Few parents look forward to vaccination appointments. There is the waiting room, the moment your child realises what is happening, and the sore arm afterwards. Yet the childhood schedule is one of the simplest and most effective things you can do to protect your child, and it matters more once they start spending their days in a room full of other children.
This guide covers how Singapore's schedule works, which vaccines are required by law, and what to do if your records are patchy. It also has some practical ideas for making jab day less of an ordeal.
Why it matters more once preschool starts
Young children in groups share almost everything. They hold hands and swap toys, and they cough without covering their mouths. That is normal and healthy, and it is also why infections move quickly through a preschool room.
Vaccination protects your child directly. It also protects the children around them who cannot yet be fully vaccinated, such as babies too young for certain doses or a classmate with a medical condition. When most children in a group are protected, diseases like measles find it much harder to spread.
How the national schedule works
Singapore's National Childhood Immunisation Schedule sets out the vaccines recommended for every child, and when they should be given. It was last revised in November 2020, when chickenpox (varicella) and influenza vaccination were added, along with combination vaccines that cover several diseases in one injection.
In broad terms, the schedule looks like this:
- At birth: the first doses, including hepatitis B. BCG, which protects against tuberculosis, is also given at birth.
- During the first year: a series of doses, many given as a single combined injection. Together they protect against several serious diseases, among them whooping cough and polio.
- From the first birthday: measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), plus chickenpox, with second doses following in the months after.
- Around 18 months: boosters for some of the earlier vaccines.
- At primary school: further boosters later on, given through the school health service.
The exact timing and brands can change, so treat your child's health booklet and your doctor or polyclinic as the source of truth for your child's next dose.
The two vaccines required by law
Singapore's Communicable Diseases Agency states that vaccination against measles and diphtheria is compulsory for children under the Infectious Diseases Act. The other vaccines on the schedule are strongly recommended rather than legally required, and most families follow the full schedule.
If your child has missed either of the compulsory vaccines, speak to your doctor about catching up as soon as possible.
Checking your child's records
The easiest way to see what your child has had is through the National Immunisation Registry, which you can view online. The registry holds the record of vaccinations given here, and it sends parents a reminder letter if a dose is missed.
It is also worth keeping your child's paper health booklet up to date, and taking it to every appointment. Many parents find it useful to photograph the vaccination pages and keep a copy on their phone for school forms.
If a dose was missed
Missing a dose is common and usually easy to fix. Illness or travel can push an appointment back, and so can a new baby in the house. Doctors deal with this all the time. In most cases your child does not need to start the series again. The doctor simply picks up where you left off and plans the remaining doses.
Do not let worry about being behind stop you from booking. A late dose is far better than none.
Moving to Singapore from overseas
If your family has moved here, bring your child's vaccination records from home, translated if needed. A family doctor or polyclinic can compare them with the Singapore schedule and suggest any catch-up doses. Different countries use different timings and combinations, so a gap on paper does not always mean your child is unprotected.
Making jab day easier
A few things help most preschoolers cope:
- Tell them the truth, briefly. "You're having an injection today. It will hurt for a moment, and then it's done." Surprises damage trust, and long build-ups create dread.
- Avoid "it won't hurt." It probably will hurt a little. Your child will remember that you said otherwise.
- Hold them close. Sitting on your lap, chest to chest, often feels safer than lying on an examination couch.
- Bring a distraction. A favourite book, a song you sing together, or bubbles to blow during the injection all work well.
- Ask about numbing cream. Some clinics can advise on numbing options for children who are very anxious. Ask when you book, since it may need time to work.
- Plan something calm afterwards. A walk home together, a story on the sofa or a picnic in the park gives the day a good ending.
Stay calm yourself, even if your child cries. They take their cue from you, and tears after a jab are normal and pass quickly.
After the vaccination
Common reactions include a sore or red patch where the needle went in, or a mild fever. Some children are also grumpy and sleepier than usual for a day or two. These usually pass on their own. Ask your doctor in advance about using paracetamol for fever or discomfort and the right dose for your child's weight.
Seek medical help straight away if your child develops a rash or a swollen face soon after a vaccination, or has any difficulty breathing. Clinics usually ask you to wait for a short time after the injection for this reason.
What happens at primary school
The school health service carries on where the early years leave off. According to HealthHub, Primary One children who have not had the recommended doses against measles and diphtheria will be given them during the school health team's visit, unless parents opt out through the Child Consent Portal. With parental consent, Primary 5 students receive booster vaccinations against four diseases, including diphtheria and polio.
If you sort out any gaps during the preschool years, Primary One is one less thing to think about.
Health at Shaws
At Shaws, every child has a temperature check on arrival each morning, with a look at their hands and mouth, and children with a fever or unexplained spots go home until it clears. Before your child starts, we check allergies with every family and ask you to complete an 'All About Me' form, so teachers know your child well from the first day. You can read more in our FAQs and our first-day guide.
When to seek advice
Talk to your doctor or paediatrician first if your child has a weakened immune system or another medical condition. The same applies if they have had a strong reaction to a previous vaccine, since the doctor can plan the safest approach. If you are unsure whether your child is up to date, your family doctor can check the registry for you.
Shaws Preschool has welcomed children from 18 months to six years across the East Coast and Serangoon since 1989. If you have questions about starting with us, send us an enquiry or book a tour.
