Breast milk passes some immunity to your baby in the early part of life, but it cannot protect against every serious disease. Vaccines are another important line of defence that help your baby's body build its own immunity, reducing the chance of severe illness, disability or death from preventable diseases. This article summarises the basic vaccines every child in Thailand should receive under the Ministry of Public Health's immunisation programme.
This article provides general information to help parents prepare and is not medical advice. For your child's appointment schedule, follow the Mother and Child Health Handbook and the advice of your doctor or public health staff.
Why your baby needs vaccines on schedule
Newborns cannot yet build full immunity on their own. Although colostrum and breast milk contain antibodies that protect your baby to some extent, diseases such as tuberculosis, whooping cough, measles and encephalitis can be life-threatening in young children. Getting vaccines at the right ages helps your baby build immunity before reaching the age when they are at risk of infection.
Basic vaccine schedule for young children
The following table is summarised from documents by the Division of General Communicable Diseases, Department of Disease Control1
| Age | Vaccines given |
|---|---|
| Birth | BCG (against tuberculosis) · Hepatitis B (HB) first dose, within 24 hours |
| 2 months | Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-hepatitis B-Hib (DTwP-HB-Hib) dose 1 · Injectable polio (IPV) dose 1 · Rotavirus dose 1 |
| 4 months | DTwP-HB-Hib dose 2 · IPV dose 2 · Rotavirus dose 2 |
| 6 months | DTwP-HB-Hib dose 3 · Oral polio (OPV) dose 1 · Rotavirus dose 3 (3-dose vaccine type only) |
| 9–12 months | Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) dose 1 |
| 12 months | Live attenuated Japanese encephalitis (LAJE) dose 1 |
| 1 year 6 months | Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTwP) booster · OPV dose 2 · MMR dose 2 |
| 2 years 6 months | LAJE dose 2 |
| 4 years | DTwP booster · OPV dose 3 |
The "2 injections, 3 oral doses" polio schedule
Since July 2023, Thailand has switched to giving the injectable polio vaccine twice, at 2 and 4 months, together with the oral vaccine three times, at 6 months, 1 year 6 months and 4 years, to improve effectiveness and safety1
The rotavirus vaccine must be started on time
The rotavirus vaccine is given by mouth. The first dose should be given before 15 weeks of age and the last dose no later than 32 weeks, so you should not postpone the 2- and 4-month appointments1
Additional vaccines to discuss with your doctor
Besides the basic vaccines, the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of Thailand publishes a recommended vaccine schedule for Thai children that also includes optional vaccines, such as influenza, pneumococcal and chickenpox vaccines2 Talk to your paediatrician to plan what suits your child's health and lifestyle.
Preparing before your baby's vaccination
- Always bring the Mother and Child Health Handbook to record the vaccines and the next appointment.
- Dress your baby in loose clothes that are easy to take off, and pack spare diapers, cotton wool and wet wipes. See more in baby items to pack before going out
- If your baby is bottle-fed, bring milk to comfort them after the shot, or breastfeed during and after the shot to help your baby calm down faster. See the newborn feeding schedule
- Tell the staff if your baby has a fever, has had a reaction to a vaccine before, or has an underlying health condition.
Caring for your baby after vaccination
- Wait and watch for reactions for 30 minutes at the clinic or hospital before going home1
- Pain, swelling, redness or a low fever are common and usually go away within 1–2 days. Apply a cold compress to the injection site.
- Give fever medicine only as advised by a doctor or pharmacist.
- If your baby has a rash all over the body, a swollen face or throat, difficulty breathing or weakness, see a doctor immediately or call 1669 (Thailand's emergency medical number).
Items that make vaccination day easier
Clean cotton wool and gauze for wiping and cleaning, available from Baby Moby. For mums who bottle-feed alongside breastfeeding, see Tommee Tippee bottles, with teats designed to feel close to the breast, and read more about tongue-tie in babies, which can affect feeding.
Summary
Basic vaccines for children in Thailand start at birth, with key appointments at 2, 4, 6 and 9–12 months, 1 year, 1 year 6 months, 2 years 6 months and 4 years. Taking your baby to every appointment and keeping the health handbook safe is the best way to protect your child.
References
- Division of General Communicable Diseases, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Vaccine knowledge on vaccine-preventable diseases (PDF, in Thai)
- Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of Thailand, Vaccine schedule for Thai children 2025