Child Vaccination Schedule SA: Your Kuilsriver GP Guide
Easter is a natural pause point for families. School bags get packed away for a week, routines shift, and parents often find a quiet moment to look at documents they have been meaning to check. One of the most important documents in your home is your child’s Road to Health booklet (also called the Road to Health card). It is the official South African record of every vaccine your child has received since birth, and it is also a legal requirement for school admission.
If you have pulled out that booklet recently and felt uncertain about what is in it, what is missing, or what vaccines your child should have had at their age, this guide is for you. We cover the full South African Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) schedule, what extra vaccines private GPs like us in Kuilsriver offer, how much they cost, and what to do if your child has missed doses.
TL;DR: South Africa’s free EPI schedule covers the most critical childhood vaccines from birth to age 12. Private GPs add important extras including Rotavirus (RV), PCV (pneumococcal), Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis A, and MMR (which replaces the single measles vaccine). If your child is behind on any doses, catch-up vaccines are available. The Road to Health booklet is required for school admission. To check your child’s vaccination record or book a catch-up appointment in Kuilsriver, call Kuilsriver Doctors on 021 903 6830.
What Is the South African EPI Schedule?
The EPI (Expanded Programme on Immunisation) is a free government vaccination programme for all South African children from birth to age 12. It is run through government clinics and Community Day Centres across the country, including in the Northern Suburbs. The South African Department of Health (DoH) funds and administers the programme, which protects children against 12 major diseases including tuberculosis, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), measles, and pneumococcal disease.
The current EPI schedule was last significantly updated in 2020, when the first measles dose was moved from 9 months to 6 months. That change was a direct response to the 2018 to 2020 measles outbreak in South Africa, which caused hundreds of confirmed cases and several deaths in children under 5. The NICD documented this outbreak in detail. The earlier measles dose closes a vulnerability window that the virus exploited in unprotected infants.
The inentings (vaccinations) in the EPI schedule are administered by trained nurses at government facilities at no cost to the parent. All doses are recorded in the Road to Health booklet, which you must bring to every clinic visit.
The Full SA EPI Schedule: Age by Age
The table below reflects the current South African DoH Immunisation Schedule as updated in 2020. This is what your child should receive at government clinics.
| Age | Vaccines | Diseases Prevented |
|---|---|---|
| Birth | BCG, OPV 0 | Tuberculosis (BCG); Polio (OPV) |
| 6 weeks | DTaP-IPV-Hib-HBV 1, OPV 1, RV 1, PCV 1 | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib, hepatitis B, rotavirus, pneumococcal disease |
| 10 weeks | DTaP-IPV-Hib-HBV 2, PCV 2 | Second dose of hexavalent + pneumococcal |
| 14 weeks | DTaP-IPV-Hib-HBV 3 (Hexavalent), RV 2, PCV 3 | Third doses; rotavirus series complete |
| 6 months | Measles 1 | Measles (moved from 9 months in 2020) |
| 9 months | PCV booster | Pneumococcal disease booster |
| 12 months | Measles 2, DTaP-IPV-Hib-HBV booster | Measles second dose; hexavalent booster |
| 18 months | DTaP-IPV booster | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio booster |
| 6 years | Td | Tetanus and diphtheria booster (school entry) |
| 12 years | Td | Tetanus and diphtheria booster (adolescent) |
The six-in-one (hexavalent) vaccine given at 6, 10, and 14 weeks is one of the most important early childhood vaccines. It protects against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, Hib disease (a cause of meningitis and pneumonia in infants), and hepatitis B in a single injection. According to the WHO EPI vaccination programme data, the schedule is designed to protect children at the age of greatest vulnerability to each disease.
What Vaccines Does the Private Schedule Add?
The EPI schedule is excellent and covers the most common and dangerous vaccine-preventable diseases in South Africa. However, private GPs can offer additional vaccines that are not yet part of the government programme due to cost constraints. For families in Soneike and Kuilsriver with medical aid or who can pay out of pocket, these extras meaningfully extend your child’s protection.
| Vaccine | What It Prevents | EPI Included? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rotavirus (RV 1 and RV 2) | Severe gastroenteritis and dehydration in infants | Yes (since 2009) | Free at government clinics; also available privately |
| PCV (Pneumococcal) | Bacterial meningitis, pneumonia, ear infections | Yes | Free at clinics; private boosters available |
| Varicella | Chickenpox (and later, shingles) | No | 2 doses recommended; 12-15 months and 4-6 years |
| Hepatitis A | Hepatitis A liver infection | No | 2 doses from 12 months; important for travellers and areas with water quality concerns |
| MMR | Measles, Mumps, and Rubella together | No (EPI gives measles only) | Private GPs give MMR; government gives measles-only. MMR adds mumps and rubella protection |
| Meningococcal (MenACWY) | Bacterial meningitis caused by meningococcal bacteria | No | Recommended for children going to boarding school or travelling |
| HPV | Human papillomavirus (cervical and other cancers) | Partial (girls via school programme) | Available privately for boys and outside the school programme |
The most clinically significant difference between the public and private schedules is the MMR vaccine. Government clinics give a measles-only vaccine. Private GPs give the MMR, which also covers mumps (a cause of deafness, orchitis, and meningitis) and rubella (which causes serious birth defects if a pregnant woman is infected). Rubella has not been eliminated in South Africa, making this addition meaningful.
Our vaccinations service and baby and child clinic team can review your child’s current record and advise on which additional vaccines are right for your family’s situation.
How Much Do Private Childhood Vaccines Cost?
The additional vaccines offered at private practices are not free, but many are covered by medical aid. Below are approximate private market prices in 2025 for South Africa. Actual pricing at our practice may differ; call 021 903 6830 for current rates.
| Vaccine | Approximate Cost Per Dose (ZAR) | Doses Needed | Medical Aid Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varicella (chickenpox) | R400 to R600 | 2 | Most major schemes, check your plan |
| MMR | R300 to R500 | 2 | Covered by most major schemes |
| Hepatitis A | R350 to R550 | 2 | Covered by most major schemes |
| Meningococcal (MenACWY) | R600 to R800 | 1-2 depending on age | Covered by some schemes; check yours |
| HPV (Cervarix/Gardasil) | R700 to R900 | 2-3 depending on age | Covered by some schemes for girls |
Discovery Health covers childhood immunisations under the Preventive Care Benefit for members on qualifying plans. This benefit is separate from your medical savings account and does not reduce your day-to-day cover. Momentum, Bonitas, Medshield, and GEMS also include childhood vaccinations in their preventive care benefits. Call your scheme before your appointment to confirm what is covered and avoid unexpected out-of-pocket costs.
Why Did the Measles Vaccine Move from 9 Months to 6 Months?
The first measles dose now falls at 6 months, not 9 months. This is a question we hear often from parents who have an older child vaccinated under the old schedule. The change was made in 2020 in direct response to South Africa’s 2018-2020 measles outbreak.
Before the change, infants aged 6 to 9 months had no measles protection. They were too young for the first dose but had lost the maternal antibodies passed from their mothers during pregnancy. This window of vulnerability was exactly when infants in the outbreak became seriously ill. The NICD reported hundreds of confirmed cases with measles encephalitis (brain inflammation) and deaths concentrated in this age group.
The South African DoH Measles Elimination Plan shifted the first dose to 6 months to close that gap. The second dose at 12 months remained. This means children born after 2020 should have measles protection recorded at both 6 months and 12 months in their Road to Health booklet. If your child was born before 2020 and only has a single measles entry at 9 or 12 months, speak to your GP about whether a catch-up dose is needed.
What Should You Do If Your Child Missed Vaccine Doses?
Missing doses happens. A hospital visit, a move between provinces, an illness on the vaccine day, or a gap in the Road to Health booklet that was not caught at the time. The good news is that childhood vaccination programmes have well-established catch-up rules, and it is almost never too late to restart.
Key catch-up principles from the WHO Immunisation in Practice guidelines:
- You do not restart a vaccine series from scratch. Wherever your child is in the schedule, you continue from there.
- The maximum intervals between doses are more flexible than the minimum intervals. Missing the exact timing by a few weeks or months does not invalidate previous doses.
- Some vaccines have age upper limits. Rotavirus, for example, should not be started after 15 weeks. If your child is older, this vaccine is no longer appropriate. Other vaccines can be given much later.
- The Road to Health booklet is the starting point. Bring it to your appointment.
At Kuilsriver Doctors, our kindersorg (paediatric care) approach means we will review the booklet with you, identify what has been given, what is missing, and what catch-up doses are needed at your child’s current age. We then give you a written plan, not just a verbal one. Bring the booklet to every appointment, including your Easter-break check.
Does Your Child Need to Be Vaccinated for School Admission?
Yes, in practice if not always in strict law. The Road to Health booklet is required for admission to Grade R and Grade 1 in South African schools. While the Schools Act does not specify exact vaccines as mandatory for admission, the booklet itself is the accepted record, and schools check it as part of the enrolment process.
For children entering Grade R at Kuilsriver Primary School or any of the Northern Suburbs primary schools, the following vaccines should be complete before the first day:
- BCG (birth)
- All hexavalent doses (6, 10, 14 weeks and 12 months)
- Both measles doses (6 months and 12 months)
- All PCV doses including booster
- The Td booster at 6 years
If the Road to Health booklet has gaps or is missing, your child can still enrol but you will likely be asked to get the booklet updated. Government clinics will update the booklet and give catch-up doses at no cost. Kuilsriver Doctors can also review and administer missing doses privately and provide a supplementary vaccination record if needed.
The South African Human Rights Commission has noted that school exclusion based on vaccination status alone may raise rights concerns, but in practice, keeping your child’s vaccinations up to date protects them, their classmates, and teachers, and removes any potential barrier to admission.
How Does Medical Aid Cover Childhood Vaccinations?
Most major South African medical schemes include childhood vaccinations as part of their preventive care or prescribed minimum benefit (PMB) provisions. This applies to both EPI-equivalent vaccines and some of the additional private vaccines.
Under the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) regulations, medical schemes must cover at minimum the vaccines in the state EPI schedule. In practice, most schemes go further.
Practical guidance for Kuilsriver families:
- Call your medical aid’s member services before your appointment to confirm which vaccines are covered
- Ask specifically whether the call-out is against your Savings Account or your Preventive Care Benefit
- Preventive care benefits typically do not affect your day-to-day limit
- If your child does not have medical aid, the EPI vaccines are free at your nearest government clinic or Community Day Centre
For GEMS members (many government employees in the Northern Suburbs), childhood vaccinations are covered under the GEMS Preventive Care Benefit. Bonitas and Discovery members should check their specific plan, as the extent of coverage differs across plan tiers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the EPI schedule really free at government clinics?
Yes. All vaccines in the EPI schedule are provided free of charge at government clinics, Community Day Centres, and midwife obstetric units (MOUs) across South Africa. You do not need medical aid to access these vaccines. Bring your child’s Road to Health booklet and your ID. According to the SA DoH, the programme is funded by the national government and is available to all children regardless of medical aid status or citizenship.
My child had chickenpox. Do they still need the Varicella vaccine?
If your child had confirmed chickenpox, they likely have natural immunity and do not need the vaccine. However, mild cases are sometimes confused with other rash illnesses. If you are unsure whether your child’s previous illness was confirmed chickenpox, speak to your GP. The SAHPRA-approved Varicella vaccine is safe to give even if a child has prior immunity, it simply produces no additional effect. Your doctor can advise on whether to vaccinate or not based on clinical history.
What is the difference between MMR and the measles vaccine on the EPI schedule?
The government EPI schedule gives a measles-only vaccine at 6 months and 12 months. Private GPs give MMR, which covers measles, mumps, and rubella as a single combined injection. Both protect against measles equally well. The MMR adds protection against mumps (which can cause hearing loss, meningitis, and orchitis in boys) and rubella (which causes severe birth defects if a pregnant woman is infected). Families on medical aid who can access it at little or no cost are generally advised to choose MMR over the measles-only option.
Can my child get vaccinated if they have a cold?
Usually yes, but it depends on the severity. A mild cold (runny nose, slight cough, no fever) is not a reason to postpone vaccination. High fever is a reason to delay until your child has recovered, typically 48 hours after the fever resolves. If you are unsure, bring your child in and let the GP assess. Postponing vaccines unnecessarily creates catch-up problems later. The WHO Immunisation in Practice guidelines are clear that mild illness is not a contraindication for vaccination.
How do I know which vaccines my child has already received?
The Road to Health booklet is your primary source. It records every vaccine given at government clinics from birth. If you have received some vaccines privately, your GP should have a record in their system and may have given you a vaccination card or letter. If the booklet is lost or incomplete, your original government clinic may have records. As a last resort, your GP can test for immunity to specific diseases via blood tests, or you can restart the affected vaccine series from where the gap occurred.
At what age can my child get the HPV vaccine?
The HPV vaccine is recommended from age 9. The South African government school programme currently offers it to Grade 4 girls (typically 9 to 10 years old). Privately, it is available for both boys and girls from age 9. Two doses are given to children who start the series before age 15. Three doses are needed if the series starts at 15 or older. HPV vaccination prevents cervical cancer, throat cancer, and genital warts. It is most effective when given before any potential exposure, which is why early adolescence is the target window.
Keep Your Child’s Vaccinations on Track
Easter is a good time to pull out the Road to Health booklet and check where things stand. If your child is on schedule, that is excellent news. If there are gaps, now is a practical time to sort them out before the next school term begins.
The kindersorg (paediatric care) team at Kuilsriver Doctors has been serving young families in Kuilsriver and Soneike for over 20 years. We can review your child’s vaccination record, advise on catch-up doses, administer any missing vaccines, and give you a written summary of where your child stands. We also offer the full range of private additional vaccines including MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis A, and Meningococcal, most of which are covered by major medical aids.
Check your child’s vaccination record after Easter. Call 021 903 6830 to book an appointment.
Kuilsriver Doctors is at Shop 9, De Kuilen Shopping Centre, Van Riebeeck Road, Kuilsriver 7580. We are open Monday to Friday 8:00 to 17:00 and Saturday 8:00 to 12:00.
View our vaccination services | Baby & child clinic in Kuilsriver | Book an appointment
Concerned about your health? Book a consultation with our experienced doctors.