Malta Baby StepsMALTA & GOZOA clearer view
of the schedule.
Start with the routine programme. Then explore what each vaccine covers, the legal distinction and questions for your healthcare team.
What’s on the official schedule?
Choose an age to see the routine schedule entry.
View the full childhood schedule +
Labels apply to disease components. 6-in-1 combines obliged and recommended components. Routine MMR is recommended; the separate rubella obligation applies to previously unvaccinated girls aged 10 to under 13. The general childhood obligation is explained above.
| Age | Vaccine & legal status |
|---|---|
| From 8 weeks | 6-in-1 · dose 1Mixed: diphtheria/tetanus/polio components obliged; other 3 recommended PCV · dose 1Recommended Men B · dose 1Recommended |
| 3 months | 6-in-1 · dose 2Mixed: diphtheria/tetanus/polio components obliged; other 3 recommended Men ACWY · dose 1Recommended |
| 4 months | 6-in-1 · dose 3Mixed: diphtheria/tetanus/polio components obliged; other 3 recommended PCV · dose 2Recommended Men B · dose 2Recommended |
| 12 months | PCV · dose 3Recommended Men B · dose 3Recommended |
| 13 months | MMR · dose 1Recommended routinely; rubella obliged for specified girls Men ACWY · dose 2Recommended |
| 18 months | 6-in-1 · dose 4Mixed: diphtheria/tetanus/polio components obliged; other 3 recommended |
| 3–4 years | MMR · dose 2Recommended routinely; rubella obliged for specified girls |
| 12 years | HPV · dose 1Recommended |
| 12 years + 6 months | HPV · dose 2Recommended |
| 14–16 years | dT-IPVContains only generally obliged disease components Men ACWY · dose 3Recommended |
What each vaccine protects against
Names describe disease targets, not all product ingredients. The combined-vaccine cards below explain the abbreviations.
6-in-1
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), Hib, polio and hepatitis B
MMR
Measles, mumps and rubella
PCV
Pneumococcal disease
Men B / Men ACWY
Meningococcal disease caused by the named groups
HPV
Human papillomavirus
dT-IPV
Diphtheria, tetanus and polio
Primary HealthCare: current programme ↗ · Checked 20 October 2026
Legal requirements versus routine recommendations
Source-text check: 20 October 2026. These summaries are not a qualified legal opinion. Confirm individual circumstances with the relevant authority.
Diphtheria · Tetanus · Polio
Cap. 36, article 57 covers children from three months who are not fully protected; “child” means under 18. Medical postponement is covered by article 58.
Rubella · specified girls
S.L. 36.31 requires vaccination for previously unvaccinated girls aged 10 to under 13. Routine MMR is scheduled earlier.
Further reading: childhood vaccination in Malta +
FFCheck’s July 2026 explainer distinguishes the three compulsory childhood vaccinations from the recommended schedule.
One qualification: its summary does not cover the separate rubella requirement in S.L. 36.31 for previously unvaccinated girls aged 10 to under 13. We retain that distinction above and use the legislation for legal labels.
Why did Malta move from 5-in-1 to 6-in-1? +
This procurement decision did not make all six components compulsory. On 11 July 2019, the Public Contracts Review Board decided case 1324 concerning tender CT 2056/2019 for a six-component vaccine.
- The record describes the planned move from 5-in-1 plus separate hepatitis B to 6-in-1, citing shortages of the separate hepatitis B vaccine and fewer injections.
- Cherubino challenged specifications it said restricted competition. The Board found the tender restrictive and ordered its cancellation and a new tender allowing compatible competing products.
- The order concerned government purchasing. It did not amend childhood vaccination law or order parents to accept all six disease components.
General childhood obligations remain defined by Cap. 36 for diphtheria, tetanus and polio, with the separate conditional rubella requirement in S.L. 36.31. Purchasing or offering a combination does not itself extend those obligations. The decision also does not establish a right to a separately supplied product.
Historical context only. Witness statements about product switching in 2019 are not current individual clinical instructions.
What’s required? What’s recommended?
Diphtheria
DTaP / dTChildhood obligation under Cap. 36, article 57.
Tetanus
DTaP / dTChildhood obligation under Cap. 36, article 57.
Polio
IPVChildhood obligation under Cap. 36, article 57.
Rubella
MMR componentS.L. 36.31 applies to previously unvaccinated girls aged 10 to under 13. Routine MMR is scheduled earlier.
Pertussis
DTaP componentHib
6-in-1 componentHepatitis B
6-in-1 componentPneumococcal
PCVMeningococcal B
Men BMeningococcal ACWY
Men ACWYMeasles & mumps
MMR componentsHuman papillomavirus
HPVRecommended means included in the official childhood schedule, without a general obligation identified in the cited childhood laws. It does not mean medically unnecessary. Residency health-screening rules may add requirements.
What’s in each vaccine?
Open a card to see the disease targets and what each abbreviation means.
6-in-1 +
DTaP-Hib-IPV-HepB
Six disease targets in one combined injection. “6” counts the diseases covered, not the number of doses.
- D — diphtheria
- T — tetanus
- aP — acellular pertussis (whooping cough)
- Hib — Haemophilus influenzae type b
- IPV — inactivated poliovirus
- HepB — hepatitis B
Diphtheria, tetanus and polio are the components covered by the general childhood obligation. Pertussis, Hib and hepatitis B are recommended schedule components.
MMR +
Measles, mumps and rubella
Three disease targets in one combined vaccine.
- Measles
- Mumps
- Rubella (German measles)
Routine childhood MMR is recommended. Rubella has the separate legal requirement for previously unvaccinated girls aged 10 to under 13 described above.
dT-IPV +
Diphtheria, tetanus and polio
The teenage combination in Malta’s schedule.
- d — reduced diphtheria antigen content
- T — tetanus
- IPV — inactivated poliovirus
All three disease components are covered by the general childhood obligation. This combination does not include pertussis, Hib or hepatitis B.
PCV +
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
Covers selected types of pneumococcal bacteria. It is different from meningococcal vaccination.
- Pneumococcal bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae)
Recommended schedule component. The types covered depend on the product; PCV alone does not specify a brand or exact number.
Men B +
Meningococcal group B vaccine
Targets group B meningococcal bacteria.
- Neisseria meningitidis — group B
Recommended schedule component. It does not replace Men ACWY.
Men ACWY +
Meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y vaccine
The letters identify four groups of meningococcal bacteria.
- Group A
- Group C
- Group W
- Group Y
Recommended schedule component. It does not replace Men B.
HPV +
Human papillomavirus vaccine
Targets selected HPV types.
- Human papillomavirus — selected types depending on the product
Recommended schedule component. HPV is a family of viruses; the abbreviation does not identify the vaccine brand.
These are disease targets, not a full ingredient list. For ingredients and excipients, ask which product is being used and read its patient leaflet. Definitions: Malta Primary HealthCare ↗ · NHS: 6-in-1 ↗ · NHS: childhood vaccine names ↗. Malta’s timings are in the routine schedule above.
Questions for a healthcare professional, product licensing & availability
Asking for only the legally required components
A legal duty for a disease component does not make every component of a combined product compulsory. Product availability and age suitability need separate confirmation.
Diphtheria + tetanus + polio
Revaxis (Td-IPV) targets these three diseases without pertussis, Hib or hepatitis B. Its published product information specifies boosters from age six after primary vaccination; it is not intended for the initial vaccination course.
For babies and initial courses: we have not verified a Malta provider offering an age-appropriate product or set of products covering only these three diseases. A teenage booster cannot be assumed suitable for a baby.
Rubella on its own
The separate rubella obligation applies to previously unvaccinated girls aged 10 to under 13. We have not confirmed a single-component rubella product or a Malta provider supplying it.
MMR also covers measles and mumps. Those additional components must not be presented as compulsory merely because the rubella requirement applies.
Where to ask in Malta
Public contact point for enquiries, not a confirmed stock listing. A clarification request has received an acknowledgement; a substantive departmental response is still pending. An acknowledgement does not confirm product availability, suitability or legal interpretation.
National Immunisation Service
Floriana Health Centre, Triq Frangisk Saver Fenech, Floriana. Ask Primary HealthCare client support to connect you to the immunisation team.
What should I ask before booking? +
- “Can you offer a product covering diphtheria, tetanus and polio only, without pertussis, Hib or hepatitis B, for my child’s age and previous vaccination history?”
- “What is the exact product name, its disease components and licensed age range? Is it for an initial course or a booster?”
- “Is it currently in stock? If not, is a lawful clinician-led supply route available, and what are the cost and waiting time?”
- “What course and documentation would meet the applicable Maltese legal requirement?”
- If the rubella requirement applies: “Is an age-appropriate rubella-only product available?”
Discuss age and vaccination history directly with the clinician; this website does not collect them. Confirm the product and patient leaflet before consenting. Recommended vaccines have medical benefits even when they are not compulsory; discuss the protection omitted by a narrower choice with the clinician.
The product licence is not evidence of current Malta stock. No infant-only product route has been confirmed. The departmental enquiry remains awaiting a substantive response.
Historical programme changes, legal background & source archive
When were childhood vaccines introduced in Malta?
There was no single starting date. The timeline below includes a documented diphtheria childhood campaign in 1949 and Salk polio vaccination in 1956, followed by later additions and changes.
First availability, routine rollout and a legal obligation are separate milestones. Conflicting measles and MMR dates remain labelled as uncertain. Open an event for its source and evidence limits.
Explore the source-backed timeline ↓Historical evidence reviewed 19 October 2026. This is a partial history; dates for every vaccine’s first use or original legal obligation have not been established.
How the vaccination programme changed
Law changes and programme changes are different. A schedule addition or purchasing decision does not by itself create a legal duty.
Diphtheria childhood campaign +
NSO records a vaccination campaign for children aged nine months to five years.
Who it affected: Malta childhood vaccination programme; historical evidence, not a current personal schedule.
Date & evidence: Documented campaign date, not proof of the first use in Malta or the first legal obligation.
Polio: Salk vaccine +
A historical medical account records Salk polio vaccination starting for children aged one to ten.
Who it affected: Malta childhood vaccination programme; historical evidence, not a current personal schedule.
Date & evidence: Malta-specific historical account. This is a programme date, not a legal commencement date.
Polio: Sabin oral vaccine +
The historical account dates the introduction of Sabin vaccination to 1962. NSO records mass polio campaigns during 1962–1964.
Who it affected: Malta childhood vaccination programme; historical evidence, not a current personal schedule.
Date & evidence: Introduction and subsequent mass campaigns are different milestones.
Immunisation legal framework replaced +
The consolidated law marks Title III as substituted by Act III of 1982, section 9. It contains the childhood duty for diphtheria, tetanus and polio, and powers to prescribe additional diseases.
Who it affected: Children; current article 57 applies from three months if not fully protected.
Date & evidence: Verified amendment year. This is not evidence of the first-ever obligation or its exact commencement day.
Measles vaccine: reported availability +
A 2003 Malta Medical Journal article dates first availability and schedule incorporation to 1982.
Who it affected: Malta childhood vaccination programme; historical evidence, not a current personal schedule.
Date & evidence: Source-specific date: a later comparative study reports routine measles vaccination from 1983. The year is not fully reconciled.
MMR: availability and routine use +
The same article reports combined MMR availability in 1987 and continuation of the national schedule as MMR from 1990.
Who it affected: Malta childhood vaccination programme; historical evidence, not a current personal schedule.
Date & evidence: First availability is not the same as national routine rollout. The later comparative study lists routine MMR from 1992; the difference needs clarification.
Conditional rubella obligation +
Legal Notice 50 of 1989 established the Vaccination for Rubella Regulations.
Who it affected: Previously unvaccinated girls aged 10 to under 13.
Date & evidence: Date stated in S.L. 36.31. This does not create a universal infant MMR obligation.
Hib documented in official guidance +
The Department of Primary Health Care’s 1995 vaccination guide discusses the introduction of Hib vaccination.
Who it affected: Malta childhood vaccination programme; historical evidence, not a current personal schedule.
Date & evidence: Evidence that Hib was addressed by 1995; this does not establish an exact launch year.
HPV programme for girls +
HPV vaccination entered the national schedule for girls aged 12.
Who it affected: Girls aged 12.
Date & evidence: Year confirmed by the national strategy; exact launch day not established here.
BCG: targeted rather than universal +
The 2012 government report planned a BCG schedule change for 2013. The 2013 health leaflet describes vaccination for children at higher TB risk.
Who it affected: Higher-risk babies and children; a change in routine eligibility, not a ban on BCG.
Date & evidence: Policy transition supported by official documents. Exact implementation day is not verified.
5-in-1 + hepatitis B → planned 6-in-1 +
The procurement record documents a planned combination change amid separate hepatitis B shortages. The Board ordered the restrictive tender cancelled and reissued.
Who it affected: Government supply of childhood combination vaccines.
Date & evidence: Decision date verified; actual rollout date not established. This decision created no new vaccination obligation.
Pneumococcal PCV10 added +
PCV10 entered the national childhood schedule, with a catch-up campaign for children born in or after 2016.
Who it affected: Infants and the identified catch-up cohort.
Date & evidence: Month confirmed by Primary HealthCare; schedule addition does not itself establish a legal obligation.
Men B and Men ACWY added +
Both meningococcal vaccines entered the national schedule.
Who it affected: Childhood and adolescent cohorts, depending on the vaccine.
Date & evidence: Month confirmed by Primary HealthCare. Current timings are shown in the schedule above.
HPV programme extended to boys +
The national strategy records HPV vaccination being offered to boys as well as girls aged 12 from 2024.
Who it affected: Boys aged 12 alongside girls.
Date & evidence: Year confirmed by the national strategy; this is a programme expansion.
What is still unverified? +
This is a sourced milestone timeline, not a complete legislative archive. Earlier first-obligation dates for diphtheria, tetanus and polio, the exact programme start dates for tetanus, pertussis and hepatitis B, the differing reported measles/MMR rollout years, the exact Hib introduction date, smallpox withdrawal and the precise 6-in-1 rollout date have not been established here. We do not infer them from the age of Cap. 36 or a tender date.
The 1982 entry identifies replacement of the legal framework. BCG “removal” refers to universal routine use changing to targeted use. Historical documents are not current instructions for an individual vaccination course.
Schedule and current source-text checks: 20 October 2026. Historical introduction evidence: 19 October 2026. Open each historical source to see its date and limits.