27/09/2020, and entered into force on October 1, 2020.
What are the main changes compared to the previous program?
The 2020 National Vaccination Program now includes, in the vaccination schedule
recommended:
- extension of vaccination against invasive group B meningitis (Neisseria meningitidis) to all children at 2, 4 and 12 months of age
- extension of vaccination against human papillomavirus infections (HPV vaccine) to males at 10 years of age, including genotypes that cause anogenital condylomas
The rotavirus vaccine (ROTA vaccine) for risk groups, the main cause of gastroenteritis in children, is also part of the National Vaccination Program 2020, but will be applied only to risk groups.
What vaccines are included in the National Vaccination Program 2020 and at what ages should we vaccinate?
The vaccines included in the National Vaccination Program 2020 aim to obtain the best protection, at the most appropriate age and as early as possible.
The timetable is currently as follows:
At birth:
- 1st dose of hepatitis B vaccine (VHB)
At 2 months of age:
- hexavalent DTPaHibVIPVHB vaccine
- 1st dose against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough (DTaP)
- 1st dose against invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease (Hib)
- 1st dose against polio (VIP)
- 2nd dose of hepatitis B vaccine (VHB)
- 1st dose of conjugate vaccine against 13-serotype Streptococcus pneumoniae infections (Pn13)
- 1st dose of Neisseria meningitidis B vaccine (MenB 1)
At 4 months of age:
- 2nd dose of DTaP, Hib and VIP (pentavalent DTPaHibVIP vaccine)
- 2nd dose of Pn13
- 2nd dose of Neisseria meningitidis B vaccine (MenB 2)
At 6 months of age:
- 3rd dose of DTaP, Hib, VIP and VHB (hexavalent DTPaHibVIPVHB vaccine)
At 12 months of age:
- 3rd dose of Pn13
- 3rd dose of Neisseria meningitidis B vaccine (MenB 3)
- vaccine against invasive disease by Neisseria meningitidis C – MenC (single dose)
- 1st dose of measles, mumps epidemic and rubella (VASPR)
At 18 months of age:
- pentavalent DTPaHibVIP vaccine
- 1st booster of DTaP (4th dose) and VIP (4th dose)
- single Hib booster (4th dose)
At 5 years of age:
- 2nd booster (5th dose) of DTPa and VIP – tetravalent DTPaVIP vaccine
- 2nd dose of VASPR
At 10 years of age:
- tetanus and diphtheria (Td)
- 2 doses of vaccine (at 6-month intervals) against human papillomavirus 9-genotype (HPV9) infections
Throughout life:
- boosters of tetanus and diphtheria (Td) in reduced doses at 25, 45, 65 years of age and every 10 years thereafter
Pregnant:
- in each pregnancy, single dose of tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdpa) vaccine, in reduced doses
Groups at increased risk:
- tuberculosis vaccine (BCG)
- vaccine against 23-serotype Streptococcus pneumoniae infections (Pneumo23)
- vaccine against invasive disease by Neisseria meningitidis of the ACWY groups
- hepatitis A vaccine, when expressly referred to and recommended
Adults who are unvaccinated or overdue for a tetanus booster dose should get this vaccine at any age.
People who do not have a vaccination record of a certain vaccine are considered unvaccinated.
Why are some vaccines part of the National Vaccination Programme and others not?
The vaccines that are part of the National Vaccination Program are those that are considered first-line, that is, they are proven to be effective and safe, and from whose application the greatest health gains are obtained.
This document is regularly reviewed and updated by the Directorate-General for Health, following a proposal from the Technical Committee on Vaccination depending on the vaccines available, the frequency and distribution of these diseases in our country, social developments and health services.
Some of the vaccines not included in the National Vaccination Program, although they provide protection to those who take them, have not been shown to provide as many gains in the health of the population as those included.
Where can I get vaccinated?
Vaccination is carried out at your health centre.
I'm out of place. Where can I get vaccinated?
If you are on the move, you should go to the nearest health centre for vaccination.
My baby is premature. When will he be able to be vaccinated?
Premature babies have fewer antibodies received from their mother through the placenta than children born with a normal gestation time. Thus, the diseases can be more serious in these babies, and vaccination should not be delayed. The only exception is the vaccine against hepatitis B, which should be given at the end of the 1st month of life or when the baby reaches 2 kilos (whichever comes first).
The BCG vaccine (for the prevention of tuberculosis) can only be given to premature babies belonging to risk groups when the child reaches 2 kilograms in weight.
National Vaccination Program 2020.
Source: Directorate-General for Health (DGS)