Vaccination

At certain ages, people can get a state-paid vaccination. The national budget pays for vaccinations for children and adults according to the Vaccination Schedule.

The following are compulsory vaccination groups:

• adults - against diphtheria and tetanus;
• children - against tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, measles, rubella, epidemic parotitis, haemophilus influenzae type b, hepatitis B, chickenpox, pneumococcal infection, rotavirus infection;
• children and adults - against rabies after contact with animals or people who are sick or suspected of having rabies;
• Children aged 12 years - against human papillomavirus infection;
• children - against tick-borne encephalitis in accordance with Cabinet of Ministers Regulations No 330, Article 23;
• pregnant women - against whooping cough;
• hemodialysis patients - against hepatitis B
• unvaccinated contacts (children and adults) for epidemiological indications - against diphtheria, poliomyelitis, measles, rubella, epidemic parotitis;

Flu vaccination

The state pays for flu vaccinations for certain groups of people. To be vaccinated, you must go to your general practitioner.

100% state-paid flu vaccination is available for the following groups:

• Children aged 6-23 months (inclusive) (paid from the Vaccination Schedule);
• Pregnant women and women up to 70 days post-partum (paid from the Vaccination Schedule);
• medical specialists and medical support staff who are in close contact with patients in the course of their work (vaccination is financed from the national budget);
• employees of long-term social care centres who are in close contact with clients in the course of their work (vaccination is financed from the national budget);
• clients of long-term social care centres (vaccination is financed from the national budget);
• seniors over 65;
• people with chronic diseases - chronic lung disease; chronic cardiovascular disease, regardless of cause; chronic metabolic disease; chronic kidney disease; immunodeficiency; immunosuppressive therapy;
• children under 18 years of age belonging to certain health risk groups: with chronic lung disease; with chronic cardiovascular disease, regardless of cause; with chronic metabolic disease; with chronic kidney disease; with immunodeficiency; receiving immunosuppressive therapy; undergoing long-term therapy with Ac.acetylsalicylicum.

Please ask your general practitioner about your eligibility for one of the above groups and the vaccination options.

Tick-borne encephalitis vaccination

The state pays 100% of the cost of tick-borne encephalitis vaccination for children from 1 year to 18 years of age if the child's declared place of residence is in a tick-borne encephalitis endemic area. Orphans and children without parental care are also vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis throughout Latvia, regardless of where they live. For more information, visit the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control's website at www.spkc.gov.lv under section "Vaccination".

50% of the tick-borne encephalitis vaccination is paid for children up to 24 months of age, and 25% of the tick-borne encephalitis vaccination is paid for pregnant women and women up to 70 days post-partum. This is possible thanks to the M-list of reimbursable medicines, which has been created especially for infants and new mothers and includes vaccines against tick-borne encephalitis. To be vaccinated, you need to visit your GP or paediatrician's practice with your vaccination passport.

Tuberculosis vaccination

In 2015, the manufacturer of the tuberculosis vaccine (BCG vaccine) experienced technical problems in the production process, which prevented the production and delivery of the vaccine in the European Union, including Latvia. Agreement was reached on the purchase of BCG vaccines from Polish and Japanese drug manufacturers. The supply of BCG vaccines to health facilities providing publicly funded childhood tuberculosis vaccination was gradually resumed.

Healthcare facilities providing BCG vaccination for children not vaccinated in the maternity ward (list updated on 12.07.2019)

Childhood Vaccination Schedule

Every child is entitled to vaccinations included in the Vaccination Schedule, at public expense, even if they were not vaccinated on time (for medical or other reasons).

If an unvaccinated child goes to public places, the risk of infection for themselves and others increases.

It is very important to follow the Vaccination Schedule and get the vaccinations you need in time to protect your child before they reach the age when the risk of infection is highest.

It should be noted that it is possible to administer the age-appropriate vaccinations at the same time and this does not diminish their effect.

If the age of vaccine administration is missed, an additional dose is not required. A future vaccination schedule should be agreed with your general practitioner.

If you have any questions about your child's vaccinations, we recommend that you contact your general practitioner. 

Keep in mind! Vaccination is the best and most effective way to protect your child from dangerous and deadly infectious diseases!