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Mandatory vaccinations required by law

Baby getting mandatory vaccinations
Image by I am expat

There are mandatory vaccinations for babies, children, and adults living in Croatia. There are additional vaccinations that are required in certain situations, like if you’ve been bitten by a rabid animal or are planning travel to specific countries with return to Croatia.

This vaccination obligation applies to all persons living in the Republic of Croatia, regardless of their insurance status and citizenship. Mandatory vaccinations are free of charge for all persons covered by this obligation, whether or not they have health insurance or are Croatian citizens.

There are also optional vaccinations that are offered. You can get more information including pricing on these services here.

COVID19: Thus far, Croatia has indicated that they will not make a COVID19 vaccine mandatory for residents, citizens or tourists. For additional resources related to COVID19 in Croatia, check out our dedicated section here.

Mandatory vaccinations required by Croatian law

The obligation to vaccinate is regulated by law (Article 77) and applies to all persons living in the Republic of Croatia, regardless of insurance status and citizenship. In the case of children who have started vaccination according to the vaccination programs of countries they come from, an attempt is being made to adjust the started vaccinations to the Croatian vaccination program and, if possible, continue vaccinations started outside Croatia.

First, we’ll go through the legislation that defines which vaccinations are mandatory for different circumstances and ages.

By law (Article 40), vaccination is mandatory in these cases:

  1. Tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, wheezing, polio, measles, redness, mumps, and viral jaundice type B and diseases caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B – For babies, children, elementary school children, high school children, and adults when they reach 60 years old
  2. Tetanus – For injured persons
  3. Type B Viral Jaundice – For persons with increased risk of infection
  4. Anti-rabies – For all persons who are professionally at risk of infection and/or injured by a suspected rabid animal
  5. Yellow Fever – For persons traveling to a country where the disease exists or to a country that requires immunization against the disease
  6. Cholera and other infectious diseases – For persons traveling to a country requiring immunization against these diseases or in cases where there is an epidemiological indication
  7. Typhoid fever and other infectious diseases – For all persons for whom there are epidemiological indications

By law (Article 42), immune serum (seroprophylaxis) protection is mandatory for:

  1. Persons injured by an angry or rabid animal
  2. Injured persons exposed to tetanus infection
  3. Persons exposed to virus jaundice type A and B if there is a clinical or epidemiological indication

By law (Article 43), medication protection (chemoprophylaxis) is mandatory for:

  1. All persons exposed to cholera, tuberculosis or malaria
  2. Children, young people and persons employed in schools and other institutions for children and young people, at the epidemic occurrence of bacillary dysentery, streptococcal disease or an individual case of meningococcal disease according to the epidemiological indication
  3. Persons in contact with unvaccinated children up to the age of 5 at the appearance of invasive disease caused by type B influenza Haemophilus

What is required for children

Children must get mandatory vaccinations for:

  • Tuberculosis (BCG)
  • Hepatitis B
  • Diphtheria
  • Tetanus
  • Pertussis
  • Polio
  • Diseases caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B
  • Measles
  • Rubella
  • Mumps

Child at doctor's office

Schedule of mandatory vaccinations

The name of vaccinations are commonly abbreviated, making it easier to list the combinations in which they are given. While we have outlined the full name of vaccinations in our schedule, here is a legend of those abbreviated names for your reference.

Legend for vaccination abbreviations

  • BCG – Tuberculosis vaccine
  • Hib – Haemophilus influenzae type B
  • DI-TE-PER – Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (acellular)
  • IPV – inactivated polio vaccine
  • DTaP-IPV-Hib-hep B (so called 6in1) – A combined vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (acellular), polio (inactivated), H. influenzae type B, and hepatitis B
  • Pn – Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus)
  • MO-PA-RU: Measles, parotitis, and rubella
  • DI-TE pro adultis: Diphtheria, tetanus, formulation for 6 years children and older
  • HBsAg: Hepatitis B surface antigen
  • ANA-TE: Tetanus vaccine

Vaccination schedule by age

Newborn children

  • Children who were not born in a hospital must receive the Tuberculosis vaccine (BCG) until the first year of life.

Newborns born to Hepatitis B positive mothers

  • Immediately after birth – Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)
  • At 2 months old
    • A combined vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (acellular), polio (inactivated), H. influenzae type B, and hepatitis B (DTaP-IPV-Hib-hep B)
    • Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pn)
  • After 2 months old
    • A combined vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (acellular), polio (inactivated), H. influenzae type B, and hepatitis B (DTaP-IPV-Hib-hep B)
    • Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pn)
  • At 1 year of age
    • A combined vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (acellular), polio (inactivated), H. influenzae type B, and hepatitis B (DTaP-IPV-Hib-hep B) – Must be 6 to 12 months after the third dose

Children 1 year of age

  • Measles, parotitis, and rubella (MO-PA-RU)
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pn)
  • A combined vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (acellular), polio (inactivated), H. influenzae type B (DTaP-IPV-Hib)

Children 6 years of age

  • Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis acellular (DI-TE-PER acellular)

Children in 1st grade of school

  • Measles, parotitis, and rubella (MO-PA-RU )

or

  • Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV)

Children in 6th grade of school

  • Check of Hepatitis B vaccine status and eventual compensation of missed vaccination, if applicable

Children in 8th grade of school

  • Diphtheria, tetanus, formulation for 6 years children and older (DI-TE pro adultis)

or

  • Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis acellular (dTap)
  • Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV)

Children in last year of high school

  • Check of vaccination status and eventual compensation of missed vaccinations, if applicable

Adult 24 years of age

  • Check of vaccination status and eventual compensation of missed Td vaccinations, if applicable

Adults 60 years of age or older

  • Tetanus vaccine (ANA-TE)

The full program and calendar for obligatory vaccinations for 2021 can be found here. View information on optional vaccinations here.

Please note: Information provided by Expat in Croatia is only for the purposes of guidance. It does not constitute legal or financial advice in any form. Croatian laws and bureaucratic rules often change, and each personal case is individual, so different rules may apply. For legal advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian lawyer. For financial advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian tax advisor or accountant.

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